Look Up Halloween Alternatives
By Rhawnie Goldstein

      Like me, many of you are caught between a "rock and a hard place" when it comes to celebrating, or even participating in Halloween. Knowing its background and the basis for the celebration, many feel uncomfortable even acknowledging the event by distributing candy to innocent little children. So here are some alternatives that the whole family, and even your church, can participate in.

      1. Organize a neighbor's night out. Here is an opportunity to get your neighbors together for a 'block party' type of event. This is a great way to get to know folks on your street. Make it a non-alcohol party with food, beverages, games, and mixers designed to help neighbors learn more about each other.

      2. Do an outing. Get a group of families together and arrange to go to a senior's-type facility. Have the children create gifts ahead of time, and bake treats like cookies and brownies. Go from room to room and do reverse trick-or-treating.

      3. Prepare home-made certificates such as "Good for One Lawn Raking" or "Good for One Car Washing" and deliver them to your neighbors (make them specific to their needs). Then follow up by doing the projects within the next week. What a perfect example of servant ministry. If your neighbors think you are a Christian, now they might know it!

      4. Sponsor a Harvest Celebration. Open up your church for a fun evening for the local neighborhood. Many people will not come to church for a worship service, but might come for an evening of food and entertainment. Again, this is an opportunity to connect with people through friendship ministry.

      These are just a few ideas that might help you create and evening that is fun, uplifting, and that gives you an opportunity to be "light" and "salt" to your community.