UPDATE: A decision has been taken to hold this service in person on Sunday November 1st, provided that the government restrictions imposed from October 1st to 28th are not extended. Pastor Beryl is moving forward with preparations for the service. If it goes ahead live on the 1st, it will be filmed and shared on our website so that those who can not or do not want to attend in person may watch it as of the 2nd of November. If it becomes unadvisable to hold the service live, it will be pre-recorded as we have been doing and available to watch on November 1st. In addition to the Memorial tributes, the service will also include Communion.
To add names to the list of those being remembered at the service, please contact the office by phone or e-mail by Tuesday, the 27th of October.
ORIGINAL POST:
At this point we don’t know if we will be able to have our traditional All Saints Memorial service at the church on November 1st. We can say that it will go ahead in one way or another, but might have to be a pre-recorded service. Names of those we have lost in our congregation and wider community will be read aloud. It is not too early to contact the office to add names to the list. Here is the invitation to the service:
Please join us…
Annual All Saints Memorial Celebration
Sunday, November 1, 2020,
SouthWest United Church
Dear Friends
Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (MEV)
Just as Jesus named the blessed ones, in our annual day of remembrance on November 1st, we too will recall and give thanks for those who, in life, blessed us and have now gone before us.
As our annual celebration of All Saints approaches, you are warmly invited to join us in our All Saints Communion and Memorial Tribute.
As you know, SouthWest does not solicit funds for funerals but, rather, receives offerings “in loving memory” of those who have gone before us. All gifts given to the fund are gratefully acknowledged and a receipt is given for tax purposes.
Memorial gifts received before October 28th will be acknowledged during the service. If you wish, you can e-mail or call the office to confirm your participation.
We hope that you can join us and look forward to seeing you on November 1st at 10:00 a.m.
Beryl Barraclough Dennis Brown,
Pastor Clerk of Session
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?” - Terry Pratchett