Halloween can be a tricky time for parents. One minute we're teaching our children not to take sweets from strangers, and the next they're asking to go door-to-door collecting them! So this year, we wanted to offer local families in Bishop's Cleeve and the surrounding villages something a little different. Instead of focusing on the darkness often associated with Halloween, we chose to celebrate something much brighter: God's light in the world.

And what a fantastic afternoon it was!

The church was transformed into a hub of laughter, excitement and fun. Children bounced and giggled on our huge disco bouncy castle, while the giant inflatable "Whack-a-Mole" game took over a large part of the church and proved a huge hit with children (and quite a few adults too!). There were glitter tattoos sparkling everywhere, colourful UV body art glowing under special lights, plenty of crafts to get creative with, and an amazing selection of refreshments to keep everyone fuelled for the fun.

To top it all off, we even had a special visit from a Minion, who caused great excitement and featured in more than a few family photos!

Events like this don't happen without an incredible team of volunteers. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the afternoon possible. Whether you were moving chairs beforehand, putting them all back afterwards, serving refreshments, supervising activities, welcoming families or helping throughout the event, your support was invaluable and very much appreciated.

As we gathered together, we were reminded of Jesus' words about not hiding our light. Jesus calls us to let His light shine through us, bringing hope, kindness and joy into what can sometimes feel like a dark world.

Our Light Party was a wonderful reminder that a little light can make a big difference.

Let's keep shining the light of Jesus wherever we go! ✨💡🎉

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)