Sermon

The Requiem of All Souls

November 2, 2026

The Reverend Canon Paul Keene

All Souls Requiem Leaflet

THE WORD OF GOD

VOLUNTARY
In Paradisum (2022)
Ghislaine Reece-Trapp

All stand for the procession.

PROCESSION
The Burial Anthems
William Croft

Sung by the choir.

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.

OPENING ACCLAMATION AND COLLECT FOR PURITY

Presider  Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
People  And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.

KYRIE ELEISON
Mass for Saint John the Baptist
Healey Willan

Sung by the choir.

Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

Presider  The Lord be with you.
People  And also with you.
Presider  Let us pray.

O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

All sit.

THE FIRST LESSON
Wisdom 3:1-9
Lector: Greg Movesian

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

Lector  The Word of the Lord.
People  Thanks be to God.

PSALM 130
Chant: J. Marcus Ritchie

Sung by the choir.

1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice; *

 let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
2 If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *
 O Lord, who could stand?
3 For there is forgiveness with you; *
 therefore you shall be feared.
4 I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *

 in his word is my hope.
5 My soul waits for the Lord,
more than watchmen for the morning, *
 more than watchmen for the morning.
6 O Israel, wait for the Lord, *
 for with the Lord there is mercy;
7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *
 and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

THE SECOND LESSON
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Lector: Carter Cowles

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Lector  The Word of the Lord.
People  Thanks be to God.

All stand.

THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Choir and Congregation sing the Acclamation.


Verse Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

THE GOSPEL
John 5:24-27

Minister  The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People  Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said to the people, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.”

Minister  The Gospel of the Lord.
People  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON
The Reverend Canon Paul Keene
Canon for Parish Life

All stand.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED

Sung in monotone.

I believe in God, the Father, the Almighty,

 creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
  He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
  and born of the Virgin Mary.
 He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
  was crucified, died, and was buried.
 He descended to the dead.
 On the third day he rose again.
 He ascended into heaven,
  and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
 He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
 the holy catholic Church,
 the communion of saints,
 the forgiveness of sins,
 the resurrection of the body,
 and the life everlasting. Amen.

All sit.
THE NECROLOGY

The names of those who have died this past year are read, along with the departed from years past.

ANTHEM
Give rest, O Christ
Kievan Chant

Sung by the choir.

Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. You only are immortal, the creator of maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our sing: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

All stand.

THE COLLECT FOR THE DEPARTED

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

THE PEACE

Presider  The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People  And also with you.

All sit.

ANNOUNCEMENTS and STEWARDSHIP

Stay connected and check out upcoming opportunities here.

Support the work of Saint John’s by making by making a pledge for 2027 or a one time gift.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The congregation remains seated during the Offertory Anthem. The Altar is prepared for Holy Communion and an offering is received to support the Cathedral’s ministry of sharing God’s love with the world.

OFFERTORY ANTHEM
Lo, round the throne
arr. Henry G. Ley

Lo, round the throne, a glorious band, the saints in countless myriads stand, of every tongue redeemed of God, arrayed in garments washed in blood. Hallelujah! Through tribulation great they came: they bore the cross, despised the shame: from all their labors now they rest, in God’s eternal glory blest. Hallelujah! They see their Savior face to face, and sing the triumphs of his grace: Him day and night they ceaseless praise, to him the loud thanksgiving raise: Hallelujah! Worthy the Lamb, for sinners slain, through endless years to live and reign: thou has redeemed us by thy blood, and made us kings and priests to God. Hallelujah! O may we tread the sacred road that saints and holy martyrs trod: wage to the end the glorious strife, and win like them a crown of life.

PRESENTATION HYMN 293
I sing a song of the saints of God

Grand Isle

Children and their parents are welcome to come forward and sit on the carpet to be closer to the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer.
At the invitation of the Presider, all stand.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Eucharistic Prayer A

Presider  The Lord be with you.
People  And also with you.
Presider  Lift up your hearts.
People  We lift them to the Lord.
Presider  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People  It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and comforts us with the blessed hope of everlasting life. For to your faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

SANCTUS and BENEDICTUS
Mass for Saint John the Baptist
Healey Willan

Sung by the choir.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Presider

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, send Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night before he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

Silence.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Presider and People
Our Father, who art in heaven,
 hallowed be thy Name,
 thy kingdom come,
 thy will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
 as we forgive those
 who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
 and the power, and the glory,
 for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

The Presider breaks the consecrated bread.

SANCTUS and BENEDICTUS
Mass for Saint John the Baptist
Healey Willan

Sung by the choir.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace.

THE INVITATION TO COMMUNION

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Following the invitation to Communion, all are invited forward. Extend your hands to receive a wafer from the priest. Gluten-free is available upon request. You may stand or kneel at the altar rail; please fill in from the outside toward the center. A verger is present if you need assistance. For those desiring to receive wine, it is available from the common Cup or you are invited to intinct your wafer in the chalice. When receiving the wine from the chalice, please help guide the chalice to your lips. If you choose to receive a blessing, please cross your arms over your chest.

ANTHEM
Sing me to heaven
Daniel E. Gawthrop

In my heart’s sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poet’s gloss. Words alone are vain and vacant and my heart is mute. In response to aching silence memory summons half-heard voices, and my soul finds primal eloquence and wraps me in song. If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby. If you would win my heart, sing me a love song. If you would mourn me and bring me to God, sing me a requiem, sing me to heaven. Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure, touch in me grief and comfort; love and passion, pain and pleasure. Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem. Love me, comfort me, bring me to God: Sing me a love song, sing me to heaven.

HYMN 474
When I survey the wondrous cross
Rockingham

THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Let us pray.

Almighty God, we thank you that in your great love you have fed us with the spiritual food and drink of the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ, and have given us a foretaste of your heavenly banquet. Grant that this Sacrament may be to us a comfort in affliction, and a pledge of our inheritance in that kingdom where there is no death, neither sorrow nor crying, but the fullness of joy with all your saints; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

Minister  Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People  Thanks be to God.

VOLUNTARY
Praeludium in a-minor BWV 543
Johann Sebastian Bach

“The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too, shall be raised.


“The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that ‘neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

“This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.”

– The Book of Common Prayer, page 507

CATHEDRAL CHAPTER
The Very Reverend Patrick Gahan
Interim Dean

The Right Reverend Rob O’Neill
Bishop-in-Residence

The Reverend Canon Paul Keene
Canon for Parish Life

The Reverend Deacon Jack Karn
Deacon for Community Partnerships

MUSICIANS
Dr. Michael Boney
Director of Music

Mr. Aaron Hirsch
Guest Organist

Saint John’s Cathedral Choir

FLOWER TEAM
Kathy Graveley & Jane Ellis
Co-Directors

ALTAR GUILD
Robin Van Atta
Director

SACRISTAN
Mason McKay

Keep In Touch

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

We are excited to have you stay connected to our cathedral family! Our weekly newsletter, The Cathedral Voice, is sent weekly by email. In it, you will find reflections from our clergy & staff, upcoming events, and opportunities to volunteer. We always respect your privacy.

SUBSCRIBE NOW