All Saints Day
By Kate Satterstrom
Culturally, our fall season is dominated by Halloween. Costumes, candy, ghosts, and haunting images fill our neighborhoods and calendars. Yet, almost immediately on its heels—November 1—comes a day of very different meaning: All Saints’ Day. Instead of fear or fright, we are invited into remembrance, gratitude, and community. We speak not only of spirits, but of saints; not only of shadows, but of light.
Within the life of the church, All Saints’ Day holds deep significance. It is a time set apart to celebrate the great cloud of witnesses—the community of faith that surrounds us, supports us, and encourages us on our journey. We do not walk the path of faith alone. We are blessed with those who have gone before us, those who walk alongside us now, and those who will follow after us.
In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), this vision is woven into the fabric of our worship. At each baptism, the congregation commits to guiding and nurturing that child by word and deed, with love and prayer. This is no small promise—it is a testimony to the way the communion of saints shapes us all. The community of saints is not a distant, abstract idea; it is an everyday reality, a living witness to the power of the Holy Spirit moving among us and binding us together.
So how might we approach teaching, preaching, and living into the hope of All Saints’ Day? How might we help our communities see this day as more than a date on the calendar, but as a powerful reminder of God’s presence and the gift of community?
To support you in this work, we have gathered resources for worship, teaching, and reflection. May they equip and inspire you as you and your community mark and celebrate All Saints’ Day with gratitude, joy, and hope.
To find our All Saints’ Day resources, go here and scroll to the bottom of the page. You do have to be a member of PYWA to access the resources, but it’s free, so join us today!
About the author:
Kate Satterstrom is the Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church, McMinnville, Oregon, Co-Director of the McMinnville Youth Collective, and a board member of the Presbyterian Youth Workers Association. She is passionate about building communities where children and youth know they are loved. Kate grew up in San Diego then attended Purdue University where she received a Bachelor of Art in U.S. history. She went on to graduate from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Art in Youth Ministry. Kate moved to Oregon in 2017 after a decade on the East Coast. She loves to read, work on puzzles, and explore the PNW.