Grandma Barbara
The Lutheran blood that courses through my veins runs deep.
My grandfather, also John Klawiter, was a teacher at a Missouri Synod Lutheran School and still lives in the house that he and Grandma Barbara built in the 1950’s in Alhambra, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Grandpa John loves Halloween, but not for the reasons that you’d think.
As the legend goes, in the early days of that neighborhood, when the kids would come and say “Trick-or-treat”, Grandpa held up a picture of a man. If the kids could identify this individual, they’d get candy. If not, he’d close the door.
His name was Martin Luther.
For Grandpa, the most important event that ever happened on Halloween was the beginning of the Reformation of the church on October 31st, 1517. The day that Martin Luther stood up for what he believed and challenged commonly held practices within the church. In the Lutheran church, October 31st is known as Reformation Day.
Now, if I’m being perfectly honest with you, I don’t know how many of the students in my confirmation class at Faith LUTHERan Church would be able to identify Martin Luther if I held up his picture.
But eventually, the kids in Grandpa’s neighborhood figured out the answer and word got around.
In the following years, plenty of candy was distributed. More than a few kids would try to answer “Martin Luther King, Jr.” only to be disappointed that they weren’t quite right.
The significance of October 31st goes a little bit further, however. It’s actually “All Hallow’s Eve”, the day before All Saints Day on November 1st.
It’s the day that we remember all the hallowed saints who’ve gone before us. All Saints Sunday is the first Sunday in November and in worship, we hear a chime for everyone in our congregation who has died in the past year. But our grief often extends beyond our church. Anyone in our worshipping community can submit pictures of loved ones that they’d like remembered. After worship, all are invited to light a candle in our chapel in memory of someone that has died.
This special day brings all of us together to grieve those who’ve died, but to also celebrate that they have now been resurrected to heaven.
On this All Saints Sunday, I’ll be lighting a candle and adding a picture of Grandma Barbara. For the first time, Grandpa will be passing out candy alone this Halloween. This will be our first All Saints Day without her.
Halloween is about so much more than candy.
My faith reminds me of the hope that comes with her death. That’s the sweetest treat I can imagine.
Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, 886 North Shore Drive, an ELCA
Login To Leave Comment