“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
With the reading from the Revelation of St John the Devine.(7:9) being so appropriate, St Andrew’s celebrated All Saints day on 1st November, the day we remember Christian saints who have gone before us and also the saints of today, all those who have helped and encouraged us on our way, those who have been part of our lives and nurturing us on our spiritual journey and developing our discipleship.
And so with this theme on our minds we sang the well known Saints Day hymn ‘How bright these glorious spirits shine’ followed by ‘Rejoice in God’s saints’ and with the Peruvian Gloria sung gloriously in two part harmony we continued our service, ending with ‘Rejoice in God’s Saints’ and ‘God be in my head’ during the communion of the people. Thus no one could say ‘what was that all about!!’
The service was Youtubed, lost and found again for the members of the congregation to listen at home and we are so glad that modern technology permits this way of reaching out to our parishioners. And so to next week when we mark Remembrance Sunday with traditional hymns of remembrance along with hymns for Peace in our World so needed in these times which are afflicting every single person within our world today whom we shall also remember in our intercessions. The service is intended to be zoomed for the first time so look out for this, it will be advised to our parishioners by email and also with a link from our website. For those who can manage within our spacing we shall look forward to seeing you again when you will be shepherded carefully to your pews. Stay safe All.