A Halloween – all souls – all saints liturgy
October 14, 2007 at 10:44 am | In cape town, emergent spirituality, halloween, worship | 5 Comments
The idea is to respond creatively to the popular celebration Halloween. This is seen as somewhat anti-Christian in the popular mindset, and a tension exists between “Pagan” and “Christian” points of view. The festival, whatever its origins, has be “Christianized” as All Souls and All Saints days.
We would like to engage this complex set of traditions, aiming at a Liturgy – a contemplation-confrontation-celebration that emerges from the conversation around the issues it raises.
Updated: Fri 1st November 2007, 8 for 8:30 pm, 18 Ave Picardie, Constantia, Cape Town.
Please post your ideas/fears here. If you would like to meet and discuss, that would be great – post your email here and we can arrange it.
Also see the synchroblog “Halloween: A christian response“
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You have to serve disgusting-looking luminous green drinks. I remember doing a halloween thing at a youth group (quite) a few years ago where we served them some delicious green dessert. Once everyone had eaten it we showed them the video of the “making of”…where we’d all taken off our shoes and squidged our toes in the pudding. Hehe.
Luckily no-one sued us, or we’d have to confess we didn’t actually add toe jam to the mix. *sigh*
I like the concept of Halloween as a “thin place” where the curtain between the spiritual and the material is drawn back for a time. There’s also something about remembering those who are no longer with us…honouring their lives and our memories of them. To the faithful departed…
If it’s not too dated, the Cranberries would be a great reference point.
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“Death-dealers”: where is that from? Harry Potter? It would be interesting to explore how we hold the power of life and death in our hands: how we can be life-bringers or death-dealers (and get some Warcraft fans along!). Maybe even in a literal sense: making a set of playing cards + dealing them out during the night. And again playing with light and darkness. “In the beginning the Word became flesh and started a subversive rebellion against Voldemort.”
Comment by Roger Saner — October 14, 2007 #
Roger – Nauseating, but brilliant!
Yes to the thin places, yes to remembering. We are on the same page.
What Cranberries tune? I looked at them in iTunes this very morning but am not au fait enough.
Death Dealers – I plead ignorence to truths you hold as self evident. Pray tell those amonsgt us who have had their heads in ECM, knitting or technology for too long – what is Warcraft and why should she be invited? As for light and dark – after YHWH and maybe Lucifer (although he has identified himself with Light), Roger Saner is second in command of Darkness.
Comment by Nic Paton — October 14, 2007 #
I think Halloween is a fun day for Kids, they get to dress up and have fun..It’s been awhile since my kids was small..but i remember thinking the idea of going house to house was silly even back in the 80’s..when things wasn’t so freaky out in the world..i think parents should have parties and towns should have events instead of the door to door thing..especially now since moneys tight for a lot of people. and many don’t give out treats any more.
Comment by connetta — October 15, 2007 #
I think the Death Dealers in Harry Potter are those scary servants of Voldemort dressed in black who think nothing of toasting the nearest human.
One of the Cranberries albums was called “To the faithful departed” (although it doesn’t appear on iTunes for some strange reason). Zombie is a good Halloween track (although not off that album). Also “Salvation” might work well…if not as a focal point then just as background music. Some of their stuff is dark and celtic. Nice.
Warcraft is one of the best RTS (Real Time Strategy) games ever made – and Warcraft 2, although old, is one of my favourites. Ogres, wizards, spells, light against darkness, orcs, humans – all the ingredients for a good halloween party! If you could find a Warcraft gaming clan in Cape Town…
Also see the cool halloween motif on the front of World of Warcraft.com
Comment by Roger Saner — October 23, 2007 #
Nic,
I’m looking forward to the Halloween Liturgy.
Roger,
That’s so wrong but somehow I just can’t disapprove. Have you got any thoughts on how to explore the notion of “death dealing” and “life giving”?
Comment by timvictor — October 24, 2007 #