We love celebrating fall and harvest time. This year we are hosting another Hallelujah Harvest Night in our home with a few of our friends. Instead of walking door to door, trick-or-treating, we intentionally invite people into our home to share a cozy meal, sing songs, and read "My Happy Pumpkin" (similar to the Pumpkin Patch Parable). These simple activities refocus our hearts and minds on Christ and His light during this dark holiday. (For reference our children are 5, 3.5, and 2 years old)
A Meal to Share - sausage and vegetable soup & store bought tomato soup; grilled cheese sandwiches (cooked ahead of time); yummy pumpkin themed cookies.
Fun Activities - Homemade orange play dough to make pumpkins using sticks and leaves; fall themed coloring pages; pumpkin scavenger hunt (hide paper pumpkins throughout the house for kids to find)
Main Activity - Read "My Happy Pumpkin" book; create a pumpkin using a paper plate and colored paper; Sing the Pumpkin Patch song and other songs such as:
- • This Little Light of Mine
- • Jesus Loves Me
- • Amazing Grace
- • Open the Eyes of my Heart
- • Great Are You Lord
In the Past...
...we've participated in the costume planning and the candy passing out and receiving. From the beginning we wanted to guard our children's sensitive hearts so we never ventured door-to-door in order to eliminate chances of seeing overly grotesque decorations. Instead we attended a few Trunk or Treat events, where our children gravitated more towards the bounce houses and crafts. The candy they did receive, we didn't want them eating anyways, so inevitably mom and dad consumed the stash - not an ideal situation.
Growing up, I only attempted trick-or-treating two or three times and did not enjoy my time. Instead my family and I mainly attended our church's Harvest Night with booths and games to win candy and prizes. This was a fun childhood memory for me.
Our Hallelujah Harvest Night provides opportunities for treats, crafts, and friends without any of the distractions. I love singing simple songs about Jesus and His light with our children and their friends. It is such a sweet time for us as a family.
As the girls grow older, we might change how we focus on Jesus during this season and how we engage our neighbors, but for now I can confidently say we will continue to guard their sensitive hearts and eyes from darkness, gore, and evil.
