“Present.” During the All Saints Litany, names will be read of those St. John’s members who have died since last All Saints Day. As each name is read, the congregation whispers “present.” The tradition dates to Nicaragua in the 1980s when the political revolution led to the deaths of many Christians. In worship the names of the dead would be voiced and the congregation would say with one voice, “present.” The statement was a way for these grieving Christians to say that their loved ones were still present with them. Indeed, as we whisper “present” we proclaim the reality of the Communion of Saints. 

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