Haunted Lock-in
The night's message is entitled, "Masks" It's often easier to put up a mask than to face who we really are.
Needed: 5 Bags of M&Ms or Skittles, snacks and drinks, bobbing for adam's apples, pickles olives and grapes, guess the candy jar, spaghetti & sauce, napkins, knifes, forks, spoons, milk, hot dogs, loves of slice of bread, french fries, beans, gummy worms, pie, non-scary Halloween DVD, 20 Pumpkins, carving tools, candles, 10 flashlights for leaders, fun hand-outs, design aids for Trunk or Treat, labels with masked characters printed on them, lighter, paper masks, a steal trash can and lid outside and ready with tightly crumpled newspaper for a small fire in it, Family group list, paper, pens, several different numbered drawings of pumpkin faces, 8 boxes big enough to hide drawings in, take home cards, 100' of strong rope cut into 10' sections, One roll of toilet paper for nearly everyone in attendance, 5 rolls of masking tape
9:30 The Haunting Begins
Those that want to go to the Haunted Island meet and get in cars to go. Those that want to stay and watch a movie go down stairs.
11:30 Lock-in Boo-els
Turn your cell phone off. - You don't have any other friends beside the ones here tonight and your parents are glad to get rid of you. They aren't calling. Don't use your phone for a light.
No swearing/profanity - Believe it or not this category includes inappropriate sexual discussions
No "extra curricular" activities permitted - For example, no sucking face with anyone
No roughhousing - Yes, this includes keeping someone else's property from them by force, sneaky-ness or running away from them
Do not leave the Church - If the area you are in is not climate controlled you are outside the church.
No cheating - If you are looking for a way around a rule, you are probably about to cheat and had best not attempt any deviations until you reach saint hood.
No Sneaking off - If you look around and there are not a significant number of other youth within sight, you have snuck off or you are the "Church". Stay in areas where everyone else is.
Snacks and drinks are allowed in the Youth Center and the Gym only. - If you are in transit between these two locations you may not eat or drink.
Do not open locked doors - If you have to do anything to a door that is more than just gently opening it, you are probably attempting to open a locked door.
Stay out of the rafters and organ loft - If you have to climb to get where you want to go and then you feel yourself having to balance on a beam high above the floor, chances are you are in the rafters.
Don't mess with church property - Do not touch the drums, pianos, spotlights, bongos - basically anything that might be fun at another time.
Sleep only in designated sleeping rooms. - No food or drink in designated sleeping rooms.
Expectations are as follows:
Participate as you can
Respect others
Listen
Clean up after yourself
If you would rather sit out or go to sleep, let me know where you are going and what you are doing.
The leader may randomly unlock a door from time to time.
Have a Blast
11:45 Dungeon Doin's
Pumpkin Carving - Gym only
Have snacks and drinks available
Have fun hand-outs available
Bobbing For Apples: Add pickles olives and grapes
Design aids for Trunk or Treat
Guess the Candy: Have the youth guess the number of pieces of candy in a jar. The person who guesses closest to the correct number gets the whole jar of candy!
12:45 Masks
Needed: Labels with masked characters printed on them, a carved pumpkin for each small group, flash lights for leaders, lighter, paper masks, pens, a steal trash can and lid outside and ready with tightly crumpled newspaper for a small fire in it
My Mask
How to Play: Begin with a large group in the gym. On adhesive white printer labels write the names of famous masked characters. Place a nametag in the middle of each youth's back (without showing them what is on it). Their goal is to figure out who they are by asking a series of yes/no questions. Each question must be asked of a different person.
Batgirl Batman Base Ball Catcher
Cyclops Darkman Dash
Zorro Donatello (Ninja Turtles) Flash
Green Hornet Green Lantern Iron Man
Jack-Jack Leonardo (Ninja Turtles) Violet
Lone Ranger Michelangelo (Ninja Turtle) Mr. Incredible
Mrs. Incredible Phantom of the Opera Rafael (Ninja Turtle)
Robin Spiderman The Mask
Catwoman Darth Vader Captain America
Green Goblin Jason (Friday the 13th) Daredevil
Riddler Stormtrooper The Joker
Break into "Family Groups" (Groups of mixed ages, keep guest with their friend, separate clicks) of no more than 10. Stay in the gym and shut the lights off. Each group gets a lit, carved pumpkin or two and a flashlight for the leader.
ASK:
If you could be any superhero who would you be?
What is it about this character that attracts you?
Why do most of the superheroes wear masks?
(The reason all the superheroes wear masks is to hide who they are...)
