Liturgy for All Saints Sunday, Year B (Mark)
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Passages for All Saints Sunday, Year B (Mark)
*Since we do not mark our time with an All Saints day service, I am incorporating the readings from All Saints Day into Sunday’s liturgy.
Isaiah 25:6–9 speaks of God’s promise to host a great feast for all people, where the Lord will remove the shroud of death and wipe away tears. It is a vision of salvation and joy as God delivers people, offering them everlasting comfort and peace.
Psalm 24:1–10 celebrates God as the Creator and rightful King over all the earth. It describes the entry of the King of Glory, asking, “Who is this King of Glory?” and affirming that He is the Lord, mighty in battle, worthy of praise and honor.
Revelation 21:1–6a shows John’s vision of a new heaven and a new earth where God dwells with His people. God wipes away every tear, and death, mourning, and pain are no more. God declares, “I am making all things new,” marking the fulfillment of God's beautiful promises. It is the culmination of the whole story. This is the re-creation and it will be "very good."
John 11:32–44 recounts Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Moved by the grief of Mary and others, Jesus cannot contain his own grief and weeps before commanding Lazarus to come out of the tomb. He demonstrates power over death and foreshadows his resurrection.
Reflection Quote for All Saints
This is via James Clear’s newsletter:
Writer Heidi Priebe on love and grief:
"As long as there is love, there will be grief. The grief of time passing, of life moving on half-finished, of empty spaces that were once bursting with the laughter and energy of people we loved.
As long as there is love there will be grief because grief is love's natural continuation. It shows up in the aisles of stores we once frequented, in the half-finished bottle of wine we pour out, in the whiff of cologne we get two years after they've been gone.
Grief is a giant neon sign, protruding through everything, pointing everywhere, broadcasting loudly, "Love was here." In the finer print, quietly, "Love still is."
Overlapping Themes for All Saints
Victory over Death: Both Isaiah and Revelation emphasize the end of death, mourning, and suffering, while the story of Lazarus in John shows Jesus’ power over death, foreshadowing his own resurrection.
God’s Presence with the People: Revelation and Isaiah both speak of God dwelling with the people, offering comfort, peace, and the fulfillment of His promises. In John, Jesus is present with those grieving, revealing God’s compassion and nearness in times of loss. Sometimes people need to hear about the transcendence of God ("You are high and lifted up!") and sometimes they need to hear about a God who is close to us.
Hope and Restoration: All four passages point to a future of hope, where sorrow and suffering are replaced by joy and restoration. Isaiah envisions a feast, Psalm 24 anticipates the coming of the King of Glory, Revelation presents the renewal of all things, and John shows the immediate restoration of life in Lazarus.
Preaching Ideas for All Saints
“Victory Over Death: The Promise of Eternal Life” (Isaiah 25:6–9, Revelation 21:1–6a, John 11:32–44)
Isaiah 25, Revelation 21, and the raising of Lazarus in John 11, offer assurance of eternal life. God removes the shroud of death and wipes way teras, emphasizing the promise of deliverance and the end of suffering. John 11 illustrates Jesus' power over death, where, despite mutual weeping and grief, death does not have the last word, for Jesus knows the future reality of Revelation 21.
“God’s Presence in Suffering: A Comforting Promise” (Isaiah 25:6–9, Psalm 24:1–10, Revelation 21:1–6a, John 11:32–44)
I have lived in Poughkeepsie since 2016 and have officiated 70+ funerals, 80% of those members of the community not affiliated with my congregation. I have found that by being a non-anxious, faithful, and kind presence, they are comforted. I witness to the resurrection of Jesus and God's incredibly deep love. I read about how Jesus entered grief with Mary and Martha, about how God too lost someone in death (at the cross), and that heaven is a large homecoming. Hearts of so many are stirred by this message, with many people coming up to me afterward who grew up but who also grew apart from their childhood religion remarking, "What kind of Christian are you? I've never heard this before!" They are extremely touched and moved by something they did not know they had access to! We must not take this for granted.
"The Valley of the Six Shadows" Revelation 21:1–6a, Psalm 23
I've preached this sermon several times before. Here I talk about my experience preaching at a funeral for a late biker, whose bereaved friends are highly skeptical of my presence and the message of Christianity, yet by the end are moved to tears by the truth of Christianity.
Call to Worship - (from Revelation 7:9-10)
One: Come, let us gather to celebrate the promises of our God, who prepare a feast and removes death forever.
All: We come with hope, for the Lord is the King of Glory, mighty and strong!
Come: We join the angels and with the saints who have gone before and that "great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cry out with a loud voice:
All: 'Victory belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'
One: Friends, in this world, weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
All: Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, honor, power, and might be to our God now and forever. Amen!
Prayer of Confession
Beloved God, who was known to our mothers and fathers, and by our spiritual forebears, have mercy upon us. Like those who have gone before, we have not followed you without mistakes. We thank you for the grace that not only sustains us but also corrects us and empowers us to learn and live in wise ways. Hear us now as we lift to you our concerns and needs.
Assurance of Pardon (Isaiah 49:15-16)
This is God's declaration to you forever: "I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
Prayer of Illumination
Gracious God, as we open your Word today, illuminate our hearts and minds with the truth of your promises. Help us to grasp the vision of the feast you prepare, the majesty of your kingship, and the hope of the new creation you hold for us. May your Spirit guide our understanding, fill us with awe, and inspire us to live out your love and share the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
Gracious God, we dedicate this time and our offerings to you. As we reflect on your promises and hope, use our worship and our lives for your glory. Guide us to live out your truth and share your love with the world. Through Christ our Lord, we commit ourselves to your service. Amen.
