Trinity Church in Abingdon held a special Service of Remembrance on Sunday 1 November, bringing people together to remember loved ones who had recently passed away.
The 4pm service, led by Revd Georgina Bondzi-Simpson and Revd Wayne Hawkins, provided a quiet and reflective opportunity for people to remember family members and friends who are no longer with them.
The service included readings from the Wisdom of Solomon and Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, alongside prayers, hymns and a poem entitled Go Gently with Grief. An important part of the service was the lighting of candles, when those attending were invited to light one in memory of a loved one. Following the candle lighting, the ministers read out the names of those being remembered.
The service also held particular significance for members of the Trinity congregation. According to the church’s Remembrance Book, three well-known and much-loved members of the congregation had passed away on 1 November in previous years.
Following the service, those attending were invited to stay for tea, coffee and cakes, providing an opportunity to chat, share memories and enjoy the fellowship of others.
Held on All Saints’ Day, the service was a fitting occasion to remember and give thanks for the lives of those who have died, while offering comfort and support to all who continue to miss them.