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July 1, 1999
Re-hallowing Halloween
Angels replace mischief with message
Candy-dispensing homeowners in Belleville, Ontario, expect heavenly visitors again this fall. Along with Yoda, Pokemon, and the usual goblins, a host of angels will appear on Halloween night.
The town's 19 evangelical churches will sponsor "Touched by an Angel" for a third year. We dispatch the children of church families in costume to deliver cards reading "God cares for you and wants to touch your life." This allows children whose parents struggle with Halloween to collect some candy and spread the word at the same time.
While the children ring the doorbell, parents are asked to stand curbside and pray quietly for the people who live there. We tell the children to say, "I have a message for you," and hand them the card. We remind them not to say "trick or treat," because angels don't trick.
The project has grown to include an angel float in the Christmas parade, where the kids gave out 5,000 cards with candies attached, and a community Christmas play, "Angels on a Mission."
The kids have a blast, and we believe we've had spiritual impact.
—Tim Day
Belleville Evangelical Fellowship
Belleville, Ontario
You know you need a vacation when …
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You visit the hospital and envy the patients.
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People ask if you've been sick and you answer, "Not yet."
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You turn down a sabbatical because you can't decide what to do with the time off.
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You can't remember the chorus of "Jesus Loves Me."
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You consider a six-week sermon series on the text: "Jesus withdrew to a lonely place."
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You attend meetings you know will be boring just to get some rest.
—Joe McKeever, Kenner, Louisiana
Currents
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Marriage lessons. Florida now requires high schools to teach marriage skills. The state also discounts license fees if couples take a four-hour prep course. Fewer divorces is the goal. Across the U.S., clergy in 100+ communities are joining Marriage Savers, marrying couples only after they complete counseling.
(Trend Letter, 3/18/99)
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