If you are out in Northstowe after dark on 31st October, do stop by Church House!

As in previous years, we look forward to welcoming people to warm up around our campfire, get creative (this year, making Lanterns), and join a conversation about the blessings of darkness and light.

Here's what happened in previous years around the campfire outside Church House as we looked for the blessings of Dark and Light.

Save the date for more this All Hallow's Eve (31st October, from dusk)

Around the campfire, we shared fruit and sweets...

We asked what you find in the dark (and wrote hidden messages with UV pens)

And we're asking "where is the light"?

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Afterwards (or if you can't join us in person) you might like to build on our campfire activities with these reflections...

As the Wheel of the Year turns towards winter, the nights get longer.

The endless summer evenings are far behind us now, and darkness has come in their place.

The trees are yet to drop their colourful leaves, but one puff off wind, and the world will look very different...

Samhain: the end of summer

At this time of year, the world rests, and we are invited to rest with it.

You might like to join us in reflecting with these words, which we have previously shared here in Northstowe. They are drawn from a service published by Iona Abbey, to mark Samhain, traditionally the start of the dark half of the year.

Samhain means ‘summer’s end’, and is the Gaelic word for the month of November. In Christian tradition, this week also sees the eve of All Hallows’ Day, All Hallows’ Even, from where we get the word Hallowe’en.

There are different things that this season means to us… and in particular the festivals of All Hallows, All Hallows Eve, and Samhain…:

A time to honour ancestors and remember loved ones who have died: we light this candle in remembrance of them….
A night when the veil between the worlds grows thin.
A ritual of reversal, when trick or treating allows children to wreak havoc on grown-ups.
A night of fire and ritual.
An excuse to dress up and party, wearing strange clothes to be someone or something different.
A time to mark the changing of the seasons and prepare for the coming winter.

Blessings of the dark

Tonight, we invite you to use our UV pens to write or draw the things that you might find in the dark..

As you do, you might like to reflect on these words:

"Tonight, we honour the passing of the summer and welcome the autumn, rejoicing in the Light of Christ, who is always with us through the dark nights of winter and the dark nights of our lives."

and think about the blessings that darkness bring — how we need the dark to see the stars, and how darkness can give us freedom to withdraw and encounter God.

In darkness, the world rests.

"As the trees shed their leaves, we can shed what we no longer need to carry. And as the rotting leaves nourish the germinating seeds, we can allow God to nourish our dreams until they are ready to grow into action."

You might like to write or draw the things that you want to shed with the end of summer… in previous years, we've done this around a campfire, drawing them on leaves which can then be burnt.

You might like to watch some of this campfire video, and as you watch the flames rise, you might like to talk to God about the dreams you want Him to nourish through the winter.

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Liturgy of Light

While many this night are carving fierce pumpkins to scare others away, our pumpkin declared DO NOT BE AFRAID! Another was carved in the shape of a heart… You can see many other inspiring pumpkins with the #PumpkinsOfHope hashtag - why not add yours too?

You might like to light candles in a lantern, or in a pumpkin, and to pray:

"KINDLE WITHIN US A FLAME THAT NEVER DIES"

As night falls, and the darkness grows around us, our little candles seemed to glow brighter.

It is helpful to reflect on how Christ invites us to put our trust in him and walk in his light. He shines light in the darkness of our confusion, of our pain, and into the darkness of our souls.

If you are with others, you may like to pray blessings upon each other at the turning of the seasons (and the turning of our path). To pray for wildness and wonder, adventure and courage, healing and hope…

"And through your blessings may we know your joy within us: Star-maker, Light of the world, Fire of holiness, LOVE WITHOUT END. AMEN"

Feasting together

Often, we conclude our All Hallow's celebrations with a meal, shared with family and friends.
Here are a few pictures from the first year we celebrated here in Northstowe.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig deeper, you might enjoy this blog: "Halloween – Sifting Historical Facts vs “Christian” Myths"

And this fantastic Halloween Poem: