Well, Jumpin' Pumpkins!

I am so tired of the religious cults thinking that if their members do ANYTHING with Fall or Halloween, they are sacriligious, wrong, or dancing with the Devil himself. I grew up in a culture that did that, and had EXTREMELY rare opportunities to explore culture, society, and have fun that time of year -- 1 Halloween Party my entire childhood, 1 opportunity to trick or treat and hand out candy, and One time to actually trick or treat in town... I waited till I was almost 29 to read Harry Potter, and the church only did HARVEST festivals. Bible or book characters only. Itchy Alligator costumes you can't move your chin in, anyone? Having to hold your adoptive brother's hand as Raggedy Ann and Andy? because separate costumes weren't okay? 13 Queen Esthers to compete with?

Needless to say, I CAN sew and design great costumes. This time of year was originally a religious occasion of casting evil out, rather than participating in it. Over time, maybe some of that changed. My first official boyfriend, rather than crush was a Halloween nut year round. I had to say no to dates he suggested due to differences of religion, and controlling former house situation. I had to say no to party invites, unless it was a birthday party on the date of. And go dressed as Agent 99.

Can we get more creative with religious options so that popes pastors Sunday School Teachers, and religious nuts can still -- um ... TEACH? ... (and work with all of you, during one very long season, exist, co - exist, and still get some good messages across WITHOUT having to completely separate ourselves from something that still has to be dealt with when they walk out those doors --- PLEASE?) I formerly taught Sunday school for several years. It's HARD to avoid this entirely... I mean, come on... they'll beg you to bring candy as the snack, talk about what kids at school are saying but no one wants to do, and then you're supposed to teach and keep people focused.... for how long, exactly? JESUS CHRIST.... He was supposed to save us from all the disasters, wasn't he?

Well, since churches don't often budge, and the only other options (especially on this side of the planetary axis) are Treasure Trunks Tours

where they give children tours through hell built mazes, and are refused candy, yelled at and guilt tripped, told you're going to Hell if you don't pray the prayer at the end -- and refuse Jesus. (B-town, yay?)

OR Harvest Festivals, where you compete with bible character lookalikes and eat apples, and baked goods for sale on auction Menno style....

Two towns, age old tale of pushing their message down people's throats in replace of something they want to make go extinct or else... if Jesus really saved us from all of that... is it necessary to threaten scream and yell and treat people less than if they can't accept Jesus after threatened to? (I would probably be scared to say anything - let alone a prayer after being scared to death like that.)

Now, I'm writing a Halloween start to a history blog in order to try to make money, due to issues getting money to come in. Over the years, I've changed a little of my views on some things, and still speaking out against religious abuse towards members, while at it. I think balance is important, and I'm STILL trying to learn how to have some, simply because the way religion is, it doesn't stop. And I'm growing tired of things either being ALL one way, or all the other, with no middle ground in between.

If Jesus won't save the day, I will. Sometimes I'm more convinced the world needs saved by the church, or maybe it's a bit of both. But I'm going to try.

And I'm going to offer a few creative write ups while I'm at it, to use as suggestions, for usage by teachers, families, and activities that can engage fun, while still having some level of knowing how to deal with the world.

Folkes, I can only teach crocheting as a cold weather Sunday School activity connected to the concepts of prayer, "stitching together every thought and action for good" and being linked together as a body ... leading up to gifting their creation to someone they love this Christmas." Having one theme each week, as a cold weather seasonal lesson and activity needs some changeups. There's what others did and what I tried... but it was worth it in the end. Changing up the weekly topic of discussion over one activity gets hard though. And it is NOT very well blended. Let's be honest here. Shall we?

I taught a study group a few years ago, and did things different than the norm. Mormons are pretty conservative too, right? I know... Creativity is hard sometimes.

Well, Jumpin' Pumpkins, have I got a solution for you!

If removing sin is about getting rid of the icky, sticky gunk anyways, how about a test drive -- hands on. With pumpkins.

Have them take turns going around the table, and share one emotion or "bad" thing they'd like to have better managed or one emotion expressed less. If it's too much or they are too embarrassed to share it out loud, have them write it down and keep with them, or tear it up for privacy afterwards.

Then, let 'em choose a pumpkin. Singular, if the budget allows you to provide one per each participant, OR, creatively incorporate coupling up on teams. Have paring knives and carving tools... or... have them bring their own.

Have a moment of participative exploration into the topic of removing gunk, and how it feels to have too much burdensome troubling problems encompassing the inside and having to handle.

Depending on the age group's access to adjectives, or descriptive words, maybe suggest phrases like "a tangled mess" or sticky, even that your hands are sinking and it's hard to pull them out part way in.

Then, let the cutting, carving and scooping of pumpkins begin!

Save back the pumpkin pulp and seeds for later activities. They'll come in handy! Trust me.

As they're cutting - explain the parable of grafting and cutting away what doesn't belong or serve us anymore (though you can creatively use the insides to serve baked goods for later!) You could also incorporate psychology topics on how all emotions are valid, but better reserved for later times. Sometimes society doesn't accept or model this method well, but it's a psychology topic that's supposed to be relevant. Just allow it to be true, if you say it, instead of ALWAYS shunning or disagreeing with that particular emotion or behavior. The passage of a time for everything under the sun isn't really followed by the church well either - some things are just NEVER okay. But The verse is in there. Some people get witchy, but other taboo things make your pastors, and church leaders get twitchy. Let's leave it at that.

Then, after your projects are finished, provide some candles - whether real and flammable, or battery operated (now, color options of those exist, which makes me so excited! You could even encourage participation and actually providing choices to your church members by allowing them to CHOOSE their own color of preference in battery operated flames.

And the sarcasm is coming through - but the church doesn't really give people much choice - especially to young, female, or teenage members. When you're between 70-90 you see people start having more options available to them - but, oh well... That's why I wrote COULD. Because usually you churches don't ...

Then, LET YOUR LIGHTS SHINE!

So, there are ways to incorporate certain passages, not that the church often follows their own teachings anyway. And no, screaming and guilt tripping and threatening people into "choosing" to be saved is not letting them choose. That is abusive manipulation and threatening. Intentions should matter and I do not stand for that example I've heard many former schoolmates have to go through, and seen video clips briefly showing it. I've read the advertisements, heard the horror stories, seen former friends talk about it, and that is not acceptable.

When you're done decorating your Jack - O - Lantern, tell him to hit the road, Jack! (just like the religious community did to outside activities, and Halloween all these years.) then light a candle so your light still shines for your pastors, Sunday School teachers, and Rabbis to see!

There. Still. Worth. Shining!

Jumpin' Pumpkins, Jesus! And remember, you do you, (boo!)