I came across this letter I wrote for our bulletin a few years back. As we approach Halloween, I'm freshly reminded of how challenges we face in the world can be great opportunities for advancing God's Kingdom...
“So why does The Coastlands host an annual Sweets and Treats event on the church campus, anyway?”
It’s not an unreasonable question to ask; in fact, it’s an important question – one that we like to ask ourselves every year as we prepare our campus (and ourselves!) for October 31. It’s because we want to offer our community an event that’s fun AND safe!
As a church committed to providing fun and effective ministry to children of all ages, we understand the safety concerns many parents have each year as they prepare their kids for a night out of trick-or-treating. We see this popular holiday as a wonderful opportunity to offer a safe and free alternative to the standard Halloween experience. We aim to accomplish this by creating an atmosphere that eliminates the unknowns that can cause a parent unneeded concerns about the well-being of their children. And, of course, we can’t forget the most important benefit (to the kids, that is) – the candy! It suffices to say, we promise to load their bags with plenty of sugary goods before they exit the church campus.
In addition to the fun to be had on October 31, our culture has come to equate Halloween with lots of stuff, some of which is extreme: haunted houses, ghoulish costumes, macabre images, and general craziness. As a body of believers, we could choose to strongly react against this cultural tradition, and scornfully wag our fingers in disapproval as we preach about how evil it all is—blah, blah, blah! Instead, our goal as a church is to respond by providing an alternative rather than deriding the status quo.
That’s what Jesus did—offer an alternative to the ways of living that permeated the world around Him and in which He lived. He came to save, not to judge; He lived, died, and rose again so people could have life in abundance. Anyone can snort, shake their fists, and point their finger at a problem, but it takes obedience to the wonderful leading of God’s Spirit to bring about meaningful, restorative change in the lives of real people. That said, we don’t profess to have the solution to the undesirables of Halloween, nor do we think everyone should follow our lead. Sweets and Treats is but one small illustration of how we have learned to give expression to some of the things Jesus asks us to do as His followers.
Lots of “Kingdom” stuff starts out small—God loves to take the little “mustard seeds” we give and grow them to become so much more than they could ever become on their own. Putting on Sweets and Treats is a lot of work that, for such a big event, can seem small in relation to what it appears to produce at first glance. But the process of serving alongside one another brings us unity as a church, draws us together as a community, blesses the kids, and in the end, leaves us all feeling wonderfully satisfied. Jesus means to encourage us when He says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Hosting Sweets and Treats is a meaningful and fulfilling way for us to live out this truth. We hope you enjoy your time with us!
