Halloween---Condemn or Redeem

 

First off Happy Birthday to Annie, my oldest daughter,  my Halloween Treat. You make Halloween even more special with your birth.

 

I am so glad and proud of leading a church that instead of condemning Halloween we strive to make it better for the children. It was definitely notice by many children attending our Harvest Carnival.  When I was younger my churches just condemned it and did nothing to celebrate it, but even didn’t not want kids going trick or treating even.

 

Many people of our church put in a lot of time and energy and Candy to make sure that when children walked through the doors of our church, they experienced love and acceptance and candy and played games and even played on the bounce house but they knew it was safe and friendly and loving.

 

We have a choice as churches and Christians to condemn these holidays or to redeem them. We chose as a church to redeem Halloween and use it as an outreach to the community. It was great watching children running with excitement to the church to see what was going to happen, I wish that was our every Sunday approach. That people would run to church with excitement to see what was going to happen.

 

Shouldn’t was all be wanting children and adults running into church in great anticipation that something good is going to happen.

 

In preparation for our Harvest Carnival, we had our youth carving pumpkins for decorations.

What would happen if this is how we would carve our pumpkins, I wonder what they may look like?????

 

(First cut off top of pumpkin}
Lord, open my mind so I can learn new things about you.

 

{remove innards}
Remove the things in my life that don’t please you.
Forgive the wrong things I do and help me to forgive others.

 

{cut open eyes}
Open my eyes to see the beauty you’ve made in the world around me.

 

{cut out nose}
I’m sorry for the times I’ve turned my nose at the good food you provide.

 

{cut out mouth}
Let everything I say please You.

 

{light the candle}
Lord, help me show your light to others through the things I do. Amen

 

Maybe just maybe after you are done your pumpkin it may resemble someone you know.

 

Instead of judging things for evil, why not try to make them something to reach people for Christ in Love....

Just a thought.