This weekend is Halloween and All Saints' Day. Some Christians only recognize All Saints Day and abhor Halloween. They think that Halloween is purely pagan and should be shunned. They think this weekend should be somber. Some unbelievers only celebrate Halloween and think All Saints' Day is wishful thinking. They think this weekend should be carefree and fun. I believe that one day does not exclude the other. Christians can honor the Saints on one day and play make-believe on the other.
On Saturday, CCLS preschool is hosting a Candy Corn Festival at the synodical headquarters in Kirkwood. I will be out there dressed as a Jedi (See facebook for a photo) along with Ann and the rest of the Glendale staff. This week I visited the classrooms dressed in my star wars outfit. I made the sign of the cross with Grace's lightsaber. I asked the kids this week what they were going to be. I got lots of Spidermen, princesses, Disney characters and monsters. Halloween at its best is a time for play. We pretend we are superheroes because we want to save the world. Girls dress as Elsa because they want to be a great sister like she is. Make believe is healthy and part of growing up. One kid even wanted to dress up like Pastor Scott until his parents talked him out of it. The message of Halloween can be that life is fun and adventurous.
But life is more than fun and adventurous. There are times of death and sadness. All Saints' Day allows us to mourn those who have passed with hope. The Saints are living their best life with Jesus. I’m sure it is full of fun and adventure. But we miss those who have gone before us. Our congregation misses those who have died over the last year: (in order of death date) Dale Griffin, LaVerne Eifert, Sally Dobrunz, Lucille Massie, and Vivian Kattentidt. We also mourn Jenna Jackson and Derick Carrico, friends of Glendale Lutheran. We will ring a bell in remembrance of them this Sunday. You are encouraged to come forward and say the name of a loved one who has passed. The tone of All Saints Day is not morose. We have victory through Christ Jesus. The somberness of death is balanced with the excitement of the resurrection. I encourage everyone to have fun on Saturday and remember our loved ones on Sunday.
