We would dress up in fun costumes and spend the evening playing games and stuffing our bags with candy. I love that that same church I grew up in now hosts an even larger fall festival on the night of Halloween, with carnival-like rides and all!
Instead of drawing in to themselves, they are reaching out to their community and using the night as what is perhaps the one evening of the year where those who might otherwise never enter a church building will come for some fun and games.
Since moving to our subdivision a little over two years ago, Halloween has become one of my favorite nights in our neighborhood. We switched churches about a year ago, and we now live in one of the closest subdivisions to the church. How tragic would it be to miss out on this opportunity to invite our neighbors—many of whom live many streets over and we might never meet otherwise—to our local body of believers! I will be honest in that I struggled with how to approach Halloween when I first became a mom.
But I believe the previous three suggestions are ways we can all redeem Halloween for Christ. A game changer in my thinking in this area was the following video from our former pastor, Bobby Conway of the One Minute Apologist. If you are reading via email, click to the site to watch the video. Top Image Credit. I love the idea of using Halloween as a way to spread the word. I would love more Christians to approach it like this rather than shutting off their lights.
Love your heart, Erin! If one chooses to celebrate the day by dressing up as something evil, violent, etc. But dressing up as positive things — superheroes, doctors, firefighters…and engaging in activities that are positive like pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, hayrides, and just generally getting to know your neighbors and celebrate the turn of the season….
Erin, Thanks for this post…it has given me a lot to think and pray about. You have such a precious spirit…keep shining His light. Is there any way you can share some ideas on how you make the Guess Who Loves you crafty things to hand out???
I would love to do this but I am not very creative or crafty, however I can follow directions pretty well. Way more meaningful than pumpkin carving. I really do love your blog! We may not be on the same page as far as Faith views, but I love reading the love you have for not only your family, but your community and Jesus!
I think its great how you take this time to reach out in a way that teaches your children not only love, but acceptance. Thank you, Patricia!
I would be honored if you would link to the post but just not re-blog the whole thing. Thanks again! I find this post so refreshing!! We would take bags full of goodies, coloring books, toys, Bibles, info about our church, etc. As for my family, we use it as a night where we go as a family and visit all of our shut-ins from church.
They love the visit, and the kids still get to dress up and have fun. I agree, every holiday, and every day in between, is completely what you make it. What a neat idea to visit the shut-ins! Thanks so much for sharing your story and experience!! Have a great time this year!! You could still go with just your family and some like-minded friends! Everyone needs to decide what is best for themselves and their family and go the way God is leading them.
The Bible says we are not to be conformed to the world. Another word for conform could be go along with. Originally, the lantern was cut from a turnip; after the story crossed the ocean, colonists changed it to the colorful vegetable they found here, the pumpkin.
Jack was so self-centered he never helped another human being. He was given a good set of brains, but he used this gift only for himself. He knew about faith and the power of the cross, but he used it like a piece of magic instead of as the way of Jesus. See Lk The cross is indeed strong enough to vanquish the devil. But embracing the cross is what brings eternal life.
Halloween and its back-toback feast days mean more than talking about our favorite saints who lived in another time, another place. In addition, we have a chance to face up to differences that still divide Catholics and Protestants, maybe even a chance to evangelize. How many of us know what this doctrine really means? Not at all. We honor them and learn from their example; adoration belongs to God alone.
We ask the saints to pray for us the same way we might ask a good friend to pray. See Heb Halloween also invites us to talk openly about death in a culture that labors mightily to deny it. Seventy-five percent of Americans do not have a valid will, much less a living will or an organ donor card. Death is a fact of life.
When St. The church gives us two feasts and the whole month of November to do this. Halloween is like our Mardi Gras before a very serious Lent. We should be able to laugh at the dark side and dress up in costumes and have parties. Page McKean Zyromski is a freelance writer and contributing editor of Catechist magazine who lives in Painesville, Ohio.
Anthony Messenger Press. Originally published as a Catholic Update October, by St. Anthony Messenger Press www. Used with permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things.
Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. Jack, the Irish say, grew up in a simple village where he earned a reputation for cleverness as well as laziness. He applied his fine intelligence to wiggling out of any work that was asked of him, preferring to lie under a solitary oak, endlessly whittling.
In his whole life he never made a single enemy, never made a single friend and never performed a selfless act for anyone. One Halloween, as it happened, the time came for him to die. When the devil arrived to take his soul, Jack was lazily drinking at the pub and asked permission to finish his ale. The devil agreed, and Jack thought fast.
Jack grabbed the coin. Again, though he did not sin, Jesus went to the parties of tax collectors and sinners Matt We hang out with neighbors, pass out candy, play games, and eat great food.
We meet them outside and invite them to join the party. Even if they were good, this is just a cowardly way to avoid building relationships and actually loving your neighbor. Thanks Al.
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