First Baptist Church of New Carlisle, Ohio has a rich and unique history in our community. Since 1955 we've been establishing ourselves as a lighthouse for Jesus Christ in our hometown of New Carlisle, Ohio.

We have Bible Study at 9:15 am and Worship Service at 10:30 am every Sunday. Childcare/nursery provided for all services. Wednesdays we have Prayer Meeting at 7:00 pm and Revive Student Ministries for youth at 7:00 pm

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Is it Halloween or Harvest Time? - By Wanda Hess

Jeremiah 8:20 says “the harvest is past, the summer is ended” and it truly is happening with the change in the weather. We have seen some beautiful leaf colors this year and having seen snowflakes already in Miami Valley. In the month of October begins the harvest time and also the end of the month brings Halloween festivities. I read Halloween is the second best holiday that people decorate. Are you a person who celebrates Halloween or do you celebrate Harvest Time?

I googled Halloween and this is what I found. Straddling the line between fall and winter, plenty and paucity, life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration and superstition. It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints and martyrs; the holiday, All Saints’ Day, incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows’ Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a secular, community-based event characterized by child-friendly activities such as trick-or-treating. In a number of countries around the world, as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, people continue to usher in the winter season with gatherings, costumes and sweet treats.

When my children were in school we celebrated Halloween in their respective grades at school with a Halloween party and some schools have parades. Children were allowed to come to school in costume. I remember the years my daughter was in Band. And the band members who wanted to could dress up in costume and wear that on the football field.

This year I had the opportunity to work “Harvest Party” at my grandchildren’s school. I didn’t see too much different other than no costumes allowed. We played games; we had snacks and sent home sweet goodies for later. Harvest time took on a different meaning for me this year because I have been driving up into Champaign County to visit and be with the grandchildren and there are a lot of farmers up in that county. Seeing the fields take on their different looks from planting time, growing time, and the harvest time made me appreciate and be aware of how our lives could be compared to fields. Isaiah 53:2 says "for he shall grow up as a tender plant" ……we could compare those tender plants as our children and how we need to plant the seeds about Jesus and going to Sunday School. II Peter 3:18 "but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." We all need to grow just as those young plants. We learn more and more about Jesus by Bible study and attending church. And then comes the harvest. To me the harvest is the rewards when we get to heaven. Just like those farmers who reap the rewards of their hard work and monitoring their crops….So if you are a Halloween person or a Harvest person make it a good end of the season.

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