Gaudiness Refuses to RIP

It started out as a single day. October 31. Halloween. A day for school kids to dress up—mostly in handmade costumes—and have a party. Bobbing for apples. Silly games. Freshly baked cupcakes and homemade apple cider. Then, near sundown, the trek through the neighborhood trick or treating.

Now it’s a season. A month-long celebration of gaudiness. Plastic tombstones, phony ghosts, blowup spiders, fake cobwebs, and a plethora of other lawn monstrosities. The costumes—once a work of art in their creativity—are now mostly bland replicas of the latest “in” thing. How much money do Americans spend on all this tacky stuff? A total of $8 billion in 2012 ($2 billion in candy and $6 billion in stuff). Is all this stuff really worth it? All the RIP signs I see around this time of year all scream the same message: Gaudiness refuses to “rest in peace.”

Thankfully, we live in a country where you are free to make your front yard the eyesore of your street. You are free to make believe your landscape is spooky. You are free to drop loads of money on all this pretend paraphernalia. You are even free to believe that you are enriching your neighborhood in the process.

I’m not anti-Halloween. My wife and I give out candy and love seeing some of the cool costumes—especially the creative handmade ones—worn by the neighborhood kids. But if you really want to make someone’s day in a meaningful way, skip the gaudiness in your yard and make a financial donation to your local food pantry or homeless shelter this Halloween. It’s one of the greatest “treats” you can give to those in your community.

If everyone did this, just imagine how much good $6 billion could do!

Chrysostom: Almsgiving

Almsgiving is the mother of love, of that love which is characteristic of Christianity, which is greater than all miracles, by which the disciples of Christ are manifested.

Saint John Chrysostom

4th Century AD

Lent: Almsgiving

Almsgiving—charitable giving to those in need—has long been considered one of the three Lenten disciplines of Christ’s people.

Jesus’ words “when you give to the needy…” (Matthew 6:1-4) remind us that faith in Him manifests itself in works of love and mercy. As God has so blessed you, please consider helping someone in need this Lenten season. Below are a few ways to help out members in need, those in the armed forces, and a listing of noteworthy charitable organizations that reach out to this community and around the world.

Gift Cards for Members in Need

Area gift cards in any amount are always welcome to help out members in need. An “Alms Fund” has been established for this purpose. Simply submit one or more gift cards to Pastor Mumme or the Board of Elders, who will distribute them as needs arise in the congregation. Area gift cards sold through our Ladies Aid “Manna” program include: Dominicks, Jewel, Meijer, and Walmart.

Donations for Those in the Armed Forces

Non-perishable food items and small toiletry items are always welcome for the “care packages” we send to members in the Armed Forces. A list of suggested items and a donation container are located in Luther Hall.

Noteworthy Charitable Organizations

To help provide basic human care needs to those in our country and around the world (including relief for the people of Japan who recently endured a major earthquake and tsunami):

LCMS World Relief and Human Care

P.O. Box 66861

Saint Louis, MO 63166-9810

lcms.org/ca/worldrelief

To help provide hot meals and food and clothing pantry needs to those in the northern Will County area:

MorningStar Mission Ministries

350 E. Washington Street

Joliet, IL 60433

morningstarmission.org

To help provide pre-packaged meals for those famished in third world countries:

Feed My Starving Children

6750 West Broadway

Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

fmsc.org

For more information about any of these organizations, please check out their website or talk to Pastor Mumme. Each of these organizations accepts donations via mail or online.