October brings plenty of pumpkins, scarecrows, and fall treats galore. This year, choose a fun activity to celebrate harvest season as a family—while blessings others at the same time! Here are some ideas.
Photo booth—Decorate your front porch with hay bales, corn stalks, pumpkins, leaves, and bushels of apples—then invite neighbors and friends to come over for a photo shoot! Using the porch scene as a backdrop, you can snap the pics with your camera then either text the photos to each family or print and frame them as a special gift.
Pit stop—While neighbors are out trick-or-treating, park in your driveway and serve hot dogs and apple cider to passersby. It’s a great opportunity to greet families and share the love of Christ!
Decorate pumpkins—Invite your children’s friends or neighborhood kids over for a pumpkin decorating party. No carving necessary—just dish out a bunch of markers, stickers, paint supplies and accessories then encourage the kids to let their imaginations run wild. Consider handing out awards for best dressed pumpkin, most creative, funniest face, etc.
Special delivery—Assemble treat bags filled with candy, stickers, small toys or prayer cards and deliver them to a nearby homeless shelter or sanctuary for abused women and families.
Treasure hunt—Create a list of “treasures” to find as a family, such as: a red leaf, a painted rock, a carved pumpkin, a pot of mums, etc. Then go on a hike around the neighborhood, checking off the list. Everywhere you find a treasure, leave a note of encouragement for others to discover. Once you’ve worked together to complete the hunt, go out for dinner at your favorite family restaurant.
However you choose to celebrate the harvest, remember to focus on outreach rather than exclusivity this time of year. Why? Because God called us to share the good news of Jesus with others. And harvest season is a wonderful chance to do just that.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10—11)
