We lived just outside of Wakefield in Yorkshire for about 20 years, worshipping in the team parish of Dewsbury Minster (with four churches in the team at the start). Three of the churches were in a predominantly Muslim area, so sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified, risen and ascended, was paramount.
Halloween has gradually become more popular in the UK (imported mainly from the USA!). I have always used visual aids to help people understand the Christian faith so using a pumpkin was an ideal opportunity. Instead of a face I carved a cross – with the light shining through. I usually put one in our porch, even now we are retired in Cornwall.
For a few years Dewsbury Minster had the use of a shop to sell Christian gifts and Christmas cards etc. Our shop window was on a very busy cut through. So – what else but a shop display? People came in to the shop and lots of conversations were had.
We have been involved in leading a messy church in Cornwall, and currently it meets monthly in our home and garden, with approx 40 attending – truly intergenerational!
We have used pumpkins for saying thank you to God. We have also hammered golf pegs into pumpkins, as a way of saying sorry to God. We imagined God forgiving us as the peg went right through.
We have dipped into various Christian publications and given out ‘tracts’ to Trick or Treaters. We shared in a pumpkin hunt going from church to church in St Ives, when Churches Together worked well.
We have used pumpkin seeds in Messy Church sessions eg a scavenger hunt. I have scattered some pumpkins seeds in the garden. How many can you collect? Reward for highest number! Talk about what seeds need to germinate and grow? What do we need to grow as followers of Jesus?
We also grew pumpkin seeds in small pots!
Mary Judkins, Messy Church leader
Want some more ideas for autumn festivals?
Head over to the Messy Church summary of Autumn festivals, including resources for Halloween and Remembrance!
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