Trunk or Treat has become an annual tradition at PUMC. We celebrate the birth of our Savior. We celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. But we also celebrate community, family, and just a chance to be together. Parenthood is largely about creating good, happy, nurturing memories for your children. And- memories for parents.
The PUMC Trunk or Treat is designed to do just that. It provides a service to the community, specifically to families with young children. Strolling around the crowded parking lot on a cool evening gives us a chance to catch up with old friends, enjoy the creativity of decorated trunks, share laughs at the spoofs on TV shows and movies, play games indoors, and to just spend time with your children…. to create memories that bind families together.
2025 Trunk or Treat (10/25/25)
Trunk or Treat is always “Rain or Shine,” but there was no rain in sight. It was a beautiful evening, and it’s estimated that over 750 people stopped by at some point during the evening. Outdoors, the parking lot held 22 decorated trunks filed with creativity (and candy). Indoors, the Fellowship Hall hosted several games, a bounce house, and pizza!
Here’s a glimpse of this year’s edition of Trunk or Treat….
Visit their website to find out more about this unique radio station: The Bridge
They broadcast on several FM stations, but the one closest to Pitman is in Bridgeton. It’s WNJB, 89.3 FM.
You can also listen to their live stream broadcast: Stream The Bridge
Halloween: What’s to Celebrate???
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! Every family needs opportunities to spend time together and to enjoy the community of neighbors in a safe environment.
Beyond the good times and family memories, Halloween is actually a good time to see God’s blessings of abundant life. After all, Jesus came to give us this “Abundant Life” (see what Jesus said about His purpose as recorded in John 10:10).
When we take hold of Jesus’ gift of “Abundant Life”, here are two examples of what we can celebrate on Halloween….
Celebrate Light- Not Darkness…
Pastor Mike submitted the following thoughts for the cover of the October 2025 edition of Steeple Notes (our church newsletter). Click on the below Drop Down box and consider God’s provisions, and Celebrate!
Celebrate God's Provisions!
With the arrival of October, I consider some wonderful things that comes with it. One thing that comes to mind is the love of cooler weather and lower temperatures! Some of the best weather arrives with the fall season. With this weather, it brings campfires and time 
outside. The fall weather also helps to return us to a schedule. The summer months are filled with so much activity and everything can differ from week to week. I love being able to have some kind of schedule and an understanding on what is next. These are just a couple of the many things I love about fall, but there is one part of this season that I have a hesitation towards.
During the fall, comes the celebration of Halloween. Over the years I have struggled on how to handle Halloween as a Christian. Our culture has glorified the horror in all of it. The reality is that there is a spiritual world, and we are not to glorify harm, horror or evil of any kind. Our faith stands for peace, hope, love and celebrating the light of Christ and not darkness. When it comes to the end of October, I will celebrate harvest and the goodness of God. I will celebrate what God has provided. When it comes to the end of October, I will celebrate a spirit, but I will celebrate the Holy Spirit!
Sure, I may have some fun, and dress up as one of my favorites, such as Captain America, but I refuse to celebrate horror. My friends, let this be a time to spread the light of Christ, not the darkness that is all around. One day darkness, death and sin will be conquered, but until then, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. Let us celebrate light and not the darkness of this world.
Pastor Mike Chapman
Celebrate Life- Not Death…
Happy All Saints Day!
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 this button to learn more about Halloween and “All Saints Day”: 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 “Tabs” to reveal a new treasure):
- Party in the Air
- Raised in Glory
- The Voice of Life
- A Place for Us
- An Eternal Companion
- No More Tears or Death
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)
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)
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)
~ ~ ~
Celebrate the Family of God!
Trunk or treat is a unique opportunity for parents to relive their own childhood memories while creating new memories for their children. It’s a time to break away from the busyness and to spend some much needed time together. Community and events like this are gifts from God that remind us of His greater gifts: His offer of abundant life. And unlike the candy, which disappears all too quickly, God’s gifts are eternal. And LIKE the candy given away at Trunk or Treat, God’s gifts are free.
Fall for Jesus: He will never leave!
To learn more about Trunk or Treat, check out the post that announced this year’s event:
Trunk-Treat 25 Announcement
It happens every year; at the turn of a calendar page the summer is over. The leaves fall from the trees, kids go back to school, and it gets cooler. The tilt and rotation of the earth creates a variation in the sunlight that we see. And in the same way, God gave us seasons so we can keep experiencing His creation in fresh ways.
One of the ways we celebrate the change in season is with an annual Trunk or Treat!.
Why would a church celebrate Halloween? For one thing, it’s a great way to be with our neighbors and to celebrate our community. We can also celebrate the Fall harvest and the bounty that God’s earth gives us (apple cider and ginger snaps always go good this time of year!).
But beyond that, “All Hallows Eve” recognizes the Resurrection. Key to our hope as Christians is our faith in the resurrection. Life is eternal (thanks to Jesus!) and someday we’ll be reunited with Jesus and with the loved ones who preceded us.
Who, What, Where, When…
Here are the details for our 2025 Trunk or Treat:
2025 Trunk or Treat
- WHO: Anyone!!!
- WHAT: Lots of decorated trunks and free candy, games, and Fall Fun
- WHERE: In and around our building (Directions)
- WHEN: Saturday 10/25/25 (rain or shine!)
- TIMES: 6:30 to 8:30 PM
- COST: Absolutely free!!!
To get a feel for the PUMC version of “Trunk or Treat”, here’ are a few glimpses of some previous Trunk or Treats:
Why?
Sometimes churches are seen as an island of “religious people” who stick to themselves and attend their “private party” every Sunday morning. Sometimes churches don’t go beyond their walls. But we don’t see PUMC in that way! A church is an integral part of the
community. It’s part of the town’s history and culture. A church should be a group of people who are involved in the community and wants to work together with its neighbors to make the community a better place to live. God calls everyone to help others in any way possible.
One of the most important things going on in any community is the nurturing of our children. Outings like Trunk and Treat give families the chance to do something together. They not only provide memories and photos, they provide moments- moments of laughter, sharing, and bonding. This foundation of love is so important to all of us.
So PUMC is throwing a party! We’re celebrating families, and we’re celebrate All Saints Day.
What’s Halloween???
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 “Tabs” to reveal a new treasure):
- Party in the Air
- Raised in Glory
- The Voice of Life
- A Place for Us
- An Eternal Companion
- No More Tears or Death
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)
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)
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)
~~~~~
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!
+ + + + + +
For other ways PUMC is connecting with our neighbors, click this button: Neighbors