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
SAY: It's not just Halloween that people wear masks. If we are honest with ourselves, most of us put on masks from time to time. We put on a mask any time we are not honest with others, or worse yet, we are not honest with God. Anytime we try to make ourselves come across as something we are not, we are putting on a mask. (No answers needed for the following) What masks do you put on? In what situations do you hide behind a mask, afraid to reveal who you really are and what you really feel?
The name for someone like that is a hypocrite. An actor is the same word "hypocrite" in the Greek language. It means 'the person who wears a mask' (or cover on his face). In the original Greek plays, actors pretended to be someone else by putting on a mask.
Jesus used the word hypocrite to describe the Pharisees and in a parable teaches us an important lesson about masks...
Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
ASK:
Why was the Pharisee called a hypocrite - "one wearing a mask"?
For what reasons do you think the Pharisee "acted" this way?
Have you met people like the Pharisee? How did they make you feel?
In what ways have you been like a Pharisee? What are some of the masks you wear?
What Masks do I wear?
Set up: Give each youth a piece of paper cut into a mask shape and a pen.
Say: On one side of your mask, write or draw characteristics of how you want people to see you. Then, on the other side, write down some characteristics of who you really are and some of the things about your life that you don't want other people to see.
ASK:
What are some of the reasons people wear masks as Christians?
What are the risks of revealing what is hidden behind the mask?
Say: Let's go over some reasons. Could it be that some don't know how to live the Christian Life so we fake it? Most of us really do want to reflect Christ but the problem is many of us just don't know how. We know what we are supposed to do, but we don't know how to do it. What do you think?
Say: Could it be that some are ashamed? Everyone else seems ok and seems to have life together. So we become convinced that no one else has the same problems as us. We seem to be the only ones, so we hide our true thoughts and feelings. Does that sound possible? Why?
Say: Could it be fear for some? We hide behind our masks, because we are afraid of how people will react if they see our faults. They might not like the true us. Do you still hide your true self even in the your youth group?
Say: Could it be avoidance that makes us wear masks? It is often easier to put up a mask than to face who we really are. Insecurities and past hurts make us want to avoid dealing with the problem so we hide from ourselves.
The Tax Collector - Removing the Masks
ASK:
Why is the Tax-collector unwilling to even look up to heaven?
Have you ever been so ashamed that you wanted to hide your face from heaven?
How is this similar to wearing a mask?
How is it different from the mask of the Pharisee?
In what ways are you living the life of a hypocrite?
What is Jesus' main point in this story?
How would being honest with yourself and God make a difference in your life?
Come back together as a large group bringing the masks and pumpkins.
Close
Set up: Have a steal trash can and lid outside and ready for a small fire in it. Place some tightly crumpled news paper in the bottom (the tighter the slower it will burn) and have your lighter ready.
Say: Follow me outside and bring your masks, leaders bring a pumpkin.
(Gather around the trash can/grill and light the fire.)
Say: One at a time I would like you to silently crumple up your mask and toss it into the fire while having a time of personal reflection and confession to God. Don't be trapped behind a mask, acting out a life you don't really want. Be honest with God and let him remove your mask and replace it with a new you that doesn't need to hide from the world!
1:30 Monster Mash
Have free time fun in the Youth & Activity Centers
2:00 Frightful, Delightful Dinner
A three course meal
This is a mystery dinner, in witch (fun pun) people order items from a menu without knowing exactly what it is that they are ordering. All the food items and the eating utensils have disguised names. A person orders food in three courses, four items per course, from a menu at one course at a time. Sponsors fill the orders and bring the food to the tables. Youth must consume each course, all of it, before the next course can be brought.
Chose 4 items per column
Frightful, Delightful Dinner ItemActual Item
Vulture's Nest - Spaghetti & Sauce
Lapover - Napkin
Jack's Ripper - Knife
Devil's Right Arm - Fork
Grave Diggers Delight - Spoon
Autumn Nectar - Milk
No Legged Newt - Hot dog
Tombstone - Slice of bread
Irish Eyes - French fries
Bones - Beans
Slimy Shivers - Gummy worms
Sunken Pumpkin - Pie
2:30 Ghoulish Games
Pumpkin Picasso
Needed: Paper, pens, several different numbered drawings of pumpkin faces, a box big enough to hide the drawings in for each team
Set up: Draw or create several different pumpkin jack-o-lantern faces. The more intricate and detailed the face, the more difficult it will be for participants. Set up tables in a room that can be pitch black when the lights are out and set up tables in the gym with a boxes tipped on their sides for the pumpkin drawings to be hidden in.
