Today is All Saints’ Day. One of the seven principal feasts of the church year, it commemorates all saints, known and unknown. It is believed this commemoration began in Ireland, moved to England, and then spread to the European continent eventually reaching Rome where it was added to the church calendar. In addition to celebrating the feast on its day, it can also be observed on the Sunday following, which we will do this Sunday.

In preparation for our All Saints’ celebration and other upcoming celebrations such as Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, the Altar Guild will be holding a workday tomorrow, Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Nave. Many of you have served or are currently serving on the Altar Guild, but if you are not familiar with the Altar Guild let me share some of what they do. Their main duty is to set up and clean up for all services of the church, and maintain the elements, vessels, candles, hangings, and linens used for those services. This means preparing the altar for every Eucharist and making sure we have sufficient wafers and wine. It also means preparing for baptisms, weddings, and funerals by making sure everything is ready for the clergy and servers for each particular service. There are workdays a few days a year to polish silver and brass, decorate for special days/seasons, and cover whatever else might be needed to make sure all services run well. I know I couldn’t do my job as a priest without the help and dedication of the Altar Guild. I am so grateful for all they do, and I look forward to being with them tomorrow.

I have some news to share. Dr. Paul Meier, our Director of Music, has accepted an offer to serve as the Interim Director of Music and organist at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Medina, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. I am so grateful for Paul’s ministry with us and wish him all the best. While I’m sad to see Paul leave, I’m excited for him and this new opportunity. Please join me in thanking Paul for all he has done for the Cathedral and wish him well on his new journey. Paul’s last Sunday with us will be November 17.

Please continue to pray for one another, for our Cathedral family, our nation, and the world.

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