A Hymn for All Saints' Day
So, I realize this is coming at the end of the day when I really should have posted last night, but I just had too many plates spinning...quite literally...I have been doing dishes for what feels like most of the day! I just wanted to jot down a brief post about singing this hymn with my children today. It is called For all the Saints. I grew up singing this hymn, for which I am very grateful. Have you read the last two stanzas??! Filled with such hope! So anyway, what does this have to do with the reformation? Since we believe that Christ is our mediator and that we are all priests before God (the priesthood of all believers), then this day has EVERYTHING to do with the reformation. As a protestant, I celebrate this day much differently than Catholics do (for those of you thinking - "AHHH! She's celebrating a Catholic holiday"). The Bible teaches that a saint is anyone who has trusted Christ's work on the cross and claimed His righteousness as their own by grace through faith in Christ alone (sounds a lot like the solas). If you have done that, then you are a saint. No one but God can declare you to be a saint - not a man, not a church.
As I sat down to digest this truth for a few minutes today, I became overwhelmed at the mercy of God...that He would offer such grace to me. To God alone be glory for this amazing mystery! ...Enter the bridge to Thanksgiving. In our house, we put up a thankful tree on the first day in November and my children add a leaf to it every day with something they are thankful for written on it. Instead of the tree losing leaves, as we see in this season of the year, our tree grows more full and more alive with praise to our God for all He has done for us. So what does this have to do with this hymn?
My children listened as I sang the stanzas today and we thanked God. We thanked God for the faithfulness of those who have died and for their examples. So many came to mind.... BUT, even more than that, we thanked God that He was faithful to them - His people. To throw another reformed term in there, the Perseverance of the Saints (which means that those for whom He died will persevere to the end. He will keep them and protect them).
So, like the Catholic church (and many other denominations), I will remember those believers who have gone before me today). BUT unlike the Catholic church, I will choose to focus on the faithfulness of God to His people. Don't tears come to your eyes thinking of those we have "lost" here on earth? Death is a hard and difficult and seemingly unending. It's a curse. BUT the good news you can remind yourself and your children of is that death is coming to an end. In fact, for those who have gone before us, death is over for them. They have been given life eternal. We, as saints living on earth, have also been given eternal life. Death has no power or sting anymore! This curse will end!
Again, read those last two stanzas and remember our hope as believers. This drives me earnestly to thanksgiving and providentially, it happens to be bolded in my calendar that we are supposed to be thankful this month. We, as saints, should be the most grateful of people. God's grace and love has come to us! We have access to the throne of grace. Jesus is our Mediator. We have His righteousness imputed to us! There is only one way to end - Alleluia! Alleluia!
So, I realize this is coming at the end of the day when I really should have posted last night, but I just had too many plates spinning...quite literally...I have been doing dishes for what feels like most of the day! I just wanted to jot down a brief post about singing this hymn with my children today. It is called For all the Saints. I grew up singing this hymn, for which I am very grateful. Have you read the last two stanzas??! Filled with such hope! So anyway, what does this have to do with the reformation? Since we believe that Christ is our mediator and that we are all priests before God (the priesthood of all believers), then this day has EVERYTHING to do with the reformation. As a protestant, I celebrate this day much differently than Catholics do (for those of you thinking - "AHHH! She's celebrating a Catholic holiday"). The Bible teaches that a saint is anyone who has trusted Christ's work on the cross and claimed His righteousness as their own by grace through faith in Christ alone (sounds a lot like the solas). If you have done that, then you are a saint. No one but God can declare you to be a saint - not a man, not a church.
As I sat down to digest this truth for a few minutes today, I became overwhelmed at the mercy of God...that He would offer such grace to me. To God alone be glory for this amazing mystery! ...Enter the bridge to Thanksgiving. In our house, we put up a thankful tree on the first day in November and my children add a leaf to it every day with something they are thankful for written on it. Instead of the tree losing leaves, as we see in this season of the year, our tree grows more full and more alive with praise to our God for all He has done for us. So what does this have to do with this hymn?
My children listened as I sang the stanzas today and we thanked God. We thanked God for the faithfulness of those who have died and for their examples. So many came to mind.... BUT, even more than that, we thanked God that He was faithful to them - His people. To throw another reformed term in there, the Perseverance of the Saints (which means that those for whom He died will persevere to the end. He will keep them and protect them).
So, like the Catholic church (and many other denominations), I will remember those believers who have gone before me today). BUT unlike the Catholic church, I will choose to focus on the faithfulness of God to His people. Don't tears come to your eyes thinking of those we have "lost" here on earth? Death is a hard and difficult and seemingly unending. It's a curse. BUT the good news you can remind yourself and your children of is that death is coming to an end. In fact, for those who have gone before us, death is over for them. They have been given life eternal. We, as saints living on earth, have also been given eternal life. Death has no power or sting anymore! This curse will end!
Again, read those last two stanzas and remember our hope as believers. This drives me earnestly to thanksgiving and providentially, it happens to be bolded in my calendar that we are supposed to be thankful this month. We, as saints, should be the most grateful of people. God's grace and love has come to us! We have access to the throne of grace. Jesus is our Mediator. We have His righteousness imputed to us! There is only one way to end - Alleluia! Alleluia!
- Text by William How (1823-1897)
- originally had 11 stanzas
- Tune by Vaughn Williams (1872-1958)
- This tune is considered the finest 20th century hymn tune
- SINE NOMINE was written for this text
- published in 1906 and wrote two harmonizations for it
- Equipped with a walking bass line which makes it excellent for marching and singing and is triumphant in nature
- There is a new tune by Indelible Grace which many love. I still have a difficult time when people try to write something better than the great Vaughn Williams, but I appreciate what they are doing. It is more introspective in mood. It may help you meditate on the words better if you have a difficult time learning Vaughn Williams' tune.
1. For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confess,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. O blest communion, fellowship divine,
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
5. And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
6. But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of Glory passes on His way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
7. From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Happy All Saints' Day - i.e. - thank you God for your faithfulness to your people...always. Your kingdom is forever, and your steadfast love endures!
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