The Parts Have Arrived

...for this year's 'Wagon of Christmas Cheer'. When I was a young boy, I used to cart my favorite chicken around in a red wagon with wood sides. His name was Moses, and he was crippled for the last few years of his life.

This year, I will resurrect the old tradition with virtually the same type of wagon, and I 'll decorate it in accordance with the description found in my late Mother's 'Legend of Moses Claus' story.

Moses shouted, "Herbit, for the second time, go into the chicken house and bring out all who will be pulling the wagon of Christmas cheer."

The wagon should be assembled, decorated, and ready to go by mid-December.

All Souls Day: apokatastasis style

Today, I pay tribute to All Souls Day in the context of Christian/Trinitarian Universalism. The Greek word, apokatastasis, means restoration to the original (good) condition. In modern English, the terms 'universal salvation' or 'universalism' are more commonly used to describe this particular theology. Basically, it is the belief that all rational beings, namely human beings, will eventually get into heaven because of Christ's all-merciful death and all-powerful resurrection.

While only a small percentage of modern-day Christians hold to this position, it was actually a widely held view during the first 400 years of Christianity, as documented by St. Basil, St. Augustine, and St. Jerome. Big names in early Christianity, such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Macrina the Blessed, Titus of Bostra, and Gregory of Nyssa, to name a few, taught this doctrine.

Generally speaking, modern-day adherents of Christian/Trinitarian Universalism believe the following:

- The Bible is divinely inspired
- The Trinity is the one true God
-  Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary
-  Jesus was God in human flesh
-  Jesus performed miracles
-  Jesus died for the sins of all mankind
-  Jesus physically rose from the dead
-  Salvation is a gift from God
-  Jesus is mankind's only Savior
-  Hell is real and terrible, but limited in duration and disciplinary/reformative in nature
-  All mankind, including atheists, agnostics, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews, will eventually come to believe in Christ as Lord and Savior, of their own free will

While this is not an exhaustive list, here are some scholarly resources worth exploring on the topic:

Universalism the prevailing doctrine of the Christian church during its first 500 years

Tracing Universalist thought through church history

The Evangelical Universalist: second edition

The Christian Doctrine of Apokatastasis

Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev: Christ the Conqueror of Hell

The Congress Catches Fire- Divine Mercy

The Harrowing of Hell: Salvation for the dead in early Christianity

In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and conservative Anglican traditions, All Souls Day is a prayerful remembrance of only the 'faithful departed'. In the context of Christian Universalism, however, All Souls Day would be celebrated as a prayerful remembrance of all departed human souls, due to the belief that Christ died to redeem all of humanity.

That being said, without further adieu, here's the display:

All Saints Day

Wishing all my fellow Western Christian brothers and sisters a blessed All Saints Day, whose official commemoration likely dates back to the 4th century.

"...we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses..." Hebrews 12:1

All Hallow's Eve Roundup

45 trick or treaters braved the rain and wind to celebrate the high holiday. This was more than I expected in our new neighborhood, especially considering the inclement weather. Mrs. Holidays, Toddler Holidays, and Grandmother Holidays were in attendance. My good buddy Steve also made an appearance and even contributed some candy to the event.

Looking ahead, I'll be putting up a modest All Souls Day display on Saturday so stay tuned for some pictures and perhaps a little video.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!

 

Video Footage

Trick or Treat Still On

Instead of 6-8, it will now be 5:30-7. Lots of rain and heavy wind expected. Anticipating a very small crowd this year.

Happy Halloween

Wishing everyone a truly magical Halloween!  Due to an approaching rain/wind storm, our trick-or-treat may be moved to Saturday night, which is All Souls Day. The city will make a decision in the next couple of hours. I'll keep everyone posted.

Halloween Eve

Tomorrow's forecast doesn't look too good right now.

Day Oct 31

65^°FHigh

Rain / Wind

Chance of rain:

70%

Wind:

S at 22 mph

Humidity:

80%

UV Index:

2 - Low

Sunrise:

8:00 am

Moonset:

4:47 pm

Moonphase:

Waning Crescent

Windy with morning showers evolving to a steady, soaking rain in the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Archway Decimated

Hours of strong southerly winds pummeled the archway and snapped one tombstone in half. Luckily, everything else has held up well. So, unfortunately, Spirit Grove III will not be featuring a branch-filled archway on Halloween Day, but with a few adjustments, it will still be a beautiful sight.

