A Perfect Fall Night
The StoneBridge campus was full of life last night, as we hosted a Trunk or Treat for nearly 500 excited kids, parents, and in betweens. Any passerby would have been curious about and drawn to the twinkling lights, festive DJ music, colorful inflatables, and the smell of sizzling hot dogs wafting in the cool night air.
Roughly 30 trunks were lined up for eager children, decorated to the hilt and full of candy to distribute to bright eyed kids. Themes ranged from Candy Land, dinosaurs, and Spooky Snoopy to castles, Harry Potter, and outer space. The creativity and energy that went into designs was almost breathtaking! Huge arrays of balloons, battery powered lights, and costumes displayed just how committed and excited Stonebridge participants were to make this event stand out and draw our neighboring communities into a night of fun while extending the love of Christ.
Candy was a prime attraction, with opportunities to guess the number of various treats in jars on tables. Children of all ages gleefully went from trunk to trunk dropping sweets in their bags, so much so that when cars began running out, a member walked to Walgreens and returned as a Halloween Santa, laden down with bags to replenish the empty coffers to keep the fun going.
Squeals of delight echoed from the inflatable slide in front of the church for 3 hours. The picnic tables were jammed with hungry families, being re-energized with hot dogs and chips to continue the fun with more games and candy.
Many of the guests were from nearby neighborhoods and dropped in because they saw us setting up and were drawn to the enticing sights. I spoke with a number of families who had kids in our preschool, but didn’t know much about the church. Some had churches they attended sporadically, but were considering visiting, upon witnessing the event and being taken in by the atmosphere of community and fun on display. What a beautiful picture of our congregation loving and meeting people where they are, neighboring, and being placed for a purpose on Prosperity Church Road
It is a foregone conclusion that this event will be on the 2023 calendar. Trunk or Treat stories will be shared and marveled at for weeks to come. Not only were friendships made with strangers, but also between StoneBridge participants as they served side by side at their trunks, the grills, or supervising the inflatables. God’s blessings were abundant last night. Let’s give thanks for his love and provision, as well as to our amazing church staff who planned and executed an excellent night of fun.
