When I was a child in Coldwater, Mich., it was considered safe enough for children to walk the dark streets of town, going door-to-door, sticking out our big ol' grocery bags and yelling, "Trick or Treat!" It was always fun to come home and count how many pieces of candy we had received as we categorized the goodies and traded for our favorites.

As a young Christian (age 26), I did a little research on the pagan roots of Halloween and quickly became a vehement opponent of any semblance of that frivolity on the last night in October. Yes, I became a party-pooper. Over the years, I learned from others to adjust that attitude about seasonal customs of the culture around me.

October is here ... and this year, our church is sponsoring a Harvest Festival - a community event planned for Oct. 31. Is it intended to be a "Christian" alternative to Halloween? Not really. Some people will come and stay for most of the evening, but I would also like to see costumed sojourners stop over to 707 Bell Road as part of their night's activities. I want strangers to see just how friendly Baptists can be!

I envision a festival to celebrate a harvest of new friends and neighbors. I'm encouraging everyone I know to dress up in costumes, and plan on giving away candy - lots of it. We will get to know our neighbors over the simplest of time-tested activities and taste-tested treats. The food court will feature free all-beef franks, a bowl of nachos, and even some hot cider. The candy will be distributed through various game booths like the ring toss and the fishing hole. There will be a puppet show, a petting corral, and live, televised clips of "Fear Factor" on the big screen.

Last week, in order to answer a question for my "Expert Advice" column, I Googled the word "Halloween." Yes, there was the usual stuff about the Druids and also about the Roman Festival of the Dead. What caught my eye, however, was the origin of the Jack-O-Lantern. Someone had already suggested that we include a pumpkin-carving contest and give away age-appropriate prizes. I figured I'd better take a closer look at the potential danger of lighting the inside of a pumpkin.

Having traced my paternal lineage back to Ireland, I was interested to learn the background of the Jack-O-Lantern. Brought from the Emerald Isle to the U.S. in the 1840s, the proto-type was a carved turnip with a candle inside. Jack carries his lantern because he must wander for eternity. Jack has been denied entrance to both heaven and hell. Now, that's something to chat about over a cup of hot cider. Go to www.pastorob.com where I will journal new developments.

Rob Patterson is the pastor at Bell Road Baptist Church.