On All Saint's Sunday, all of the banners are brought in by procession, often with a family member holding their loved one's banner, and placed at the altar rail. It is quite a visual display! Family members are encouraged to take their banner home.

Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Beldenville, WI has a paper chain with the names of the Saints who died during the past year written on each link. On each link of the chain we have written in full the name of the deceased. It might add more meaning to also add their baptismal date and death date as well.

All Saints' Day celebration has a long history in the worship life of the Christian Church. It began as a commemoration of the martyrs who had died for the faith, and it has since become a day when we honor and remember those who, in death, have joined the Church Triumphant, as well as the faithful saints of the present who serve Jesus Christ. Martin Luther held that all Christians are simultaneously sinner and saint--a sinner because of our rebellious nature, but a saint because of salvation in Jesus.

The bulletin insert (text appears below) was placed in bulletins in advance of All Saints Sunday. Small bells with a ribbon and pin were available to pin on the banner, which was used in the procession on All Saints Sunday.

This devotion is designed to be used by boards, committees, or small groups in your congregation. Any seating arrangement will work, but the best atmosphere is created by having the group sit in a circle or semicircle.