God is inviting us to be
‘and’ Lutherans. What if your family celebrated
Halloween and All Saints Day this year?
Day (Nov. 1) in Mexico. To under- stand death as a natural part of the circle of life, the dead are roused from sleep on Día de los Muertos to commune with their loved ones. Family members adorn the graves of their departed with the things they loved—special foods and pic- tures of friends and family. To add to the celebration, mis-
chievous skeletons and skull can- dies, called calacas and calaveras, are displayed in bakery windows and cemeteries. Amid a culture of “or” think-
ing, during the month in which we observe a trick-or-treat holiday, I think God is inviting us to be “and” Lutherans. What if your family celebrated Halloween and All Saints Day this year? We could take a page from the
playbook of Katie and Joey Cole- man of Seattle, parents of Henry and Jack, who said, “We have fun on Halloween by gathering with old friends, meeting new neighbors and sharing generously with people who come to our door. That spirit of community—among the living and the dead—is extended in All Saints Day when we bring pictures of grandparents and friends who have passed away to church. “We love celebrating both holi-
days together and letting our kids know they are part of a big com- munity of neighbors known and unknown, saints alive and dead.”
Author bio: Lindberg is a Seattle- area pastor, parent and former teacher.
ARE YOU READY TO BE REFRESHED?
IVPRESS.COM October 2015 33
“I WAS DYING FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND COULD ENVISION NOTHING LIFE GIVING, NOTHING ENERGIZING, NOTHING VITAL HAPPENING IN MY LIFE.
COURTESY OF MARY LINDBERG
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