All posts tagged Halloween

Pumpkin and Pajama Party!

By Lindsey | November 4, 2010 | Halloween, Holidays and Events | 2 Comments

Last night we had our Pumpkin and Pajama Party at the church, and I must say, it was a blast! We doubled our normal attendance, and had some great fun with people from the community. My daughter got all dressed up to go, but alas, she was too young for the party!

Check out this Animoto video of all the fun! As usual, we had a GREAT team of volunteers. Thanks everyone!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

We also got a great “God Story” from the party. I bought all the mini pumpkins we painted at a local farmer’s market. The owner asked me what I needed all the pumpkins for and I explained they were for a church party. Then, on a whim (or the prompting of the Holy Spirit), I asked if he wanted to pass out some flyers. Last night, we had a brand new family attend and when I asked how they heard about the event, they said they got a flyer in their bag at the farmer’s market! Praise God!

Oh yeah, this post is part of the SITS girls challenge. A great site where you can learn the best blogging tips, connect with other blogging sisters and find some great blogs. Check it out!

Who Do We Think We’re Fooling?

By Lindsey | November 3, 2010 | Halloween, Holidays and Events | 3 Comments

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about Halloween this year. Perhaps because I now have my own little rug-rat who will be asking about costumes and candy in a few short years. Perhaps because I’ve been focusing a bit more on outreach lately. At any rate, I was reading a post on Stuff Christians Like about the “Hybrid Halloween“. Jon writes:

It’s not Halloween, it’s not. Is it held in October? Yes. Do kids get candy? Yes. Do kids dress up? Yes. Are there pumpkins involved? Yes. But it’s not Halloween, it’s a “Fall Festival.”

This is pretty much where our church is. We provide a “Halloween Alternative” (not actually on Halloween, mind you, because the survey we passed out to church members reported that no one would actually skip trick-or-treating to come to the party). We did the costumes, the fall games, and passed out loads of candy. Then we condemned anyone who participated in Halloween outside the church. I always thought this might be confusing to unchurched people. Heck, it’s a bit confusing to me.

This thought was confirmed last Friday when I was talking to one of the day care moms. She told me about a time she was basically sentenced to hell by a co-worker because she was taking her four year old out trick-or-treating. She heard the lecture about the evils of the holiday and then was kindly handed a flyer for the co-worker’s church Fall Fest.

Susan (daycare mom) asked: Oh, do they dress up here?

Co-worker: Of course, and we pass out candy too!

Susan: So, it’s exactly like Halloween, just inside a church?

Co-worker: No! It’s nothing like Halloween. It’s a Fall Fest!

All I could do was shake my head and agree. I’m still not sure what to think about the whole Hybrid Halloween phenomenon. I think our church will always do a “Fall Fest”. Our Pumpkin and Pajama party is scheduled for tonight, in fact. However, I also chose to pass out candy (and flyers for the party) this year to the trick-or-treaters who came to our house. I guess that’s a balance. For now, I’ll put it on the shelf and wrestle again with it next year!

Don’t condemn. Try this instead:

Garage Party

Halloween Outreach Ideas from Children’s Ministry Talk

Do Not Fear Puppet Skit

By Lindsey | October 31, 2010 | Elementary Age, Halloween, Holidays and Events, Preschoolers, Preteens | 3 Comments

Here’s a Halloween puppet skit I created for our upcoming Pumpkin and Pajama party.

For a printer friendly version, click here.

Scaredy-cat Scarecrow

A puppet skit about fear and the God who can overcome it.

Sam: Hey kids! My name is Sam the Scarecrow. {Jumps and looks behind him} What was that? Did you guys hear something?

Leader: I didn’t hear anything. Did you kids?

Sam: {Relaxes} Oh, okay. I just thought… wait! Who’s that?

Leader: That’s just one of our leaders for tonight. Perfectly safe.

Sam: Right. Of course. I’m just being silly.

Leader: You seem pretty nervous Sam. Is there something you’d like to talk about?

Sam: Well, it’s a little embarrassing. I mean… I’m supposed to be tough. I’m a scarecrow. I’m supposed to scare other things.. you know, keep them out of the garden…crows, rabbits, you know the whole thing… but it seems like I’m scared of everything. Especially…. Well…

Leader: Especially what?

Sam: Well, it seems like during this time of year, there’s a lot more to be scared about.

Leader: Hmm… could you tell us a little more?

Sam: The decorations in the stores – skeletons, ghosts, spiders, and other gross stuff

Leader: I see what you mean

Sam: And the stuff on TV… scary stuff.

