The Celtic word “Samhain” means “summer’s end.”  This holiday is the beginning of Winter and the New Year, the time of giving thanks for a good harvest, and a time for letting go of what no longer serves us. It is also the time of year when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is said to be the thinnest, and the dead are invited back for loving remembrance. In the course of this service, we will observe all of these ancient traditions and reflect on their significance in our modern lives. Please bring a picture or other memento of a departed loved one to church to place on our Samhain altar.