Churches have used Halloween to shine gospel light into non-Christian darkness.
St Mary Magdalene Church, Gorleston’s ‘Light on a Dark Night’ transforms its building into an eery, smoke-filled ‘Twilight Zone’ where people have to pass through challenges and seek the Light. Around 400 came along to the event this year.
St Lawrence’s Church in Lechlade first set up a village pumpkin trail three years ago, which they called ‘Light on a Dark Night’, and the trail has become the village event every 31 October since. Vicar Andrew Cinnamond says: ‘Building on existing relationships with children and families from our after-school and summer holiday clubs, we wanted to engage in a very practical way with Halloween.’
Nay Dawson’s family choose a theme, create games and food and alongside sweets give out stories written by Nay that lead the reader curious about Jesus Christ. They’ve done themes based on: spiders, funny pumpkins, bats and, this year, Harry Potter. Nay wrote and printed cards with a picture of the tombstone of James and Lily Potter with words ‘The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death’ and an invitation to find out more.
Coffee, cardboard boxes and the Kingdom of God
“Not everyone will see your children clearly. But then – some do. They show up, not out of duty, but …