| Halloween, which comes from the word All | | | | 2. You can have a "Trunk or Treat" in your |
| Hallows Eve, is tied directly to All Saints Day | | | | neighborhood community. The children all dress up |
| celebrated on Nov 1, to commemorate the old | | | | in non-evil costumes and participate in activities |
| saints who have past on. These saints were | | | | and games agreed upon. You can even have |
| heroes or martyrs for the Christian faith. Today | | | | costume contests, like "most creative", |
| we celebrate Halloween by allowing ourselves and | | | | "biggest-fanciest hats", or "best make up", etc, |
| our children to dress in costumes and go door to | | | | and prizes are awarded for the winners. The |
| door asking for tricks or treats. This holiday is far | | | | adults park their cars in the parking lot with trunks |
| from spiritual and doesn't include God as its main | | | | open and the children go to each car and say |
| focus. The Bible doesn't directly speak about | | | | "Trunk or Treat" and each adult can hand out |
| Halloween, but it gives us guidelines to follow. In | | | | treats and bible scriptures from their trunk! This |
| Exodus 22:18, Acts 8:9-24 and Acts 16, 19, the | | | | idea promotes a safe and fun-family environment. |
| bible clearly tells us that pagan practices, such as: | | | | And spreads God's word at the same time! |
| witchcraft, sorcery or occults, are to be avoided. | | | | 3. Having a skate party at your local skating rink |
| As Christians we shouldn't allow ourselves or our | | | | or park can be another idea for Halloween. Adults |
| children to participate or dress in costumes in | | | | and kids can dress up in non-evil costumes and |
| relation to these practices. So how do we | | | | skate the night away! Your church family and |
| incorporate God in a holiday that praises the world | | | | neighborhood can come together and skate to |
| and still allow our children to have fun? Here are 3 | | | | Christian music, with food and treats available as |
| ways to put God back into Halloween: | | | | well. Parents will become inspired by God's word in |
| 1. Encourage your church to hold a "Harvest | | | | song and get a little bit of exercise at the same |
| Party" that night instead. As a parent, you may | | | | time! |
| feel safer if your child is inside and away from | | | | These are just a few ideas your neighborhood or |
| danger. This can also encourage parents to invite | | | | church family can use. There can be many more |
| neighbors to join them as a safe alternative for | | | | Christian based themes we can come up with, if |
| their family. A fall themed decor can be used and | | | | we put our minds to it. As long as we put God |
| kids can have fun bobbing for apples, having | | | | first and pray that His will is done in our lives, then |
| wheel barrel races and sing a longs. Parents can | | | | our children can have fun and God will be praised |
| use this time to minister to other parents with a | | | | at the same time! |
| short devotional. | | | | |