It may seem that Church and Hallowe’en don’t mix very well, and yes people dressed up as ghosts, ghouls and skeletons do seem rather odd in a church building. But this year at St Mary’s Maiden Newton we were part of the Hallowe’en activities in the village. On a wet and windy evening, we opened the church for fun activities and refreshments. There was putt the pumpkin, doughnut bobbing, candle wax painting and a very strange way of playing skittles involving a stocking and a tennis ball attached to our heads. We also enjoyed lots of tea, squash, hot dogs and cake. We think around 100 children and parents joined us for a relaxed but busy hour.
It was fun to meet so many, good to give hospitality and important to present a different take on Hallowe’en. Hallowe’en can be fun, but it also can present a sinister face to the world: Christians believe that Jesus is the Light of the world, and in him there is no darkness at all. So, we want to celebrate the light and life that Jesus brings. We are already planning our next event which will be Messy Christmas on Sunday 4 December at 3pm
