Our Hangout

Well....LOL! We do not participate in Halloween. It is a decision we made as parents after researching the "history" of Halloween and not feeling comfortable with the "darkness" of the holiday. This is just OUR decision as a family and by all means DO NOT look down on those who do participate. I think it is all how you perceive it and the comfort level you have with it.I grew up not being allowed to go by my Dad, but since he worked long hours, my mom would quickly take us out =)Mike grew up not allowed to go at all, and participated in the "alternatives" that the churches put on. This year we took the kids to an alternative and they had a blast and came home with lots of candy!

All good Sarah. One of the things that Paul says surrounding the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, and considering one day holier than others, drinking and other such issues..is that each person needs to make a decision before God and be faithful to that, making sure that their decision is centered on having God first, and without letting it lead to passing judgement on others. Which seems to be what you guys are doing. I hope I didn't come accross as judgemental, because this is something that we've processed pretty deeply since even before Lucas was born and we certainly aren't where we were 7 years ago, and I'd like to think where it pertains to our relationship with God we're closer. At least that's where we want to be.

It's weird that when it comes to certain issues the Bible allows for two seemingly opposing positions as long as he's at the center. Some people would disagree with me, but that's ok. Thanks for the honesty, I'm glad you feel comfortable to do so.

We do have a practice, for ourselves, no costumes that would glorify evil. Just fun stuff. By the way, Lucas' robot costume was home made.

They are severely cute!!

My 2 cents...life is busy! So, time for relationship building? I'll take it whenever I can get it.

And for the little kids...it's the only day of the year when you get to dress up as whatever you want to be and it's great for their imaginations...as Christians, we're not supposed to remove ourselves from the world...let's just make it a day to connect with the community...and let the kids enjoy the freedom to be a Princess or Batman.

As I drove home from my piano lesson on Halloween, I passed a large group of kids and parents, all walking around together and talking and laughing, having a good time. Even the dogs had costumes on! We have been discussing of late how to become more involved with the community around us. What an amazing opportunity. I have such fond memories of Halloween as a child, I look forward to sharing them with my children if I am lucky enough to do so. Sometimes I wish I could still dress up! Btw, love Lucas' costume!

Glad that you posted this Ed! The origins of many holidays that we celebrate can be debated on so many levels and I am sure it will ruffle a lot of feathers. Halloween in the Port is about community and relationships! Single moms forgetting about their struggles and devotiing a whole night to their kids enjoyment. My neighbours getting out and laughing and INTERACTING with people they might not have had a chance to with their busy schedule. Meeting a pastor a year ago and building a wonderful and meaningful relationship! ( I am proud to call you my friend!). And most of all building a strong community! This is what this Halloween was about in the Port. Because of the deFreitas mentoring and involvement in our little street. It is getting around in the Port that Victoria is the street to be on! Families drive their kids to our street to experience the sense of community. People are moving their families to our neighbourhood and getting involved. We all know each other and respect the differences that we posses.

It all started on Halloween, two guys meeting for the first time, and building on our similarities and respecting our differences. I am not a big fan of the "Evil" aspect of Halloween, but here in the Port, here on Victoria Street, we are slowly reclaiming it for the kids, families, and our community as a whole. Ed and Vania made a gracious step and I look forward to what we may reclaim. Please note that I respect all the comments that has been posted, respectful and done with care. Halloween for me, on a personal level is for the kids and the young at heart. It gives a time for our little community to celebrate the kids and reclaim a little bit of youth at the same time. The picture says it all, Celo you stole the show! I look forward to what next year will hold.

Nick thank you for your words. We are humbled!

Sometimes we get so sidetracked with trying to figure out histories that we forget that Christianity is about reconciliation. It's about taking things that were previously bad, wrong, sinful, and allowing God's power to transform them.

Why do that though? Why not just do the alternative thing and stay away from the whole thing all together? This is not judgment on those who would choose this way. Just my thoughts on why I don't do it that way. For me the simple reason is this, because Jesus says that you don't take your light and hide it. When Christians create their own subculture, who operates away from the world and chooses not to have a reconcilliatory voice on the things the wolrd is doing, our light can't shine. Why? Because we're not present. Halloween does involve many people, the majority of which, who are not celebrating it as an "evil" thing...Christians have the opportunity to be a light in a community building way in times and places like this. And even enjoy themselves in it.

Having said that, each person still needs to work this out for themselves and be true to their conscience with their decisions. There are more ways to be community building than just to join in on Halloween. As long as they're not judgmental to others who would choose differently than themselves.

The only other thing I'd say, because as a pastor, and just as a person I like to push things a little further...Most Christians who would choose to not participate in Halloween because of it's roots, play cards. There was a day not a single Christian played cards because of it's roots. Today most Christians can differentiate between how they use cards and how they were originally used. Just like early Christians worked through the issue of eating meat offered to idols. The point, a deck of cards isn't evil in itself. Kids going to a door dressed up in a costume and getting candy is not evil in itself and even eating meat is not evil in itself, regardless for what used it had been used before. Okay, that could be debated.

The scriptures teach; on the cross, Jesus was reconciling "everything" to himself. Not just people, but everything. Not just that, in him we are ministers of reconciliation. So, reconcile away!!!

What I think about this subject is that, kids will be kids, and does it matter what thier parents do? In my opinion, Halloween is a time for fun, and isnt that the purpose of every holiday, to bring joy and celebration? I do not believe halloween is 'evil' so why let a few stories and other peoples beliefs get in a persons way of having fun ? You belief what you want to belief, but I do belief Halloween is the same as every other holiday out there and I am going to enjoy this one. Happy way early halloween to everyone else out there who enjoys the holiday as well.

Wow Laura, you've stumbled on a three year old post.

This year, we'll be away on halloween as our family is headed to cuba. I'll pass up halloween for a couple of weeks in the hot sun, just as it starts getting cold up here.