Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alternatives To Halloween Parties?
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Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alternat... - 9/21/2008 10:20:24 PM
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MyCatSmokey2006
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I've heard of churches having harvest parties, so kids could dress up and get candy just like on Halloween, without the demonic aspects of the holiday. Does your church have these types of activities?
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 12:42:10 AM
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SonInMe1
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Though I have never been our church has a parking lot party I guess you would call it...people dress up and hand out candy from their trunks of their cars to children who dress up as well.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 1:00:04 AM
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PureLight
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I thiiiiiiink we have something to that effect, but we do more costume parties since the youth is a bit older for us.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 1:01:18 AM
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LCannon
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We hold a Harvest Celebration, games, bobbing to apples, etc that includes stopping to 'trick or treat' around the church parking at the parked cars.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 9:04:59 AM
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Szaftoo
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Our church also has a Harvest Festival with booths, games and food. It's a big deal and people from all over the city come. It's tons of fun for kids and their parents.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 9:07:43 AM
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kernsfamily
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MyCatSmokey2006
I've heard of churches having harvest parties, so kids could dress up and get candy just like on Halloween, without the demonic aspects of the holiday. Does your church have these types of activities?
We have "Fall Festival"
Each and every adult sunday school class in church is "responsible" for 1-3 or so activities/booths of games, activities and so forth. (depending on how large that class is)
Before buying ANY tickets (only 25¢ apiece), everyone is encouraged, though not required, to fill out a "registration" slip....so as to let us all know who everyone is....if they go to church and where....so, 'follow ups' can be made....(this is a HUGE outreach event for the church)
There are simple games for the smaller kids.....MASSIVE inflatables for the older kids...most any "game of skill" that you would find on a carnival midway....pony rides...hay rides....the church's motorcycle club has all of their Harleys out on display (kids get their pictures taken on their favorite ones!).....local restaurants have a "restaurant row" in the parking lot for food (all priced VERY reasonably)....and, SO much more....(of course, there's ministry booths all over, for people who have questions about the church and that sort of thing.).....and more candy than Willy Wonka could have ever imagined....
the entire community comes to this event....church and unchurched....you'll find really no one going 'door to door' trick or treating in our neighborhood...... everyone knows that our church is "the place to be" for that night....
attendance is usually in the 25,000 range.....but, considering this year it lands on a FRIDAY night, if we have great weather, we'll likely top that....
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 4:52:42 PM
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ladyichigo
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Our church has All Saint's Night on 10/31. Basically we set up game booths, food booths, have a short devotional, costume contest for the kids, a scavenger hunt for the kids and we invite the neighbors and the neighbor's neighbors and people of all ages to come have some wholesome fun.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 5:35:57 PM
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HisCovenant
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Does Reformation Sunday count? Our pastor has been known to dress up as a famous reformer and present a sermon as if he was that man. I believe there is special emphasis in the children's Sunday School classes and they are encouraged to dress up as a reformer. There will be special music and encouragement to remember those who have fought for the faith, even to the point of death throughout history so we can be free to follow God without tyrrany.
Maybe the answer is just "no, we don't have a fall festival to replace Halloween."
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 7:40:27 PM
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Juda7
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Yes. Mine does, but I never been to one. I personally don't think that it is necessary.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/22/2008 10:48:59 PM
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sunshine4God
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We have a reformation party every halloween night.Kids are encouraged to dress up as bible characters,there is plenty of games,and lots of candy.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/23/2008 12:16:43 AM
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1love1God1way
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Um.
We have a halloween party.
I don't need to give it another name to try and disguise it. It is what it is, and it's a lot of good clean fun.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/23/2008 12:48:46 AM
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KnowJesus
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We have a fall festival. It takes up three parking areas and a side street ( blocked off ). We have worship bands, outdoor movies (with a message) on a huge screen, free carnival booths run by home groups, BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs. We give out tons of candy. One year we gave out CDs to families (with a salvation message, and worship music). Last year we gave out testaments of John w/invitation. I don't know what is in store for this year. Our home group usually hands out food tickets and does the cooking, as well. The Lord makes it easy to witness to many who come through. Praise Him!
