Renewal churches hold light parties as popular alternative to Halloween

Many of our churches hosted ‘light parties’ at the end of October as a popular alternative to Halloween, making ‘Jesus as the light of the world’ the focus of their joyful celebrations. Some of our renewal churches hosted the biggest celebrations with St Stephen’s church in Redditch, Holy Trinity Old Hill and All Saints Church in Sedgley all entertaining around 30+ children each. 

St Stephen’s Church in Redditch hosted two parties, one for older primary school children and the other for secondary school aged youth.

Children and Families Pastor Bethan Craner said:

“We had a lot of fun with crafts, a silent disco, making our own pizza for the pizza oven and eating s’mores, while we prayed and gave thanks to God for the people around us and the joy Jesus gives us. The Youth also had a donut eating competition which was really fun.”

All Saints Church in Sedgley activities included pumpkin biscuit decorating, lantern making, a Jesus lightbulb craft, a sensory tray and glow stick skittles. 

CYF Missioner Jess Hicklin said:

“We also organised party food, played ‘pass the pumpkin parcel’, had a glow stick disco which included the song ‘My Lighthouse’ and Giles Joiner gave a short talk about how Jesus is the light of the world and we are called to be carriers of the light.”

While at Holy Trinity Church in Old Hill (HTOH) volunteers worked together to get the party started and the children moving, identifying the superheroes around the room.

Children and young people worker Anita Mansell said:

“The children then listened brilliantly while 5 children had fun helping me tell the story of God’s creation of the World. We then enjoyed some world and light related activities including parachute games, World Map Tiddly Winks, biscuit decorating, decorating a tea light holder and having a glitter tattoo.”

The two-hour party also included pizza, Jesus centred games and singing the songs ‘God’s Love is Big’, ‘Jesus is the King’ and ‘Super Saviour’ and at the end every child was offered a Bible to take home.

All three churches had fantastic feedback from both parents and children

The dancing, crafts and the donut eating competition were especially popular with those attending St Stephen’s Church in Redditch. At All Saints church in Sedgley, one parent said that ‘it was great to be able to bring their child to a party, but not to have to engage with Halloween’. Another was pleased that the church was offering an alternative with a Christian message.

One child, Bonnie said; “I enjoyed the lantern craft because Jesus is the light of the World and decorating the cookies because they tasted divine!”

At Holy Trinity Church Old Hill, Felicity, aged 8, said; “Everyone here loves Jesus – they know all the actions to the songs!”.

After the party, the volunteers at HTOH prayed and gave thanks for God’s goodness, the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board funding and the generosity of Tesco that all enabled the church to resource the party.