God Outdoors
Lighting the Way
As the October Half-Term holiday drew to a close for most children, and the commercial dark trappings of Halloween could be seen across many of the Over Wyre villages and beyond, something different was on offer in the church grounds of St. James’ Stalmine: a festival of light.
Over twenty primary-aged youngsters and eighteen adults shared a light-filled, fun-tastic, hands-on evening, full of activities with Jesus, the Light of the World at its heart.
Traditional campfire treats – s’mores – were toasted over a fire. The flames licked the marshmallows as the children licked their lips in anticipation of sweet, chocolatey gooeyness! The treats lived up to their name, as one created cravings for more!
The pumpkin carving table was busy; seeds and flesh were scooped out before smiley faces were created, ready to cascade some light in the darkness.
Close by, wax was being melted and poured into foil moulds, complete with wicks, to be set in the cold earth. It was a simple activity, but one which transformed a dark area into a glowing space, reflecting how the light of Jesus is transformative.
Using jam jars, PVA glue, pieces of coloured tissue paper and an LED candle, the little ones had the opportunity to create their own stained-glass lanterns, again, providing a decorative light source in the gathering gloom.
Many of the children engaged with the treasure hunt, using torches to seek out the glow-in-the-dark letters in order to uncover a themed message: Jesus is light!
For the ‘crafty’ youngsters, some cardboard pumpkins were waiting to have flame-coloured paper strips woven throughout the template. Dextrous fingers and an eye for colour, brought the dull cardboard to life.
A simple tea was shared comprising a jacket potato, cheese and beans. As the temperature dropped, warm food went down a treat. School cake, decorated with stars, brought the meal to a sweet conclusion.
As dusk turned to darkness, adults and children gathered to listen to a pumpkin story, loaded with symbolism, reflecting the brightness and glory of Jesus in our lives.
The team who had planned, prepared and delivered the evening, had spread radiating light; flames flickered and glinted, pumpkins gleamed, lanterns and candles were lit, creating a warm glow and swags of fairy lights twinkled above the beaming faces of all participants.
Enlightening.
