UUFSMA: “Celebrating the Day of the Dead”

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Online Service

“Celebrating the Day of the Dead”

Speaker: Reverend Tom Rosiello

Sunday, October 31, 2021
10:30 am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040 
Password: 294513

By Joseph Plummer

UUFSMA Board Secretary

This coming week in San Miguel and throughout Mexico, people will celebrate “El Día de Los Muertos,” the Day of the Dead. The celebration is rooted in ancient Aztec culture and then blended over time with the Catholic holidays of All Saints and All Souls days, which are celebrated on November 1 and 2. During this syncretic festival, the living pause to remember and reconnect with the dead. This is a unique, rich, and colorful celebration. However, Mexicans are not alone in reserving a special day to honor those who have preceded them in death. Cultures and religions throughout the world celebrate a similar holiday at this or other times of the year.

Humans follow various methods of observance, theologies, and religious reasons for celebrating the deceased. In the varieties of this worldwide tradition, we can learn many things about death and immortality. Yet all of them agree upon one thing. For those of us who continue to live there is a value in setting aside time to remember those no longer with us whose lives have touched ours.

In observing this unique holiday, Sunday’s combination in-person and Online Service of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of San Miguel will celebrate the deceased loved ones of our community. Inspired by Mexican tradition, we have created a virtual “Altar of Remembrance” which will be shown during the service. And music will harmonize the spiritual experience of this meaningful day.

The Reverend Tom Rosiello, Minister of the Fellowship, will lead the worship and invite participants to reflect upon those who have gone before us and loss in the time of Covid. Reflecting on his own experience, Rev. Rosiello says, “At many times in different situations, I have realized that those who have gone before me still have something to say to me and I to them. People die, but relationships can live on.”  Please join us to remember and celebrate the lives of those who live on in your heart.

To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:25 am CST.

UUFSMA donates at least fifty percent of its income to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page Donate button. Now more than ever, your support is essential.

UUFSMA has returned to very limited in-person Sunday services. A few pre-registered members may attend in-person services at the Hotel Aldea by contacting Diana Amaya for the important safety guidelines which must be followed: info.uufsma@gmail.com. The UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Previous online services can be found at https://www.youtube.com/. Enter UUFSMA in the search box.