On Sunday, October 28th, St. Mark's will have The Blessing of the Goblins. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to the 10AM service and receive a special blessing.
"One Sunday in October, Father Roland, rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in New Canaan from 1982-1994, made the following announcement: “Since next Sunday is All Souls’ Day, I would like all the children to weartheir Halloween costumes when they come to Church.” A buzz of amusement and giggles greeted this novel suggestion.On October 31, Roland invited all the little ones to come up to the altar for a blessing. I marvelled at thesight of the children in their costumes and the priest in his robes, with the intricate St. Mark’s reredos in the background.What a juxtaposition of the temporal and the secular!"
The painting and text is taken from the book “Where the Heart Is” by Ann Mitchell, published by The Boston Mills Pressin 1985.
The Blessing of the Goblins
Dear Lord of life and laughter,
We hold before you today the children of St Mark’s Parish:
Angels, unicorns, monsters, and mummies,
rock stars, princesses, pirates, and puppies,
goblins, ghosts, gremlins, and ghoulies.
Bless them in their world of make-believe today.
While they wander the streets in search of sweets
keep them growing in your love.
May the saints walk with them this All Hallows’ Eve.
Bring us healing of the land,
peace, health, happiness,
and blessing for all.
We pray in the name of your child, Jesus,
who overcame the darkness and
who sheds upon us always his unconquerable Light. Amen.
—The Rev. Anne F. C. Richards
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, New Canaan, CT
