Celebrating Allhallows’ Eve

Young Chang

For local churches putting on alternative Halloween events, the

holiday is more about celebrating children and saints than ghosts and

goblins.

Members of St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, the Newport-Mesa

Christian Center and Vineyard Christian Fellowship are among those

celebrating Halloween their own way. This benefits not only children who

are scared of fake blood and scary masks, but parents who worry about

walking around after dark and unsafe candy, local church officials said.

Children at St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Corona del

Mar will present a Cavalcade of Saints. To the Rev. Peter Haynes,

Halloween is not just a day of spooks.

“It is Allhallows’ Eve,” he said. “We tie it into the celebration of

All Saints’ Day, and children come to church dressed as the saints of our

heritage.”

Haynes’ son, Don, will play St. Genesius, a 3rd century martyr under

the Roman emperor Diocletian, who is the saint of theatrical profession.

When Diocletian asked who he was, the story is that Genesius mimed the

baptismal ceremony, proclaiming he was a Christian. This was illegal at

the time.

Don will be a clown and a saint at the same time, his father said.

Cory Ames will play St. Peter and carry keys symbolizing entry to the

Christian kingdom. He will be dressed in a robe like an early disciple.

Emily Drobka, also a child at the church, will dress as St. Lucy, the

patron’s saint of the poor and sick. She will wear a white nurse’s

uniform symbolizing her vow of virginity and carry sinus medication. St.

Lucy was a patron of eye, ear, nose and throat diseases.

“Our hope is to connect Halloween and the costumes the kids wear with

the heroes and she-roes of our faith,” Haynes said, “Not just

contemporary heroes and she-roes from Superman and Queen Guinevere.”

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church will join the Newport-Mesa Christian

Center for a Harvest Festival. Children between second and sixth grade

can participate in carnival rides, game booths, trick or treating and a

meal of In-N-Out hamburgers.

Church members have collected about 16,000 pieces of candy from the

congregation over the last few months, said Sharon Noble, director of the

center’s children’s ministry.

“Parents are unsure about candy,” she said. “But we feel that [our]

candy is safe.”

Children are encouraged to dress in costumes that are not scary. Noble

said the holiday is a time to celebrate children and their families,

without exposing children to ghouls and goblins.

“But we don’t turn anyone away,” she added.

Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Costa Mesa will hold a Fall Fun

Night. Teachers and principals from the church’s school, called Vineyard

Christian School, will dress up too. Principal Mike Barnett wore a Zorro

costume last year from the movie “The Mask of Zorro.” This year, with a

robe and a big white beard and wig, he will be Moses.

“It’s kind of a safe, fun alternative for the children in our church

and our school and their family to get together,” Barnett said. “They

enjoy seeing the teachers dress up.”

The event will include music, food and game booths. Children will be

given candy at each booth.

“So all of the kids go home at night with bags full of candy,” Barnett

said.

FYI

WHAT: Cavalcade of Saints

WHEN: 10 a.m. Sunday

WHERE: St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, 3233 Pacific View

Drive, Corona del Mar

COST: Free

CALL: (949) 644-0463

WHAT: Harvest Festival

WHEN: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Newport-Mesa Christian Center, 2599 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa

COST: $5 entrance

CALL: (714) 966-0454

WHAT: Fall Fun Night

WHEN: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 102 E. Baker St., Costa Mesa

COST: Free

CALL: (714) 556-8463