“Hallows” is an older English way of saying “saints” — so, the Evening of Saints.
But why “the evening?” Many ancient cultures in the Mediterranean world and the Middle East, including Jewish cultures, understood the day as beginning with sunset rather than sunrise. This is why Genesis one says, “And it was evening, and it was morning, day one.” (Genesis 1:5). Because the day began with sunset, the first worship service of a given day would be the evening service.
Put it all together and Halloween refers to the first service of worship for All Saints Day. That day falls on November 1 in the Western Christianity. That’s why All Saints Eve (Halloween) is observed on the evening of Oct. 31.
So where or how did this observance get connected to jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, things that go bump in the night, and trick or treating? That connection comes from popular festivals already happening in many cultures worldwide to celebrate the midpoints between a solstice and an equinox, sometimes referred to as “cross-quarter days.” Some cultures understood these as transition times where the lines between realms may become the thinnest.
The Celtic festival of Samhain fell at the cross-quarter day between autumn and winter, between warmth and cold, between harvest and dormancy for the earth, and so, metaphorically, between life and death.
Christian missionaries and bishops, particularly in England and parts of Western Europe, had concerns that some of these practices and beliefs ran counter to the Christian understanding of the resurrection of the dead. The church, beginning in the eighth century, added prayers to Christian masses remembering the dead and anticipating their resurrection. These were some of the first prayers connected to celebrations later known as All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2).
All Saints included prayers for those the church had specifically designated as saints because of their particularly holy lives pointing dramatically to Christ at work in them. All Souls included prayers for all within the church who had died within the past year.
United Methodists and most Protestants have no “official saints.” Thus, we usually combine All Saints and All Souls into a single observance. This celebration in the church accents our understanding of holiness in this life and our hope for resurrection in the age to come.
Cultural Halloween celebrations in the communities in which many of us live have continued to evolve alongside the church celebrations. Many local churches offer safe alternatives to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Others focus more on giving than receiving. Collecting for UNICEF or giving Fair Trade chocolate are ideas for using the occasion to “treat” or give to others.
These activities need not be seen as either defining or limiting the Christian observance of All Saints. Our role in the church is to proclaim our own witness to what makes for holiness (becoming one of the “hallows”) in this life, and our hope for the resurrection of the dead and the fullness of life in the new creation in the age to come.
Two hours. 20 thousand meals. Lasting impact on the global community. Are you in?
You can have a hands-on effect on world hunger by packaging meals with Rise Against Hunger on November 2 arriving by 3:30-5 pm in Pender UMC’s Gathering Place. These meals are nutrient-dense combinations of protein, grains, vegetables, and vitamins, but their benefits reach far beyond just nutrition!
Meals are sent to disaster recovery areas and school programs internationally, where they have long-term positive consequences surrounding poverty, education, and more.
Bring a willing set of hands for assembly-line packaging. Children are welcome – this is an all ages and abilities event.
Each year, KUMC of Koinonia partners with the organization Rise Against Hunger on the first Sunday of November to pack 20,000 meals that are sent to communities in need around the world. This has been a meaningful and impactful tradition for our congregation.
Rather than going door to door, children go from car trunk to car trunk.
A trunk or treat is a very gentle and kind and child-friendly way celebrate Halloween.
Similar to tailgating at sporting events, the family-friendly “trunk or treating” events are being adopted by communities as well as churches, according to The Associated Press.
The festivities are from 2 pm through 4 pm today at Pender UMC.
Our God Reigns, World Communion Sunday, October 5, 2025
On this special Sunday at Pender United Methodist Church, the opening hymn was “Our God Reigns” by Leonard Smith. It was joyfully sung by the Pender Sanctuary Choir and congregation under the direction of Patrick King, Director of Music Ministries, accompanied by Wenru Yang on piano.
This uplifting hymn reminds us of God’s sovereignty and grace that unites believers around the world. On this 17th Sunday after Pentecost, we join Christians everywhere in proclaiming: Our God reigns!
“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” — Isaiah 52:7
May this song inspire gratitude and unity as we remember that God reigns over all nations, all people, and all hearts.
“Our God Reigns” | Offertory at Pender UMC | January 5, 2025
On January 5, 2025, during a special Epiphany service at Pender United Methodist Church, the offertory featured a moving performance of “Our God Reigns” by Leonard Smith.
The anthem was beautifully sung by the Pender UMC Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Patrick King, Pender’s Director of Music Ministries, accompanied by Abe Garver on cello and Heidi Jacobs on piano. This heartfelt rendition reminded us of the power and majesty of God’s reign, adding a deeply spiritual element to the worship service.
