All Hallows Eve

[FriendofSpurgeon]

We have a "Trunk-R-Treat" at our church. We have 18 cars inside our ministry center with the trunks open and decorated and full of candy.

We also have booths for the kids to play free games and win prizes. Our members are dressed as Biblical characters and we pass out tracts.

Last year was our first year and we had over 400 kids and adults come from outside the church. It is a great outreach tool for the community and as FOS said, it is a safe alternative to Halloween.

I was always taught not to take something 'bad' away from a child without replacing it with something 'good'...

That's a great idea Sue. That's not too different than what we do. Hope you have an even larger turn out this year.

 

[Tom Bryant]

We have a "Trunk-R-Treat" at our church. We have 18 cars inside our ministry center with the trunks open and decorated and full of candy.

We also have booths for the kids to play free games and win prizes. Our members are dressed as Biblical characters and we pass out tracts.

Last year was our first year and we had over 400 kids and adults come from outside the church. It is a great outreach tool for the community and as FOS said, it is a safe alternative to Halloween.

Hope it goes well this year. I know the Word of God is never unfruitful, but did many people come to your church because of this?

 

[The Scribe]

No harvest fest. No use for it.

Yes, my little one and I plunder the town while drinking Starbucks hot chocolate.

Wouldn't a harvest fest be a type of participation in the "world's celebration of a satanic holiday"? *slowly nod your head..........*

A Harvest Fest is another chance to go to church and get away from worldly things. :thumbs:

It's safer and better for your children and you don't have to inspect the candy you receive.

 

[Sopranette]

I've never heard of a trunk or treat. Anyone have pictures of what that looks like?

Trick or treating started in the States aound the 1930's, when the pranks where becoming vandalism, and store owners gave candy to the kids in order to bribe them into not attacking their property. Neighbors also practiced this, and so that became a tradition. The masks and costumes were to hide the identity of the pranksters. Then around the 1980's, the tables turned and candy with pins or other things added were found in the children's candy collections. That's about the time when a lot of parents stopped letting their kids go trick or treating. I personally haven't seen a trick or treater in the past decade or so, no matter where I lived. We usually go to a town fall festival fair, where we play games or pick up some farmer's market stuff.

love,

sopranette

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Normally, we are only at home for a short while since we normally go to the church's Harvestfest, but we have LOADS of children before we leave. When we do leave the house, we leave the candy out with a note asking the children to only take one or two. I know you're thinking, "yeah, right" but (except for one year) we've always had some candy still in the dish when we return.

 

[Sheila]

We use to have a Hallalua party which we played games, won prices and gave bags of candy out before sending them home. Sadly we stopped doing anything to keep the children in church because we had so many children that used the church. Some would come and leave early then dress up and go out trick or treating. Now we let the parents do what they want to do at home or let them go out. The church still speaks against it so the parents will have to answer for what they do.

 

[SBCPreacher]

Our church normally has a Harvest Fest the Sat before the 31st. On the 31st we have the youth over to the house for hot dogs and give out candy bags with gospel tracts for all the neighborhood kids that come by. There's not many though 'cause our little town has their "hoot 'n nanny" (a big halloween party for the kids) on the 31st.

We see this as an opportunity to share the gospel with our neighborhood kids. And we pray that some kid or mom or dad will read the tract and come to now Christ.

 

[Helen]

We do nothing. although the excuse is made of 'all hallow's eve', etc., the truth is that what it is now is a celebration of evil, gore, and death. We want nothing to do with it.

 

[Matt Black]

Actually, in the light of the fact that Trick or Treating seems to have started over a week early in our neighbourhood, I'm definitely going Protestant this year: I shall be nailing copies of the 95 Theses to the forehead of any Small Boy who knocks on our door of an evening.

 

[Helen]

It may be safer to simply put a self-stick sticker on said foreheads???

 

[Friend of God]

Generally I'll make something to give out to the kids. With all the questionable treats out there at least the people around here know my stuff is safe.

Thinking of making Pizza Biscuit Bears for this year. It's usually cool around this date so the kids enjoy something to warm thmselves up. I always have hot coffee available for the parents, they get cold too.

We live in a rural area, and people from the city drive their kids out and drop them off then come back and pick them up. Last year we had over 400 kids come to our door between 5pm to 8pm.

 

[Gwyneth]

We don`t do Hallowe`en...........generally we avoid answering the door though, as we live out in the `sticks`.

 

[Matt Black]

It may be safer to simply put a self-stick sticker on said foreheads???

But, Helen, it's not so much fun!!

 

[chica3382]

We use to have a Hallalua party which we played games, won prices and gave bags of candy out before sending them home. Sadly we stopped doing anything to keep the children in church because we had so many children that used the church. Some would come and leave early then dress up and go out trick or treating. Now we let the parents do what they want to do at home or (we) let them go out. The church still speaks against it so the parents will have to answer for what they do.

This post bothers me on so many levels...............

 

[Joe]

I agree Chica

I planned this years HF 1 hr earlier, adding an hour so kids could have fun with us and still go trick or treating. A few of the kids said (while we were trick or treating) there wasn't enough time to do both, or they felt rushed so they didn't attend. We usually obtain a few new families as church members due to our Harvest Festivals.

How can they be "using the church"? That's like calling innocent children "moochers"

 

[chica3382]

Mini moochers.

 

[rbell]

I've never heard of a trunk or treat. Anyone have pictures of what that looks like?

In our church parking lot, people will bring their cars, and "decorate" them. Kids come around in costumes (we ask to avoid the macabre, scary, satanic stuff...our church folks do fine with this; some of our unchurched folks that come might push the boundaries...but we're going to show them grace). They get candy from the "trunks" (which are hosted by the cars' owners...sometimes several will go in together). Many of our car owners will do games and such: ring toss, Pachinko, and the like.

Our student drama team does a couple of brief comedic dramas with a Christian message; our bluegrass band will play; and we have special booths set up for special needs kids, Hispanic kids, and those poor children whose parents are Auburn fans (just kidding on the last one). Also, all booths have some sugar-free candy available. As each kid (and parent) leaves the area, we give them a kid-focused pamphlet/tract, and an adult one for the parents/guardians.

We also register each and every person that comes (make one entrance, and stock the registration table well!). We have three "classes" of attendees:

1. Our church folk;
2. Kids that are faithful at another good church;
3. unchurched.

Obviously, our efforts (contacts afterward) are focused on #3. Every year, we've had people come, and join, after this event. This year, we are anticipating over a thousand (which exceeds our Sunday AM attendance!).

It might not be an event every church wants to undertake, but God has used it in our neck of the woods.

 

[Joe]

Mini moochers.

Well then, that's MUCH better :laugh:

 

[Melanie]

I am pleased we don't go in for Halloween in Australia very occasionally I have had a daddy or mummy with some kids knock but there is only cat food, apples or frozen left overs on offer as a rule:laugh: .

I do do All Saints Day and All Souls Day....does that count and of course the Feast of Christ the King the Sunday before.....

 

[Friend of God]

Generally I'll make something to give out to the kids. With all the questionable treats out there at least the people around here know my stuff is safe.
Thinking of making Pizza Biscuit Bears for this year. It's usually cool around this date so the kids enjoy something to warm thmselves up. I always have hot coffee available for the parents, they get cold too.

I guess this is just my way of demonstrating Matthew 25:35 to the kids and their folks.


For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in. Matthew 25:35 [NASB]