Lifestyles

Too Old To Trick or Treat?

November 1, 2007

By Christa Graham

Many college students still feel like kids when Halloween comes around. Would any student deny the fact that he or she still wants a big bag of treats even though the trick or treating years are over?

However, college students now face the decision of what activities to participate in on Halloween. Students seeking to avoid the traditional gory Halloween events for adults have found thrilling alternatives, such as unique fall festivals and church dramas.

One such fall festival was held at Doe Run Assembly of God. This festival included free activities, free food, games, prizes, a moon walk and a pie-eating contest. Other churches that hosted similar fall festivals include The Church on the Rock in St. Charles and St. Louis Family Church in Chesterfield.

If students wanted to take a more religious approach to the secular holiday they could attend a church drama. Winds of Pentecost church hosted a unique drama on Halloween called “Come Home” to emphasize the importance of choices.

Ryan Trimble, one of the actors in the drama, gave the drama’s story line. “Come Home” is a prodigal son story. It’s about a young man who leaves his father for a world of pleasure until he finds out that it is not what he wants. Meanwhile the father searches for his son. “The father gives his life for the son. Just when you think the drama is over, you realize that the son is in hell and is merely replaying his life choices over and over in his mind,” said Trimble.

Church dramas such as “Come Home” focus on the spiritual seriousness of spirits, ghosts and hell. Other churches such as Southern Hills Baptist Church in Bolivar and Gateway Central Church of the Nazarene in Bridgeton hosted “Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames”—a drama that includes scenarios from both heaven and hell.

So, when it is time for green ghosts and goblins next year, and you are wondering how you should spend the holiday, don’t forget about the alternatives to scary ghost stories and spine-chilling haunted houses!

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