“From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggity beasties, Good Lord deliver us.” This is a saying I remember from my childhood. We had a needlepoint version of it framed that would hang in our entryway at this time of year. I can still clearly picture it hanging there today. Today is All Hallows’ Eve, the Vigil of the Feast of All Saints’, otherwise known as Halloween. Our Book of Occasional Services contains a service for All Hallows’ Eve. It begins with a service for light, found in the opening of our Order of Worship for the Evening in the BCP, what we use to open our 5 p.m. service every week. The Collect for festivals of saints reads:

Lord Christ, your saints have been the lights of the world in every generation: Grant that we who follow in their footsteps may be made worthy to enter with them into that heavenly country where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Have fun on Halloween, try not to eat too much candy, and remember all the saints who continue to surround us every day.

I had a nice time at our Clergy Conference this year. We met from Sunday to Wednesday at a hotel/conference center in Branson. Our presenter was the Rev. Rebecca Barber, LPC, NCC, owner of Wellspring Renewal Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her presentation was titled “From Good Friday to Easter: Discovering New Paradigms for Ministry.” All sessions dealt with clergy wellness and how we need to reexamine how we do ministry in order to keep ourselves healthy and balanced so that we can effectually serve others. Other time was spent in worship and fellowship. It is nice to gather with all the clergy of the diocese from time to time apart from Convention.

Speaking of Convention, it is almost upon us. Next Friday and Saturday, November 7-8, Convention will take place at the Cathedral. Friday will begin with a Eucharist at 5 p.m. followed by dinner in Founders’ Hall. Saturday will be all the business of the Diocese.

We have a special event happening this Sunday at our celebration of All Saints’. I will be commissioning and installing Fr. James as the Canon Minister for Adult Christian Formation. Congratulations (soon to be) Canon James! Our All Saints’ celebration will include incense at the 10:30 service.

Please continue to pray for one another, for our Cathedral family, the nation, and the world.