Halloween Theme Conversation 2026 - Rev. Jen Auger
(YouTube transcript from November 1, 2026)
I love Halloween! I think it is the most amazing holiday.
So, here's the faithful look at this. Okay, cuz I think if Jesus was around, I think he would think that Halloween was pretty darn cool, too. Cuz here's what we get to do. We take these things that should normally be scary, right? Like witches and goblins and darkness and night. Those should normally be scary. And then we turn them into joy and fun, and we turn them into community.
I can't think of another time where we would open our door to whoever knocks at the door. And not only would we open the door to whoever knocks, we would give them something. [laughter] There is not another day where it doesn't matter who knocks at the door, we open it with joy and with generosity. How cool is that? And anybody can come and everybody is treated the same. And we get to put on costumes and be somebody that maybe we aren't normally in our regular life. And we get to be accepted and loved for that. And that brings joy to other people.
I think Halloween is the coolest, most Christian thing that we can do. It is so full of joy and resilience and turning darkness into light. It's pretty amazing. So, the next time you hear an adult who's saying, "Oh, Halloween," and rolling their eyes, I want you to remember just how amazing Halloween is, that there is something really special about putting aside all of the things that normally scare us, like strangers and vampires and darkness, and just turning it all on its head just for a night to say, "All are welcome here. I will give joy to everybody." Doesn't matter what you look like or how you're dressed. And I'll put a light out to make sure you're safe in it. It's so cool.
I hope I've converted some adults here. [laughter] All right. [applause] I only get three people at my door. [laughter] So, next year you can all come to my door. I would love that. But may we maybe, maybe just take something away from Halloween. And that is to remember that it's okay to do those things. Maybe we can have a little bit of Halloween in our everyday life where it's a little less scary to open the door to a stranger. It's a little less scary to give something away for no reason other than they're there. and to put out a light for somebody for no other reason than to take away a little bit of darkness and make the dark season as it comes down a little bit brighter.