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/23/2008 12:51:39 AM
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whisperingwaters
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THis year for the youth we are having a costume party.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/23/2008 7:22:04 AM
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Casper22
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The Church I was raised in does a Haunted Forest every Halloween. Its a bit um ridiculous to me. They have all this violent gory exhibits and skits then at the end the have a skit of Christ being crucified in bloody detail then the Pastor (my uncle) does a short sermon for those who want to listen. Its always been kinda confusing to me even tho there skits are not real. Is it ok what there doing considering what they do at the end? I thought it kind of funny when the Pastor told us one Halloween that there reasoning for it was to lure kids in with the texas chainsaw massacre and then give them Jesus at the end. Is this right and ok?
The Church I go to now does what is called a Holy Ghost party as an alternative to Halloween which is just a little party at the Church that parents can bring there that dont feel comfortable celebrating Halloween. Its pretty fun actually and safer for the kids
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/23/2008 7:35:50 AM
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DaveW
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MyCatSmokey2006
I've heard of churches having harvest parties, so kids could dress up and get candy just like on Halloween, without the demonic aspects of the holiday. Does your church have these types of activities?
We have a party where kids dress up, play games, eat candy and other treats,etc. Stories are read and are interactive with the listeners. It is a lot of fun for all involved.
It is in February. It is called "Purim." (see the last chapter of Esther)
As to what we do in the fall, (sept, oct) we have High Holy Days - this year Rosh HaShana is Sept 30, Yom Kippur is Oct 9 and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) is Oct 14-21.
Edited to add:
A sister congregation in the New York area was visited by a traditional Jewish family with young children and the congregational leader was asked about Halloween. He told them they had a Purim party but ignored Halloween. The family which had just moved to the area joined the congregation because all the Reform and Conservative synagogues ignored Purim but celebrated Halloween.
A traditional (non-messianic) Jewish family attending a Messianic Synagogue and getting the gospel because they chose to NOT observe the pagan day.
< Message edited by DaveW -- 9/23/2008 7:47:54 AM >
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/23/2008 9:45:46 AM
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zoebob
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quote:
Before buying ANY tickets (only 25¢ apiece),
Is that for each game, or just to attend?
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/24/2008 6:24:54 AM
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buckifn
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yes we do. It's a two hour event with crafts, games, scavenger hunts,maizes, and LOTS of candy to take home. There are no scary costumes allowed and everyone has a ton of fun. We also have hayrides and marshmallow roast at the end of Oct.
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/24/2008 8:57:31 AM
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small_creation
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From: midwest
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quote:
ORIGINAL: MyCatSmokey2006
I've heard of churches having harvest parties, so kids could dress up and get candy just like on Halloween, without the demonic aspects of the holiday. Does your church have these types of activities?
I'm not trying to start a fight of words here, but that's exactly what Halloween is all about IMHO -- dressing up and getting candy. Church or no church, my kids go door to door every year without a thought to celebrating demons.
And to answer your question, no, our church does not have a special celebration in lieu of Halloween.
j
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/24/2008 9:42:01 AM
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kernsfamily
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From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
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quote:
I'm not trying to start a fight of words here, but that's exactly what Halloween is all about IMHO -- dressing up and getting candy. Church or no church, my kids go door to door every year without a thought to celebrating demons.
My "interpretation" of halloween, with regards to costumes to "dress up" as demons and such....isn't to "Celebrate" demons....but, to MOCK them.....make fun of them.....and, to say to the world, "HEY...we're not afraid of these guys....are God is a "great big God"....these guys are nothing!.....we can get dressed up and look all scary.....see? there's nothing to it.....
so, i don't see it as "glorifying" demons, monsters or anything like that at all....
my kids just dress up like an astronaut (our youngest daughter will be)....not sure what they other two will be....
I did as a kid.....and, I didn't turn into a satanist, occultist, or anything like that....
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Erin, Emilie and Elise
Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
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RE: Does Your Church Have Harvest Parties or Other Alte... - 9/24/2008 1:14:13 PM
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Lapidoth
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My answer is a simple one. [NO]
I'm with Dave.
There are enough biblical celebrations
that put the pagan ones to shame.
And the kids learn the Bible in acting out
the events of the Bible.
Purim you may still get "tooth decay."
But Halloween gives us "truth decay."
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