With a few weeks to go until Halloween, you would have noticed the supermarket shelves filled with pumpkins and all sorts of ghoulish merchandise. And while Halloween has become very commercialised, it is a time of year where young children can be seen wandering the streets dressed in increasingly macabre and gruesome costumes.
But how can churches get ready to offer light in the darkness? Two churches show us how they are offering their communities the perfect antidote to all things scary and sinister.
St Peter’s Church Farnborough is in its fourth year of offering its ‘light trail’ where passersby are given goody bags with a map so they can complete fun challenges at various fairy-lit marquees and collect a free hot chocolate at the end. Strategically positioned between two large housing estates, the trail means that church volunteers are able to engage with lots of families who may be out trick-or-treating.
Helen Smith, Children’s and Families Minister at St Peter’s Church said:
“We can sometimes assume that people know the church exists, but they don’t, so we wanted to go out and meet people where they are. We have such a positive message of light to share on what is meant to be the darkest day of the year. Every year we have hundreds of people attend, and as a result some people from the nearby estates have got involved in some of the other church activities. We know through testimony and what God has done in people’s lives, that this is what our church is meant to be doing on Halloween.”
Another example of spreading the message of light in the community, is the Church of the Good Shepherd also in Farnborough. For eight years they have been running ‘Sandhill Light Up’, which is named after the social housing estate where the church is situated.
The church didn’t have the resources to host a light party, and they also wanted to appeal to older children given their proximity to a local sixth form college. Every Halloween they light up the church building and tables with fairy lights and offer hot chocolates and goody bags including a bible story to the local community. Continuing the theme of light, they also offer a craft station inside the church where young people can make paper lanterns, and the building is adorned with pumpkins carved with crosses and hearts rather than scary faces.
Abigail Edwards, Pioneer Community Worker and Church of the Good Shepherd said:
“We want to offer a space that is full of light and hope when there is so much surrounding darkness. What we offer is simple and any church can replicate it. We know it can sometimes be scary standing outside and talking to people about our faith, but it really can make a difference. I know one local man who now comes to church every Christmas and every Halloween because we’ve created that safe and hopeful space.”
There are many simple and inexpensive ways that churches can reach out to their community on this day. Scripture Union offers a resource pack to help you engage with local families on Halloween.
Emma Coy, The Children and Families Mission Enabler, Emma Coy, Diocese of Guildford said:
“There is so much darkness in the world at the moment, so it’s so important that we bring the good news of Jesus to our young people and focus on what is light and joyful. Having a light party or just simply offering hot drinks and chat to local families is another way of opening up the church, making those connections and hopefully welcoming those families through the door.”