Post Halloween

Here are some thoughts and observations on Halloween 2010

-Reason 842 why I love my church, The Orchard Community:  Darth Vader came up and helped with announcements.  (He also helped greet people at the door and the parking lot with a sign that said “Even I Am Glad To See You”)

-Still finds it weird that most trick-or-treating is done during the daylight.  We can trick-or-treat between 4pm-8pm here.

-We told the kids we were not spending any money on costumes.  The kids used things around the house to make their costumes.  Emily was a hippie.  Jacob was a stranger (wore my shirt and tie and my trenchcoat and a hat and just tried to look scary) and Logan was a hostage.

-Loves the fact that all the kids are old enough to go trick-or-treating on their own.

-Tip #1–Come to our house toward the end of the night and you will get handfuls of candy.

-Wishes we could have a halloween block party but accepts the fact that most people will think it is too cold.

Halloween

Today is the day before Halloween, or since Halloween is actually Hallows Eve, today is Hallows Eve Eve.  Much debate has been done on the subject of Halloween and how Christians should, or should not, participate in it.

I grew up celebrating Halloween.  When I say celebrating, I mean putting on a Darth Vader costume and walking around the neighborhood getting candy.  That’s it.  That is also what my kids have done.  We dislike all the evilness such as the blood and gore and haunted houses that depict gruesome scenes.  But, we don’t want to hide out in our house with the lights off to avoid making contact with Dora the Explorer and Superman.

Many churches have adopted “alternative nights” and “trunk or treating” on church property to encourage people to stay off the streets and instead come experience our version of halloween on our terms.  Personally, I believe this sends the wrong message.

We, as christians, need to be a light in our community.  If all the church-going christians are at church, who is back in our neighborhoods meeting the neighbors and possibly making a new connection with someone.  I think this is where a lot of churches get it wrong.  They have so many programs and such large and all-inclusive facilities that those that attend the church, are there on Sundays, Bible Study on Monday or Tuesday, Family Night on Wednesday, they play in the church basketball league in the church gym on Thursday.  Prayer Breakfast is on Saturday.  When are these people ever home and no wonder they don’t know their neighbors and don’t know anyone outside of church to invite church.  These things are not bad in and of themselves, but where does that leave room to seek out the lost right close by home?

Back to Halloween.  What do we do on Halloween?  We do something no one else here does.  I set up my fire pit in the driveway and pass out candy from there.  Almost all the adults talk to me because it is usually cold and they comment on what a great idea it is and how they wish they could hang out instead of walking their little fairy fairy princess around the neighborhood.  If my budget allowed it, I would love to have coffee and hot chocolate for the parents to have as a treat.  Maybe next year.

That is how we plan to be a light in our neighborhood.  How about you?