October 2024 – Church News from St Gabriel’s Kings Hill
All Hallows Eve
At the end of this month, comes a difficult decision for many Christians. Do they engage with All Hallows eve or not?
That’s right All Hallows eve, the evening of observance before the celebration day of All Saints on November 1st. What did you think I meant? Halloween? Well that’s also a question we also need to think about. With the popular rise of Halloween over the past decade, there is a need for Christians to think about what they do about it. Is it a festival that they try and engage with, or try to separate away from? Is it just harmless fun or something more sinister?
You can’t ignore it, last year spending on Halloween in the UK was set to reach £320 million, so not only has it turned into a big event in communities but also a commercial one as well. Halloween is also a key night for anti-social behavior, with some shops not selling eggs and flour to people under the age of 16. But not everyone likes Halloween, for some it is too scary, the masks, the costumes are just not welcomed. Whole shop aisles are ignored as they are just too scary. Lights are turned out and doors not answered on the 31st itself.
However for others it’s just a little bit of harmless fun, and it’s great to see the children and adults dress up and go trick or treating. Whole communities put on a ‘show’ for the children and young people and are very happy to give out treats to anyone who knocks on the door.
So what about you? What are your thoughts about Halloween, do you enjoy it and join in or do you hide away? Christians believe that Jesus came as the light of the world, to shine in times of darkness. That belief brings comfort in times of distress and worry, and at times where we are scared. Many Christians over the Halloween period show their faith in different ways. Some do reverse Trick and Treating, where they knock and give something nice to the householders, rather than taking. Others carve crosses into pumpkins, or hand out light sticks with the sweets as a sign of Christ’s light.
So how will you spend Halloween? Will you engage and have treats for children, will you offer a place of refuge for those who are scared, worried or lonely? Or will you mark All Hallows eve in the traditional way, of prayer and fasting before a major festival.
Rev Mark Montgomery
Mission Leader, St Gabriel’s Kings Hill
The Church of England on Kings Hill
www.kingshillchurch.org.uk
