Hey Sound City!
Fall is here in the PNW, which for many of us means back to school, rain jackets, football, holidays and PSL’s (don’t pretend you don’t know what that means).
It seems like people in the PNW follow the hibernation patterns of black bears. People tend to stay inside their homes as soon as it drops below 60 degrees. I’m just as guilty with the changing of the seasons, as I look forward to family snuggles in front of the fire listening to the raindrops. But I'm sure glad God doesn’t take a break from building his kingdom when it gets cold!
Recently, Pastor Kyle and I were discussing how to encourage the people of Sound City to be more missional during the cold rainy months. With Halloween just around the corner we began discussing how it provides a natural opportunity to engage with our neighbors. (We recognize that for some people, Halloween is troublesome to their conscience. Please go to the bottom for some brief thoughts and further reading on the subject).
A neighborhood block party can be an easy first step in getting to know your neighbors. You can do this as a family or with your community group. Either way, the following 5 steps are meant to help guide you in planning as you look for ways to build relationships and live missionally.
At least a week prior to Halloween, invite your neighbors to a block party that’ll take place while your neighbors are already planning on being out trick or treating.
Set out some lawn chairs and small tables in your driveway and in your street.
Have lots of candy ready. Christians, don’t be stingy! Maybe even get the big, full-sized candy bars.
Fire up the grill or fire pit for s’mores. Warm up a large “cauldron” of hot cocoa.
Be prayed up and let the conversations flow! Go into this event with a desire to really get to know your neighbors. Be ready with good conversation starting questions, like:
How long have you lived in this area?
What are your favorite parts of living here? Least favorite?
What do you do for work? How did you find yourself in that field?
What challenges or struggles do you see in our neighborhood or in our city? How can we as neighbors work together to be a help in those areas?
What are your plans for the upcoming holidays? (This might provide new opportunities to include those who don’t have other plans).
How can I be praying for you?
A Note on Christians and Halloween
At Sound City Bible Church, we view participation in Halloween as a matter of conscience. Certainly, there are aspects of this cultural “holiday” that are sinful and should be avoided, things like drunkenness, sexual immorality, or vandalism (the same things could be said about many other cultural celebrations, like homecoming, New Year’s Eve, or the Super Bowl). But there is also nothing inherently sinful about dressing up in a costume and asking neighbors for candy.
For a well-balanced treatment on the subject, we would recommend this article by Travis Allen of Grace To You Ministries. The whole article is helpful, but this summary puts it well:
Ultimately, Christian participation in Halloween is a matter of conscience before God. Whatever level of Halloween participation you choose, you must honor God by keeping yourself separate from the world and by showing mercy to those who are perishing. Halloween provides the Christian with the opportunity to accomplish both of those things in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a message that is holy, set apart from the world; it's a message that is the very mercy of a forgiving God. What better time of the year is there to share such a message than Halloween?