Last Thursday night was Halloween. Ourfamily put on a Halloween gathering in our front yard for our neighborhood. We went all out on decorations in the front yard and moved our fire pit onto our driveway. We put out hot dogs, all kinds of chips, cupcakes, desserts, s’mores makings, coolers of soft drinks and beer, and got LOTS of candy. Then we had fun with our neighbors. We had well over 200 kids come and Trick or Treat us. And those kids all had at least a couple or more adults walking them around the neighborhood so we estimate we had 400 plus people stop by our party throughout the night. When the kids and parents came up to the house and asked what was going on, we told them to come and cook a hot dog and s’more and grab a drink. Their eyes would light up and say “Wow!” and they would head to the fire pit. Throughout the night we had people hang out around the fire, cook a hot dog or s’more with a stick over the fire, and get a drink. Hands were shaken, introductions were exchanged, and life stories were connected. Besides it being cold and the craziness of cars parked all over our streets the night went perfectly.
Everyone can reach their neighbors. This neighborhood party of 400-500 people was put together by my family and a couple others who each pitched in $20-$25 each for the food and drinks. We did not have spend money to trying to “draw” people or get them to “come to us” by renting large blow-up things for kids or provide carnival-type games. We leveraged the holiday as our draw. And we did not make them drive to us, we came to them in their neighborhood, and offered them a fire pit and friendship. I don’t know how many of my neighbors stopped and took time to take family pictures and “selfies” in our front yard. Imagine if a church of 200 families instead making everyone come to them for a "Harvest Festival" on Halloween divided the 200 families up in groups of 10 families and had 20 of these events at 20 houses around their city. It would be amazing!
Many of the people who came were people who don’t attend a church. That is who we hoped would come. People love Halloween so we did not “weird it out” by calling our gathering a “Harvest Festival” or as I saw a sign in front of one church a “Halleluiah Party.” Being real, non-church people do not want to attend either of these, they want to go to a Halloween Party. No one asked or cared if I am and Elder in the UMC, they just cared that I cared about their neighborhood. No formal prayer or liturgy was given but I shared stories around a fire pit. Through people talking around the fire pit it got out who we were. I had a couple fathers come up to me and said, “So you are a pastor? How is that? Or “Tell me about it.” Another woman who found out I was a “pastor” came up and shared about her 30 year old son who was addicted to heroin and she did not know what to do and asked if I would help her. A party of over 400 people took place “in the community” and God was glorified. And we “loved our neighbors as we love ourselves.” And our neighbors loved us back.
How are you known in your neighborhood or apartment complex? Not your church you attend, but you personally? If you were to move out would your neighbors miss you? Would they grieve the loss of you in their lives? You were not sent by God to a church. You may have been called to help serve and participate in a church, but it is your neighborhood or apartment complex you find yourself in to whom you are sent. You are sent into your neighborhood to be to them a tangible example of the kingdom of God in their lives. You are sent to be to them examples of salt and light, justice and mercy, love and compassion, partying and banqueting, laughter and dancing.
My family, I am asking you to take time to pray over this today however not in your house or apartment or where you usually spend your devotion time, but in your neighborhood. Go outside and spend time prayer walking your neighborhood. Take your spouse, children or roommate with you. As you walk, pray over the houses and apartments to which you have been sent. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you opportunities to connect with your neighbors. Pray and come up with ways and events you can be to them tangible examples of salt and light, justice and mercy, love and compassion, partying and banqueting, laughter and dancing, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Here is the invitation we handed out to every child with the candy. Looking forward to who God will bring into our house tonight. Who are you inviting into your home?
Happy Halloween!
We Love and wanted to bless our neighbors!
Because Jesus has loved and blessed us!
We would love to invite you back to our home to share a meal, share our stories, and share the story of Jesus together.
Your Invited!
When: Tuesday November 5th, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Where: Gary and Nancy Liederbach’s home 102 Champions Green Drive. Madison, Al
Who: All are welcomed, whether you know and have heard the story of Jesus for years or really don’t know who He is. It is our story’s we want to connect.
What: Casual, get to know each other, and plan future when, frequency and times to meet again.
Please RSVP if you plan on coming. Can’t make Tuesday however you still would like to connect at a future dinner, or want more information, please contact us as well with your info and we will keep you connected.
Gary & Nancy Liederbach email garyl@onedirection.community Text/Call: 256-302-3785
Thanks For Coming!
Click on Photos to rotate through them.