Round 1 in the Books

15 residents and 5 staff members from two local Goodwill chapters showed up to trick or treat at Spirit Grove. Mrs. Holidays, Toddler Holidays, and Sister in Law Holidays were in attendance. Grandmother and Mother in Law Holidays turned in nice performances as witches. Here are some pictures taken by Mrs. Holidays:

Halloween in 6 days!

Rough Draft

Stage I: frontal view

Stage I: rear view

Stage II: frontal view

Stage II: rear view

Stage III: frontal view

Stage III: rear view

Tomorrow, I'll add lots of light to the display for Trick or Treat Round 1. I've been told to expect about 15 residents and 5 staff members. The weather should be good with partly cloudy skies, temps in the high 40s by showtime, and light to moderate wind.

This Would Be Perfect

... if it holds true.

Halloween Forecast

Abundant sunshine. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s.

Day Oct 31

57^°FHigh

Sunny

Chance of rain:

0%

Wind:

SSW at 10 mph

Humidity:

65%

Progress Report

Lately, in preparation for Round 1 of Trick or Treat on Friday, I've been doing the following:

• progressively removing the pre-haunt yard decorations. The neighbors are probably wondering what's happened to them.
• cutting down low-lying, leafy branches around the property for the pathway portion of the yard display. Toddler Holidays has been very helpful carrying branches around.
• decorating the two artificial trees. Toddler Holidays has handed me many ornaments to hang.
• decorating the bouquet basket
• cutting down withered flowers in the graveyard
• getting a head count from the two Goodwill chapters who will be coming on Friday. One will be bringing 7 residents and 3 staff members. I haven't gotten a head count from the other yet.

Here's what's on the itinerary this week:

• Monday & Wednesday- Take down the final pre-haunt decorations and trim the plants in the graveyard area
• Thursday- Build the pathway display, set up the tombstones, and mow the front yard. I'll take pictures.
• Friday- Prepare & lay out bouquets, set out and hang lanterns, prepare the lights, set up the fog machine, pick up Grandmother Holidays, cue the music, and dump the leaves. Goodwill shows up at 6:30. I'll take pictures and video.

10 Day Forecast

For Round 1 of Spirit Grove III.

Friday, Oct 25

Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s.

Day Oct 25

48^°FHigh

Mostly Cloudy

Chance of rain:

10%

Wind:

W at 12 mph

Humidity:

68%

Night

32^°Low

Mostly Clear

Chance of rain:

10%

Wind:

W at 7 mph

Humidity:

78%

Final Pre-Haunt Decorations

2 Weeks

...till Round 1 of Spirit Grove III: advent of the coven. On the 25th, we will be hosting a couple of local Goodwill groups. I'll take down the pre-haunt decorations by the 23rd and start building Spirit Grove III on the 24th.

More Spiders

For some reason, Toddler Holidays was especially fired up about these decorations. So far, the bats and these spiders are his favorites.

More Progress

Collecting leaves to scatter along the pathway at Halloween

We will have lots and lots of bouquets for our tombstones this year

I've been seeing a few more Halloween decorations pop up throughout the neighborhood. Overall, though, it's still pretty sparse.

1 More Month

...till All Hallow's Eve. Boy does time fly!

Today also marks six years since Mama Holidays died. I miss her.

Here's an excerpt from her short story entitled 'The Waterfall':

     The third key placed inside the keyhole opened the door to a child, a teacher and a cross. He was a child of divinity. His teachings were pathways to eternity. The burdens he bore upon the cross were for the salvation of all humanity. As a puff of wind inched the door to its final closure, a glowing hue of red shone through its opening. The long stemmed yellow bells began to ring fervently in a clamor of victory as the door closed tightly.

Guarding the Brood

Second Wave

There will be some different type of decorations on Saturday.

Second Wave

Will be putting out two more decorations every other day.