Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Why celebrate the major holy days of the church?

The Feast of All Saints is coming up on Sunday, Nov. 1, and many of us will mark the day with special prayers during worship. And of course, we’re in church for the Nativity of Our Lord on Christmas Day and the Resurrection on Easter. But what about the other major holy days? Did you set aside time for Saint James, the brother of Jesus, last Friday, Oct. 23? And earlier in the month, did you observe the holy day for Saint Luke the evangelist?

Yeah, me either. I grew up in another tradition and am still learning and absorbing the role of the saints in the life of The Episcopal Church. But that’s really just an excuse. Frankly I don’t make the time, and I haven’t made it a priority. I’m not alone. Most parishioners and many priests don’t celebrate the major feasts. I have heard a few priests say that they would – but it’s not in the piety of their parishioners, so they don’t want to spend their time in that way. (What about leading by example? Ah, a blog for another day). 

Perhaps because so many of us don’t honor the major holy days (just the major, major ones!), we ask our priests why they bother. Why hold a service for just a few people? Isn’t that a waste of time? 

My husband, a priest, addressed these concerns in a recent reflection, and it made me think of these feast day services in a new way. Perhaps it will for you too.

He wrote, “From time to time, someone will ask, 'Why do you have those holy day services when only a few people show up?' The question is always asked with sincerity. My answer is always the same.

"'The people who show up for the holy day service are not the audience; God is. So whether there are four in the pews or forty or four hundred, God is the one we do it for.'

"God is the object of our worship. God is the center of activity when we gather any time for prayer and praise. Yes, there are readings, and yes, there is a sermon—and occasionally there is one worth listening to :) And even though it might seem like we are the customers waiting to be served, more correctly viewed, we are the participants in a grand gesture of praise and adoration to the God who created us and empowered us with the gift of creation...the gift of love.

"So the next time you come to St. Andrew's on a Sunday morning and find it hard to find a seat, or stop by some holy day and find a nearly empty church, or the next time you find yourself alone on your knees in prayer, remember that God is with you. God is your partner in prayer and praise. And with that type of crowd in your heart, you'll never, ever be alone.”

Preach it. Pray it. Participate in it. You have an opportunity tomorrow, with the feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude, the apostles. Go, and be with God.