Festival Sundays Together
Posted on Nov 04, 2026 by Heather Lewis
A lot of logistics happen behind the scenes to create a meaningful worship service, and I wanted to share some lovely moments from last week as we prepared for All Saints Sunday.
My daughter Casey and I arrived at Atonement early in the week with our beautiful candle-lit cross, and got significant assistance assembling it from Nathan Choate, Atonement’s communications director.
Together we set up around 150 oil tea light candles, which requires removing tight covers that contain the
oil in storage. We switched to oil candles several years ago because they last for eight hours, which allowed us to use the same candles for all three services last weekend, and removes the mess of hot liquid wax. Since we left our sanctuary in Lenexa, this lovely cross (hand carved by David Hellwege) has been in our climate-controlled storage unit. It is moved by me and other Salem volunteers when we want to provide additional meaningful candlelight in worship.
The next day I came back to switch our banner, which was hung in the front right of the sanctuary the prior week for Reformation. November is a multi-color month for altar care as we decorate for festival Sundays: we switch from red for Reformation to white for All Saints Sunday, then back to green for a few weeks. Christ the King Sunday (Nov. 22 this year) goes back to white, then we switch to blue for the first Sunday in Advent.
While I was there, Atonement’s altar guild was setting up their candle display all over the sanctuary, which allows people to easily light candles in memory of loved ones wherever they sit, including the choir loft. Led by Jade Scarlett, this group of women is dedicated to preparing the sanctuary for meaningful worship and communion every week, including helping us set up for a third communion station at our 11:00 a.m. worship service. They also assisted me in moving the ladder to change our banner and gave many compliments for the banners and cross.
You may not know that there is a chapel to the right of the altar, behind a sliding wood door. Pastor Jordan provided a Gathering of Hope and Healing service in the chapel on Saturday afternoon for a gentle time of remembrance for those carrying grief and loss. Since the baptisms of Miller and Saylor in September, our baptism banner has been stored in the back of the chapel. It is now set up as a banner for worship in this lovely space, and our candle-lit cross has been given space in the chapel as well, with moving assistance from Pastor Zac.
I’m so thankful to all of Atonement’s staff and lay leaders for continuing to welcome Salem into their ministries. I love the flexibility and beauty of the space; the new opportunities to engage in our community for worship, education, and fellowship; and the encouragement to shine the light of Christ together to the world.
In His love,
Heather Lewis
Director of Worship and Music