Increasingly, communities are turning to safe locations like malls and churches for the traditional festivities of Halloween—costume parties, games, trick-or-treating, and haunted houses. And while both heaven and hell are part of our theology, many of the traditional Halloween trappings don’t fit well with the purpose of our church. We don’t celebrate death, the underworld, or spirits other than the Holy One. Ours is a resurrection faith in Jesus Christ, not a descent into hell with ghosts, goblins, and ghouls.

So what are we to do with the great American phenomenon of Halloween as it finds its way into the programming life of the church? How can we meet the needs of our congregations for safe and hospitable places? How can we be faithful to our identity as the church and use Halloween as a teaching moment to help people know more about our Presbyterian and Reformed theology? And, of course, how can we have some fun in the process?

Here are some ideas from several of our congregations for making the most—or the least—of Halloween:

Have an All Saints’ Costume Party
Have children dress as a favorite Bible character or as a person they see as a “saint.” Ask them to tell briefly why that character is their favorite or why that person could be considered a saint. Let them decorate bags for candy and contribute to a “cloud of saints” mural. Have each age group parade while singing “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Recognize each child and the character each portrayed. Serve “All Hallows’” candy and include the history of the Reformation and All Saints’ Day in a story time.

Celebrate Fall
Have a fall festival for all ages with pumpkin carving, caramel apples, apple cider, painted gourds, and scarecrow making. It can include games like potato sack races, three-legged relays, or even a hay ride. Use Scripture passages about seasons and passages such as Ecclesiastes 3, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. . . .” Fall favors like pumpkin cookies, cider, and handmade greeting cards can be made and delivered to nearby care facilities by teams of children and adults. You can take photos of the people you visit and display those photos in the church for the rest of the autumn season.

No-Fear Costume Party
Almost every time an angel appears in Scripture, the words “Be not afraid” are spoken. Go ahead and have a Halloween costume party, but make it a fear-free party. Invite participants to come in costumes that celebrate beauty, joy, and calmness. Use Scripture passages that challenge fear such as Matt. 8:23–27, “. . . ’Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’. . . “ Talk with the children about the historical roots of Halloween in primitive ceremonies centering on fear of the winter season and of death. Reassure the children that God is in charge of the seasons and that Jesus has overcome death. If you have a costume contest, be sure to give everyone an award. Make the event a safe haven for trick-or-treaters and give out candy at different locations throughout the church building.

Halloween Hospitality
If your church is in a neighborhood that attracts a lot of trick-or-treaters, consider opening your doors to children and parents to come by for a free meal during the evening. Invite them to stay at the church and play games or just eat and run.

A Youth-Sponsored Carnival for Children
If you’ve got a youth group looking for a mission trip fund raiser, invite them to sponsor a fall carnival. They could create carnival games with biblical themes. An example is a Jonah Toss, which involves tossing a little Jonah doll into a hole cut in the belly of a wooden whale. The meal for the carnival could be as easy as hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings. Donations could be taken for the youth mission trip.

Parking Lot Trick-or-Treating
If your climate allows it, consider a church parking lot party. Invite members to decorate their cars and have children trick-or-treat to each car for candy. If you add a meal and games, you can use this approach inside the church building.

For more information, call the author, Carl Horton, Office of Church Leader Support, at (888) 728-7228, ext. 5453, or write chorton@ctr.pcusa.org.