In connection with his reflection on the role of saints as spiritual heroes, Leonard J. Vander Zee offers this order for an All Saints' Day worship service with song suggestions.
All Saints' Day Order of Worship
Prelude
Greeting
We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
Death has no dominion over them.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Hymn of Praise
Prayer
Almighty God,
your people of all the ages live and praise you
without ceasing.
In our communion with you, we have communion
with generations past and generations yet unborn.
Before your throne we are one
with a great multitude which no one could number,
and in praising you we join with people
from every nation.
Grant to your church on earth
that as we celebrate the triumph of your saints in glory
we may profit by their example
and enter with them into the inexpressible joys
you have prepared for those who love you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First lesson
Act of praise
Second lesson
Hymn
Gospel lesson
Sermon
Response to the Word
Naming of the honored dead
Moment of silence
Prayer
Offering
The Great Thanksgiving (see The United Methodist Book of Worship, 74-75.)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