We are grateful to our singers, Patrick, Abe, and Heidi for sharing their incredible talents and inspiring us through this timeless anthem.
Pender UMC Sanctuary Choir Presented “Our God Reigns”
On August 25, 2024, the Pender UMC Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Patrick King, delivered a powerful performance of “Our God Reigns” by Leonard E. Smith, Jr., inspired by Isaiah 52:7. This uplifting song, celebrating the message of salvation and God’s sovereignty, was beautifully accompanied by Mark Severeniuk on tuba and Heidi Jacobs on piano.
Isaiah 52:7 speaks of “good news,” originally referring to Israel’s delivery from captivity and return to Jerusalem. Today, Christians sing these words to celebrate our delivery from sin through Christ (Romans 10:15-16), who brings salvation and a restoration of God’s rule, resulting in peace and happiness. The song text skillfully combines Isaiah’s message with the timeless theme from the Psalms: Our God reigns!
Join us in this celebration of faith and let the music remind you of the everlasting reign of our God.
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news, good news;
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness:
our God reigns, our God reigns!
Refrain:
Our God reigns, our God reigns, our God reigns,
our God reigns, our God reigns!
Leonard E. Smith, Jr., (b. Philadelphia, PA, 1942) composed this song in 1973 in Riverton, New Jersey. Educated at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he received a BA in philosophy, Smith first taught in public high schools, but his evangelical efforts in the schools created problems, resulting in his dismissal. He then began painting houses to support his family.
One night as he was reading Isaiah 52 he was overwhelmed by the conviction that God was in control of his life and of all creation; he wrote this song that night in just five minutes. The song was first sung at New Covenant Community Church, where Smith served as worship leader. Though not published for some time, it became known internationally when evangelist Bob Mumford included it in his crusades. It was first published in a Servant Publications hymnal, Songs of Praise (vol. 2, 1977). In 1978 Smith added four additional verses. He has published over 130 Scripture songs with New Jerusalem Music Co.
Sometimes you have to reach bottom before you look up to see God at work. Back in 1973, I was out of work again and depressed — actually very depressed. My wife and I had a son, an apartment, a car, and lots of bills to pay. I had also made myself unemployable as a high school teacher with just too much Jesus talk in class. I guess I was naive to think that talking about Jesus was more important than teaching Latin or English literature.
One morning I was reading the Bible and came to Isaiah 52:7: “How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings good news, announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness: your God reigns.” My heart began pounding in my chest because, through what I read, God spoke to me: “You’re going to get through this, and you will be fine. In fact, you’ll do very well.” I just felt the dark cloud lift off me. I picked up my guitar and, in a few minutes, Our God Reigns was born! I had one verse and the chorus. It wasn’t so much that I wrote it as I received it!
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings good news, good news Announcing peace, proclaiming new of happiness Our God reigns, Our God reigns! Our God reigns! Our God reigns! Our God reigns!
A couple of months later, a traveling evangelist visited our church, heard the song, and taught it as he went from church to church. It took me three more years to complete the other verses that made this Scripture chorus into a hymn that went around the world.
After the three big Christian music publishers passed on publishing my song in the late ’70s, I decided to keep the copyright and establish New Jerusalem Music to manage my songs, as well as the songs of our friends and my son, Daniel C. Smith, of the group Danielson Family. The decision to create my own music company worked out incredibly well over the decades. This was the fulfillment of His promise all those years ago when He told me that I would do very well. I know we really do have a Good Shepherd who is guiding us, closing doors, and opening doors.
Every one of us has experienced disappointment and failure and had our hearts broken. But we don’t need to be bitter about it. If we look closely, we’ll see how God worked it out for our good. Over time, we become more understanding, more patient, and kinder to others who have been overlooked and forgotten. We must not forget that suffering is the very thing God uses to refine and strengthen us. Jesus set the pattern that crucifixion comes before resurrection.
I would never have taken up learning how to play the guitar in seminary in the ‘60s if I hadn’t been so desperately lonely for so long. And I would never have started writing Scripture songs if I hadn’t so deeply needed the comfort of the Psalms of David, who also knew something of loss and pain and heartbreak.
Looking back, I’m grateful I was fired from that last teaching job. It proved to be the door God closed before He opened a new door for me. That open door has allowed me to enter into a wonderful new world. Thank you, Lord, for being such a good, loving, kind, faithful Shepherd. I know I’m in Your good hands and that will never change.
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