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CYF Resources for Light Parties
Light Parties are offered as an alternative to Halloween, giving families a choice and churches a chance to share light and hope.
Why Light Parties?
Light parties are positive alternatives to Halloween and give churches the opportunity to provide a safe place for families who do not want to get involved in Halloween events, as well as making a stand for truth and light.
Practical Points
- Timing – can you run it on Halloween itself? Either late afternoon or evening?
- Team – make sure you have enough team to keep the children safe, run activities and oversee the event. The NSPCC have MINIMUM ratios which you can follow here:
- Invitations – will your local school send an invitation out for you or put a poster up? Don’t assume it will just be church families who are interested!
- Activities – consider having a theme run through the games, crafts and talk.
- Logistics – do you need a pre-booking system? Do you have a registration form to include medical and allergy information? Do you have a register for the event? Without forgetting GDPR, can you get permission to send them information about other events that the church might run?
- Take home – party bags are great, with sweets and glowsticks, BUT, what about an activity sheet they can complete at home, involving their families? Linked to the theme, involving the Bible and with puzzles, and maybe something to help them reflect?
Think about:
- The children could get a lot of sweets if they go trick or treating – sweets are good for light parties!
- It can be really hard for children who want to be involved in Halloween activities, and don’t understand why they can’t – make it fun! Be clear why we celebrate Jesus the light. And be kind.
- How will you handle children coming in Halloween costumes?
- Follow up – what might someone come to next? Messy Church? A family service? What can you invite them to at the Light Party?
- Prayer backing – before, during and after the event.
Messy Church
Messy Church suggest holding a Holy Halloween, remembering that God is our space place, through Psalm 23.
Muddy Church Trails
- Bat Trail from Wild Church, Norfolk & Muddy Church
- The Children of Light Trail uses the letters of the word “Light” as you wander and wonder. Produced with the Diocese of York.
- Light Trail – Produced with the Diocese of Birmingham.
- A Pumpkin Patch Trail encouraging you to let your light shine, with activities, crafts, games and music.
Pumpkin Heroes
From World Vision, their Pumpkin Heroes pack includes a video story, song, games and craft ideas.
Scripture Union
Offering the “Best of SU Light Parties”, here is a collection of ideas, activities and advice.
Space Quest
From Roots on the Web and free to subscribers, you can also buy this pack as a one off purchase.
Space Quest is a space themed light party plan.
Sun Hats & Wellie Boots
Tried and tested ideas for last minute inspiration. Crafts, activities and light themed game idaes.
The Reflectionary
Light Party does Science! A plan with food ideas, experiments, games, crafts & science.
Faith in Kids
Podcasts to listen to with your children, with themes around light and pumpkins.
Light Always Wins
John 1:6-9
- Begin by reading John 1:6-9 to the whole group
- John spoke about Jesus as being a light. What might he have meant?
- If we imagine ourselves in a very, very dark room, what can we see? Turn the lights out!
- If we then put a light in the centre of the room, what happens? Light the candle.
- The great thing about light is that it ALWAYS wins. In a battle between dark and light, light ALWAYS wins. The smallest bit of light that shines beats the blackest and biggest darkness.
- That means we never need to be afraid of the dark or of anything dark in the world. Because Jesus is the light of the world. And when Jesus came to our dark world and died for us on the cross he beat the darkness in the world and he beat the darkness in us, the bad stuff that we choose to do.
- If we ask the light of the world to come to us and to live in us) then we have the light with us always.
- And that light continues to win. We need never be afraid.
Shine Like Stars
Philippians 2:15
- Jesus took the darkness out and brought light – when we come to him, we shine like stars.
- Prep a pumpkin with most of the goo out already, and stars carved in the back. Show them the world and the bad that is in it – Jesus came to take out the bad.
- Scoop out the last bits, then say Light beat the dark – inc all Halloweeny stuff – add a candle and link to Philippians 2 – shine like stars and turn it round.
- And that light continues to win. We need never be afraid.
Whatever is… (11+)
Philippians 4:8
- At Halloween it’s not uncommon to see things disguised as something else – and we’re not talking people in fancy dress! You can walk down the aisle in the supermarket and see costumes for mass murderers or ‘ouija board’ board games, for example. It can be so easy to take something dark and wrong and disguise it as something that’s okay and fun for one night of the year!
- The problem with this is we can begin to actually think that these things ARE okay, and we are tempted to get involved with things we shouldn’t. Bad can easily be made to look good.
- Read Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV)
- What do you think this verse means? Why do you think it’s a good idea to think about these things? Do you associate any of these with Halloween? Why or why not?
Faith in Kids
- A podcast discussing how we can use Halloween to talk about faith, and share light with those around us.
Parenting for Faith
- What do we do about Halloween?
- Different ways to engage kids and teens with Halloween
- Exploring ways to respond to trick or treaters.