Trick-or-Treat

Seeing children’s faces light up when they go trick-or-treating is heart-warming. They like dressing up and they love getting treats. But that’s only half the fun.

The best part is seeing the joy on the faces of those who give. This Halloween children from St. Michael’s went trick-or-treating at our neighbors across the street, residents of Carlsbad by the Sea Retirement Community. Visiting a community such as Carlsbad by the Sea adds another component to the Halloween experience.

The children arrived in the afternoon, visiting the Care Center first. Here, they were met with a room full of residents, nurses, and helpers eager to share their treats with the kids. Next was the assisted living area, where residents cheerfully waited in their apartments with bowls of candy. Each stop was meaningful in its own way.

This Halloween, the children of our parish and the residents at Carlsbad by the Sea had the opportunity to experience a unique interaction – nostalgic for residents, exciting and new for children. Residents imparted a spirited cultural tradition to a new generation. Children shared a revitalizing energy and hope with their elders. Building blocks were laid for deeper relationships and greater understanding between the generations. All the while wearing costumes and eating candy!

We are grateful to Carlsbad by the Sea for opening their doors to us and allowing us to be a part of a safe and very special Halloween celebration. We hope to continue this tradition! As we grow and strengthen as a church family, may we be mindful of the ways in which even simple things have a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of young and old alike.

This article was written by Children’s Minister, Becky Gleason.

This blog post originally appeared on the St. Michael’s blog.