Leader: I think I know what you’re talking about

Sam: And sometimes even the kids at school. Of course, I don’t go to school – I’m a scarecrow! But this last week, I saw some kids walking around outside (from my spot in the yard). I think they were on their way home from school.. and they were dressed up… and I have to tell you… a couple of the kids did not look too pretty.

Leader: I see… I see…

Sam: I just don’t know how to be brave with all this scary stuff around.

Leader: It sounds like you need a little help. Do you think he could use a little help kids?

{Allow kids to respond}

Leader: Well, there are quite a few accounts in the Bible about people who were scared too.

Sam: Really? I thought the Bible was full of tough guys and heroes and stuff.

Leader: Well, the Bible is full of heroes, but they didn’t get that way on their own. God made them that way. In fact, in Sunday church, we’ve been learning about a guy named Gideon.

Sam: Gideon huh? That’s a name you don’t hear every day.

Leader: Um, right. Anyway – Gideon was so scared of his neighbors that he was shaking out the wheat (that’s something they did a lot of back in the day) in a hole… in the ground. Very silly. Suddenly, an ANGEL appeared to him and said… wait, I’ve got it right here… Judges 6:12 “When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

Sam: He doesn’t sound like much of a warrior. He sounds like a scaredy cat like me.

Leader: Exactly! He wasn’t brave at first, but God helped him to become brave. Pretty soon, he was the leader of an army and they won! Not just by a little bit either, they REALLY won.

Sam: Wow. Anyone else?

Leader: There’s a lot more. Too many to list tonight, but I’ll give you one more example. In Children’s Church this Sunday we learned about Elijah. He prayed to God and God proved He was the One True God by sending fire from heaven. Right after that, Elijah got scared. He ran away from everyone and hid.

Sam: Yep. Typical scaredy-cat behavior.

Leader: Right. Well, here in 1 Kings 19, we read that God sent an angel to encourage Elijah and the next thing you know, Elijah is boldly going to talk to the King and tell him what’s up.

Sam: Go Elijah!

Leader: God can help you too, Sam. Check out Isaiah 41:10. Here, you can read it from my Bible.

Sam: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Leader: Hey… you know what? That reminds of a song!

Sam: Yeah, I hear that happens a lot…

Leader: Can we have our puppet singers?

[Lead “Do not Fear” song]

Sam: You know, this has been really helpful. Not only do I have some stuff in the Bible I can read, now I have a great song which is actually a BIBLE VERSE to help me too. Thanks. {Exits stage singing the song}

Leader: See you! God will be with you kids too, no matter what you’re worried about. He doesn’t always send an angel that you can see, but trust me, they are there and they will help you. Let’s pray.

These coloring pages from Ministry to Children would go great with this puppet skit!

Ten on Tuesday: Halloween

By Lindsey | October 5, 2010 | Holidays and Events | 3 Comments

Flickr by minipixel

If VBS is the siren call of summer, then Halloween is the frightening fall debate. Do we participate? Do we offer an alternative? Do we personally engage? Do we get mad at church families who send their kids trick or treating? Tough call. I was just reading through Think Orange again in preparation for Orange Week at KidMin1124 and I happened across a little section on Halloween. Conveniently, Reggie posted the same section on Ministry to Children just yesterday! He writes,

“Watch your neighborhood closely today.
Listen to the laughter.
Take a look at the generosity.
Taste the sugar.
Feel the energy.
See the glow in the children’s eyes.
Notice the parents walking with their kids.
And observe how families connect with other families.
It seems kind of … magical.”

I admit it. We never participated in Halloween growing up because of its Satanic roots, but when I see the cute baby costumes… something in me stirs. Then, I instantly recoil at the thought. So what’s a Christian to do? Here’s some great articles to help you sort it out yourself. Let me know what your family and your church do!

Trunk or Treat: How to run one at your church – great Halloween alternative, if you’re into that!

Adventures in Odyssey explains Halloween – don’t know what to say to your kids? Allow Whit to get the conversation going.

Halloween: History of the Dead, Fun, and Christian Angst – If all our major holidays have roots in pagan rituals, where do we draw the line?

Peter Pumpkin Lesson – Jesus can clean out your life and shine through you

Five Halloween Alternatives – now here are some clearly creative alternatives. No run-of-the-mill Fall Fest in this list!

Sunday School lessons dealing with Halloween – several age levels to choose from

Halloween: Yes or No? – Join the debate, and check out some great resources

Hallo-what? – Children’s Ministry Talk pulls through again with some great suggestions to share Christ on Halloween

Ministry to Children Forums — join the conversation!