{"id":36483,"date":"2025-10-27T11:53:26","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T15:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=36483"},"modified":"2026-01-06T10:12:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:12:28","slug":"2025-trunk-or-treat-is-ready-to-celebrate-10-25-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=36483","title":{"rendered":"Neighbors Gather Together to Celebrate at Trunk or Treat (10\/25\/25)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trunk or Treat has become an annual tradition at PUMC.\u00a0 We celebrate the birth of our Savior.\u00a0 We celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.\u00a0 But we also celebrate community, family, and just a chance to be together.\u00a0 Parenthood is largely about creating good, happy, nurturing memories for your children.\u00a0 And- memories for parents.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The PUMC Trunk or Treat is designed to do just that.\u00a0 It provides a service to the community, specifically to families with young children.\u00a0 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.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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2025 Trunk or Treat (10\/25\/25)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Trunk or Treat is always “Rain or Shine,” but there was no rain in sight.\u00a0 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).\u00a0 Indoors, the Fellowship Hall hosted several games, a bounce house, and pizza!<\/p>\n

Here’s a glimpse of this year’s edition of Trunk or Treat….<\/p>\n\n\t\t

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This year’s Trunk or Treat was joined by “The Bridge”, a local Christian Radio station.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Visit their website to find out more about this unique radio station:\u00a0 The Bridge<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They broadcast on several FM stations<\/a>, but the one closest to Pitman is in Bridgeton.\u00a0 It’s WNJB, 89.3 FM.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also listen to their live stream broadcast:\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Stream The Bridge<\/span><\/a> \u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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Halloween: What’s to Celebrate???<\/span><\/h3>\n

So why would a church want to engage in a “worldly” event like Halloween<\/a><\/span>???\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Put simply, God has given us a lot of reasons to celebrate, and we’re in the habit of sharing with our neighbors.\u00a0 So we wanted to invite everyone over for a party!\u00a0 Every family needs opportunities to spend time together and to enjoy the community of neighbors in a safe environment.<\/p>\n

Beyond the good times and family memories, Halloween is actually a good time to see God’s blessings of abundant life.\u00a0 \u00a0After all, Jesus came to give us this “Abundant Life” (see what Jesus said about His purpose as recorded in John 10<\/a>:10<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n

When we take hold of Jesus’ gift of “Abundant Life”, here are two examples of what we can celebrate on Halloween….<\/p>\n

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Celebrate Light- Not Darkness…<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

Pastor Mike submitted the following thoughts for the cover of the October 2025 edition of Steeple Notes (our church newsletter).\u00a0 Click on the below Drop Down box and consider God’s provisions, and Celebrate! <\/span>

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Celebrate God's Provisions!<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pastor Mike Chapman<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n

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Celebrate Life- Not Death…<\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

Happy All Saints Day!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Halloween is also called “Hallows Eve.”\u00a0 It is the night before November 1, and November 1 is the traditional celebration of “All Saints Day.”\u00a0 Actually, Halloween began as a Christian celebration!\u00a0 Click this button to learn more about Halloween and “All Saints Day”:\u00a0 Halloween<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

When a loved one dies, we miss them.\u00a0 It hurts.\u00a0 When we think of our own death it’s scary.\u00a0 But God has relieved us of that pain and fear.\u00a0 If we allow God to join us to Jesus, we will have the assurance that we’ll live forever in heaven.\u00a0 We’ll see our loved ones again, and it will be great!\u00a0 Because Jesus rose from the dead, we don’t have to fear death anymore… if we take God up on His offer.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 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<\/span><\/em>):<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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