Congratulations and best wishes to Rev. Robert Rayner, pastor of Phillips Mill Baptist church, and his sweet wife Nancy who will celebrate their 55 th wedding anniversary Friday, October 14. Rev. Rayner placed a pretty flower arrangement in the church Sunday in her honor. Churches of the Georgia Baptist Association and interested friends, don’t forget that the 221st fall meeting is Tuesday evening, October 18, 6:30 p.m., at the Union Point Baptist Church. If you are blessed with good health and good transportation, and able to drive, you are encouraged to invite a friend who can’t do as well these days. You will be blessed. Look out for deer, no matter your age. Our daughter Mary Jane had a deer run into the side of her fairly new car in the Philomath community, doing a lot of damage. Praise the Lord she wasn’t hurt. Operation Christmas Child collection week is November 14-21. Shoe box collection centers for the Georgia Baptist Association are First Baptist, Greensboro, November 20; Morningside, Lincolnton, November 21; and First Baptist Washington, November 20. Call the Mission Center for more information. Mule Day at Callaway Plantation seemed to be well attended Saturday although I guess the weather kept many away. I didn’t take in too much but I surely enjoyed sitting in my folding chair and watching the children and grown-ups. I saw some people I hadn’t seen in a while. There was something for all ages to take part in . There were lots of crafts, good singing and food, and animals. The Gideons present had already passed out 400 New Testaments when we arrived. Thanks to all who had a part in getting the event together. I’m sure some helping with parking cars were tired. I want to say a special thanks to the airplane pilot or pilots who carried the children for a free plane ride. They had to have a love for young people. Mrs. Gary Edwards enjoyed having her sisters, Thelma Hargrove, and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Jones, to visit her Saturday afternoon. Sincere sympathy to the family of Mrs. Mildred Hardy Collins. She was a sweet lady. She was a sister of Mrs. David (Frances) Ogletree and Carroll Hardy of Phillips Mill. Halloween 2005 is in the air. Many decorations and things to buy are seen around. Phillips Mill Baptist Church Activities Committee will not be having a fall festival Halloween get-together this year. Some Sunday School classes may. It’s up to the teachers. I have been looking for something on Halloween which I understand is one of the oldest holidays, probably more than 2,000 years old. It is thought that Halloween was originated with the Druids in ancient England. It was entirely a scary, ghostly affair, when the Lord of Death was supposed to call forth certain wicked souls to do his satanic bidding. Trick-or-treating also has its origins with the Druids, who visited farmers to collect food and money for the gods. If the farmer gave, he would prosper; if not, he would reap vengeance. A wholesome influence was added when the Romans observed Halloween in connection with the Harvest Festival. Lights and torches were burned to frighten away supernatural beings. The jack-o-lantern with a hideous face was placed on every doorstep to protect the family from prowling ghosts and goblins. In line with the harvest season, Halloween has traditionally been a time of feasting and games. In the original apple-dunking game, each apple was marked with the name of a playmate and the apple picked told of future marriage commitments. Pagan rites were in direct contradiction to the church in the first century, A.D., but Christians celebrated the eve of All Saints Day by honoring their dead. As this was a time already associated with spirits, so developed “All Hallows Eve.” Today, people consider themselves to be enlightened, faithful and without superstitions. Although trick-ortreating is often substituted with parties and get-togethers in his day and age Halloween has become a neighborly celebration of fellowship and a good time for kids to dress up and have fun, like hayrides. (Copied from “Voice for Health”). May be cultivate a sense of humor to avoid a weedy disposition.