For All the Saints

All Saints Sunday celebrated on the first of November has a long tradition in the Christian Calendar dating back to the early church's commemoration of martyrs that died for their faith.  The hymn "For All the Saints" sometimes sung at funerals, is a good hymn to open any All Saints service.  If your church does not hold a service on All Saints day consider the same emphasis on the Sunday closest to the Nov 1.  The book of Hebrews in the eleventh chapter remembers the 'heroes' of the faith.  This is a Sunday to not only remember those that have died in the past year, but to draw encouragement from the many faithful Christians that have come before us.  Below are the words of the hymn.  

For All the Saints

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!

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!

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!

O blest communion, fellowship divine,
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

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!

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!

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!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest.
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

copyright in the public domain 

#528 The Presbyterian Hymnal
Sine Nomine 10.10.10
William Walsham How, 1864