On this page you’ll find Intergenerational All Saints Day Resources and ideas to help you celebrate this day through worship or other intergenerational event ideas. There are also some ideas that are alternatives to Halloween.
What is All Saints Day?
All Saints Day is a Christian feast day, celebrated on 1st November, that celebrates all saints. The holiday has roots in ancient Christian traditions of remembering saints and the deceased, with roots tracing back to the 4th century. The Common date of 1st Novemeber was established by Pope Gregory III in the 8th century. Protestants, if they celebrate, use this day to remember all Christians both past and present. This day can be used as a reminder to us all that all God’s people are saints.
You might like to celebrate this day on the Sunday closest to All Saints Day on 1st November.
Celebrating All Saints Day
Here’s a few ideas that we’ve used or know that other churches have used:
- based on great cloud of witnesses, Hebrew 12:1-3
- discuss what is a saint
- active prayer of thanksgiving and confession involving turning around and remembering the past and then then turning back to the front to look to the future.
- using a memorial book to name those saints who’ve gone before us. Add to the book each year.
- Adding names on clouds of those who’ve helped in your faith journey & displaying on the wall at the front of the church
- talking about who has shaped our faith and who’s faith are we shaping while using playdough to shape to represent different symbols during a time of reflection.
- Pre-preparing a couple of people to talk about who shaped their faith (As Grandparents day and All Saints Day fall close together you might celebrate both things in one service and pre-prepare a couple of people to talk about how a grandparent influenced their faith)
All Saints Day Worship Ideas
- Something to Smile About – All age resource for All Saints Day & Halloween
- Saints for All Ages from Roots Resources
- Light Assembly (Halloween Alternative) from Flame Creative – Ideas for a school assembly but could be adapted for worship
- All Saints Day Resource Index from re:Worship – includes Calls to Worship, Prayers & Litanys, Confession & Assurance, Benedictions and more
- All Saints Day Worship Ideas curated by Rev Deacon Sandy Boyce, a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia
- All Saints Sunday, Year C plannig notes from Discipleship Ministries
- All Saints Day ideas from Ministry Matters
- All Souls Day Rosemary Remembering Prayers
All Saints Day Intergenerational Event Ideas
Light Party as an alternative to Halloween
- Bright Ideas for you Light Party
- 26 Tried and Tested Light Party Crafts & Games
- 5 Fantastic alternative Halloween Party Ideas
- How to organise a ‘Light Party’ at church next Halloween
For more alternatives to Halloween, expecially for families visit What are some Alternative Ways to Celebrate Halloween on my Feed My Family Blog site
If you’d like some help planning your own All Saints Day Celebration, please reach out to me.