Date:	2005-10-12 16:28
Subject:	Churchly.
Security:	Public
Mood:	Silly church

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
The following are some thoughts on Halloween, which District Apostle Freund discussed with Chief Apostle Leber. The Chief Apostle agreed that this could be shared with you. I recommend that we digest the contents and gently explain it to our children using our own words taking into consideration their age and level of understanding.

During the Dark Ages a heathen festival fraught with superstition and occult ceremony developed in honour of the Celtic god, Samhain, the lord of death. The Druids taught that terrible curses and punishments would befall those who did not worship their god and participate in ceremonies honouring him. On the night of Samhain, October 31st, this lord of death allegedly gathered the condemned and evil souls from eternity and allowed some of them to return to earth and associate with the living. The festival of Samhain was thereby marked by the visitation of ghosts, evil spirits and witches. As part of the festivities, human sacrifices were offered, and the movements and convulsions of the dying victims were supposedly divined to provide insights into future events.

While the festival of Samhain was the origin of Halloween, the influence of these occult beliefs and practices persisted through the subsequent centuries. In 835 AD, Pope Gregory IV decreed November 1st as All Saints Day. (The day before was designated as All Hallows Evening, and the word, Halloween, is a contraction of that name.) It was an attempt by the Pope to convert a heathen custom, fraught with superstition and occult ceremony, into a spiritual celebration at which departed souls would be remembered and prayed for. In our time, as part of New Age beliefs that have grown throughout the twentieth century, Halloween is thought to be the time for working charms, inflicting spells and inducing divinations. Many satanic groups consider Halloween a unique time when Satan can be called upon to exert his influence in all manner of causes.

It is the connection and association between present-day Halloween and its ungodly and occultist origins that is troubling. As New Apostolic Christians, as children of God, can we innocently and in good conscience involve ourselves with such? Isn't this a day, like no other, selected and promoted by the powers of darkness? In participating in Halloween aren't we treading on territory controlled by the devil?

Some could contend that by dressing in costumes and masks or by going house to house seeking treats, we are only imitating practices of the past, not participating in the original practice or intent. But doesn't the Bible warn us against imitating evil? Apostle John writes, Beloved, do not imitate what is evil (3 John 11). Apostle Paul writes, therefore be imitators of God as dear children and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5:1,
11)-

Isn't there a fascination, especially among children, with the scary and dark side of Halloween? Rather than appease this fascination, couldn't it be spiritually healthier for us and our children to heed the words of Apostle Paul: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8)?

We certainly need to consider how God looks upon the worldly celebration of Halloween.
From the beginning, it has been a festival of the ungodly, when those who worship the powers of
darkness join in superstitious rituals and evil practices in overt opposition to God, our Father.
Wouldn't God be hurt, even offended, if His children, who had promised loyalty to Him and resolved
to resist evil participated in such a festival? Couldn't God our Father, expect more from His children?
Wouldn't He expect us to be spiritually minded, to focus on our commission to be representatives and
intercessors for the departed?

We also need to consider the departed. How do they view the worldly celebration of Halloween? Isn't the portrayal of those in eternity as frightening ghosts or ghastly ghouls disrespectful and denigrating to them? Isn't the Halloween theme of spooks and spirits, depicting these as comical or frightening figures, inconsistent with our attitude toward departed souls? Would departed souls, after being trivialized and mocked by our participation in the festival of Halloween, be expected to consider us as open doors and loving advocates the following Sunday, Service for the Departed?
Our Church is very serious about our commission to pray for and minister to the departed. Service for the Departed is one of the unique aspects of our faith. We are all called to be sensitive and responsive to the needs of these souls. For this reason I place the matter before you. I would ask you to seriously consider the questions posed so that the departed can be convinced of our affection and devotion. As we sing in one of our hymns, by our noble deeds and conduct honour is to God's Work brought. (Hymn 288, verse 4)

On Monday October 31st, there are fellowships planned for our Sunday School children. Please ensure that the children understand that this is NOT a Halloween party, but rather a Harvest Celebration. Each child at this celebration should receive a bag of treats.

Leslie Latorcai LL/cch



All I got to say about tht is.... Silly church.