Weekly Outlook - Finding God in Halloween 🎃

Dear readers, I'm missing my old neighborhood today. In September, my husband and I exchanged a 100-year-old duplex for a newly built townhome. Each residence has its perks — I love that I can use our finished basement without inhaling coal dust and asbestos. However, our old neighborhood had a great Halloween culture.  Pittsburgh is a hilly town, and we lived on a flat street. Each Halloween, hundreds of children (and adults) came through. In our new neighborhood, we're mostly surrounded by retirees and other couples without children. I'm guessing the kids that are here will go elsewhere for trick-or-treat. I am going to miss the practice of connecting with my neighbors. Of drinking cider and munching on candy, playing it cool for the pre-teens while marveling over the little princesses, ghosts, and pumpkins.  Brendan McLean, the associate pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Tyler, Texas, also loves Halloween — even more than I do. In a recent article, he connects the spirit of community, and connection, and open doors shown today with the goodness of God. It's worth a read.  And for those die-hard Reformation fans out there, we remember Martin Luther's boldness today as well. You may appreciate Dawn DeVries' article, "Is celebrating and studying the Reformation still valuable?"  Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor

Is celebrating and studying the Reformation still valuable? by Dawn DeVries  Presbyterian camps offer hope and recovery after hurricanes by Colleen Earp A pastoral confession: My favorite holiday is Halloween by Brendan McLean The Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett celebrates the work of the PMA Board and the Matthew 25 movement by Beth Waltemath In case you missed it... How pastors in western North Carolina united after Hurricane Helene When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, faith communities didn't stand alone. Discover how leaders turned disaster into connection and healing for their communities. — Erin Booke It will be baseball. It will be prayer: The poetry of E. Ethelbert Miller Andrew Taylor-Troutman offers the perfect recommendation for anyone who likes thinking about God and baseball. Bound by love to bear witness "It pains me to witness those I love in pain. But that is the nature of love, and its responsibility," writes Teri McDowell Ott. Barbara G. Wheeler, pioneering leader in theological education and advocate for inclusivity, dies at 79 Wheeler was a former president of Auburn Seminary, a founding board member of Covenant Network of Presbyterians, a dedicated Presbyterian, and a loving wife and mother. The Reformation’s African roots Martin Luther's encounter with Abba Mika’el greatly influenced how he expressed his ideas, writes Elana Keppel Levy. The power of Christ compels them: Why Hollywood is making so many exorcism movies Exorcism movies are making a comeback — and the reasons are more interesting than you might think. — Joseph Holme Readers recommend: Books helping us through election season Outlook readers share the books they’ve found most useful this election season. Revelation: Professing Christ Today In a world that frequently promotes hatred, hostility and division, discover Revelation’s call to embody God’s grace, generosity and forgiveness. A new Fresh Outlook study.

Available now! The Outlook's daily Advent devotional. In a world dominated by binary thinking – light vs. dark, good vs. evil – this Advent devotional challenges us to see beyond familiar binaries and embrace the complex, natural patterns of God in the world.