Welcome to a special Artists' Eucharist at St. John's-Grace for the combined celebration of All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day and the Day of the Dead. In the year 2010, Halloween (October 31) and the Sunday nearest All Saints Day happened to coincide, leading to the idea for this combined service.
Traditionally on Halloween we engage in rituals designed to confront our fears of pain and death with tests of courage and with humor. On All Saints Day, we celebrate those who have gone before us as models of faith and virtue. In the Day of the Dead, we celebrate family and friends who, though separated from us by death, remain close to us in our hearts.
For this service, members of the St. John's-Grace Artists Group provided original music and lyrics, liturgical folk dance, dramatic and poetry reading, and radio theater. Many members of the congregation came in costume. Please click on each of the items below to hear highlights of the service from October 31, 2010.
A Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel, followed by Dry Bones
The Story of the Witch of Endor, followed by Kyrie Eleison
The Gospel According to St. Matthew: The Beatitudes
The Anthem: Let Us Now Praise Famous Ones by Ralph Vaughn Williams
Remembering Those Who Have Gone Before Us
I Sing a Song of the Saints of God
Poetry Reading: From Songs on Reaching Seventy, by John Hall Wheelock, read by Carl Kowalkowski
As the people leave the church, listen to the Toccata from Suite Gothique by Leon Boellmann.
The scripture readers are John Schimminger, Robert Petersen, Michael Larkin (radio theater), Carl Kowalkowski, and David Smith. The quartet of singers are Michael Larkin (tenor solo), Jenece Gerber, Hillary Hunt and Andrew Boron. Original music and musical arrangements by John Schimminger. Poetry read by Carl Kowalkowski. Liturgical folk dance led by Stefana Paskoff and Suzanne Evans. The celebrant is The Reverend Charles Deacon, Associate Priest at St. John's-Grace. The preacher is The Reverend Philip Dougharty, Rector.
David K. Mathewson is the Organist/Choirmaster at St. John's-Grace.