It does sound a bit made up, doesn't it - but Allhallowtide is actually a thing and it's this weekend! The words 'hallow' and ' saint' are synonymous: so it's all about the saints; All Saints day, remembering the faithful departed and All Hallows evening - Halloween.
It's a 'time to remember the dead, including martyrs, saints, and all faithful departed Christians' and that's what we'll be doing on Sunday as we think about All Saints in our morning service and then remembering those we love who've died, in an evening service. Do join us if you're able; both services will also be on Zoom, but if you're able to join us in person, we'd love to see you.
In particular our 6pm service gives us a chance to remember before God those we love who are no longer with us, whether it's someone who has died very recently or maybe much longer ago. Come early, from 5.30pm, from when a cuppa will be available, and write down their names, that will be read out in the service and hung on our tree of light - if you like. There'll be a chance to light a candle too. Whilst these are symbolic acts to remember, it's a chance to place our loved ones once again into the hands of He who is the light of the world.
Halloween though? Well, fancy dress and sweets is always fun. Celebrating evil? Not so much. If you're a pumpkin-carving trick-or-treater, maybe it's an opportunity to give out love heart sweets and light up gardens with pumpkin lanterns, sharing the light and love of God in our neighbourhoods - while having fun!
You can find the whole newsletter here
