Last year’s Trunk or Treat was a blast, and it was a welcome “return to normal” from the years where the pandemic forced us to scale back. But there’s no “scaling back” this year! The annual PUMC Trunk or Treat has returned!
Who, What, Where, When…
Here are the details for our 2022 Trunk or Treat:
2022 Trunk or Treat
- WHO: Anyone!!!
- WHAT: Lots of decorated trunks and free candy
- WHERE: In our Parking Lot (Directions)
- WHEN: Saturday 10/29/22 (rain or shine!)
- TIMES: 6:30 to 8:30 PM (yep- a bit later than usual)
- COST: Absolutely free!!!
To get a feel for the PUMC version of “Trunk or Treat”, here’s a taste of what we did a couple of years ago:
Why???
So why would a church want to engage in a “worldly” event like Halloween???
Put simply, God has given us a lot of reasons to celebrate, and we’re in the habit of sharing with our neighbors. So we wanted to invite everyone over for a party!
Halloween is also called “Hallows Eve.” It is the night before November 1, and November 1 is the traditional celebration of “All Saints Day.” Actually, Halloween began as a Christian celebration! Click the below button to learn more about Halloween and “All Saints Day”. It is a celebration!
Halloween
When a loved one dies, we miss them. It hurts. When we think of our own death it’s scary. But God has relieved us of that pain and fear. If we allow God to join us to Jesus, we will have the assurance that we’ll live forever in heaven. We’ll see our loved ones again, and it will be great! Because Jesus rose from the dead, we don’t have to fear death anymore… if we take God up on His offer.
For those who have taken God up on His offer of joining with Christ, there is a lot of reason to celebrate. God has promised that we will be reunited with those who have “gone before us”, and that gives us a lot of hope. Here are a few things that give us that hope (just like unwrapping Halloween candy, click/tap each of these “drop down” boxes to reveal a new treasure):
Party in the Air!
The apostle Paul wrote…
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Raised in Glory!
The apostle Paul wrote…
It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (from 1 Corinthians 15)
The Voice of Life!
Jesus will call us to Life…
Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.” (John 5:24-29)
A Place for Us!
Jesus promised that He’s getting things ready for us…
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ” (John 14:1-3)
An Eternal Companion!
Jesus is praying for us…
“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray 
that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!” (John 17:22-24)
No More Tears or Death!
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:1-4)
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Especially at this time of the year, one of the hymns that we frequently sing is called “For All the Saints.”
Methodists believe that the word “Saint” includes anyone who accepts Jesus and wants to be connected with Him…. it’s not limited to great people who do miraculous things. All of these “saints”- our loved ones, our teachers, our parents, our pastors… or anyone who quietly served and inspired us are shining in glory right now.
This hymn has 6 verses in our hymnal, but verse 4 helps explain why we celebrate “All Saints Day”:
O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Communion- we are one with all who have lived for God. We are one with Jesus. Now that’s something to celebrate!
As you stroll through the lines of decorated cars, enjoy the fresh cool air. Enjoy the laughter of your children and the smiles of the crowd. Connect with neighbors you haven’t seen in a while. Marvel at the creativity of those who turned their car’s trunk into a different world. Enjoy the lights. And enjoy the candy! But even more so, remember that God wants to spend eternity with us. Death is not the end. One day, Jesus will welcome us into heaven, and we’ll celebrate the company of those who have gone before us.
Happy All Saints Day!
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For other ways PUMC is connecting with our neighbors, click this button: Neighbors