How to Play: Divide the youth into various teams of 5. Have each team choose one "Picasso" who will draw a pumpkin face - in pitch darkness. Each team chooses an interpreter - someone who will sit on one side of a table looking into his or her tipped over box to describe the pumpkin to the runners including the number. The runners are the rest of the teammates. Runners stay on the other side of the table at all times and never get to see the actual drawing. They relay (using words only) how to draw the pumpkin to the Picassos in the pitch black room. And just to make it more interesting a different runner must go on each trip needed to finish the drawings. Runners must wait on the other side of the room from the interpreters and cannot communicate with the interpreter when they are not running. Oh, and there's a 5 minute time limit!
Station a few sponsors in the pitch black room for safety and to prevent cell phone light cheating. Runners are allowed to use a hand held light source while in transit but not to illuminate the drawings.
After 5 minutes, compare the masterpieces to the actual drawings and the one that is closest to the original wins!
Swap roles and drawings and play again!
Variation
1. Allow team members to roam about the room on their side of the interpreter tables and try to distract or give incorrect instructions to opposing teams.
2. Instead of judging which pumpkin is closest to the original, create a list of items to award various points:
o 20 points for drawing a circle so that the line crossed or connected with itself
o 10 points for each eye that was drawn INSIDE the circle.
o 20 points for a stem that was actually on top of the pumpkin
o 5 points for getting the mouth inside the circle
o 5 points if the mouth was BELOW both of the eyes
o 5 points for each eye that was the correct shape
o 5 points for each mouth that was the correct shape
o 5 points for getting the nose inside the circle
o 5 points for putting the nose between the mouth and the eyes
o 5 points for any triangle that is drawn
o 1 point for each place that lines cross each other.
Take it Spiritual
Give each youth a "take home" card with the following questions.
Think about the Pumpkin Picasso game we played.
Has God given us a pattern for life? Do we know what the end result is supposed to look like?
Do you know what you are supposed to create with your life or do you feel you are struggling in the dark?
Does God focus more on the big picture or on the small steps needed to create the end result?
Are God's instructions clear? How would you explain them to another person.
How will God judge the end results of your life?
What are some of the references that have played the biggest role in how you have formed your own Christian life?
What is something you can do this week so that God can use you for greater results your life?
Dr. Jack & Mr. Hide
Needed: A plastic pumpkin to hide (so no one can drop it and make a mess), 100' of strong rope cut into 10' sections
How to play: Go hide the pumpkin. Divide into groups of 4-5. Loosely tie a rope around the midsection of each group. Groups must stay together, within their rope, to find the pumpkin and bring it back to the starting point.
3:30 Monster Mash
Have free time fun in the Youth & Activity Centers
4:00 Ghoulish Games
The Mummy
Needed: One roll of toilet paper for nearly everyone in attendance, one roll of masking tape for each team, 5 Bags of M&Ms or Skittles for prizes
How to Play: Divide the youth into 5 teams. Each team selects one person on their team to be the mummy. Each team gets one role of masking tape. Each player gets a roll of tp that only they can use. The objective is to wrap the team member up like a mummy using the rolls of toilet paper. Then place them face up on a long table for judging. (And use in the next game!)
Announce that you will be awarding prizes for
1. The team that uses up their rolls of toilet paper the quickest.
2. The best wrapped mummy
3. The neatest
4. The scariest
5. Most creative
Game Rules
Do NOT wrap the head
Do not throw the rolls of toilet paper.
Tape is for repairs only, not for wrapping
The Mummies Crypt
Needed: The mummies and tables from the previous game
Set up: Form the mummies into a circle on the tables in the center of the gym. Place a few chairs to mark an outer circle boundary at least 10 feet from the mummies.
How to play: The youth move around the outer circle. To make it more fun have the girls go clockwise and have the boys move counter clockwise in a wider circle. The leader calls out a combination of body parts - ie. hand to toe; elbow to nose; head to stomach. The first part called is the anatomy part belonging to the youth, who must place that part on the closest mummies body part, called out second. The last few to complete the task are out and now must sit in the barrier chairs. No moving the chairs with people in them, tables or mummies. Going under the tables to get a better position is permitted.
As the game progresses add more chairs to form barriers between the mummies and the outer circles. The last few people should be navigating a crypt to get to the mummies.
4:30 Underground Lair
Underground Church Haunted Style
Actually read everything below and check for clarity. It's no fun if everyone plays by different rules.
Set up: This is a lights out game so use caution and don't turn on or use any light. The Players are; Underground Church, Followers, or Guards.
How to play: There is one "Church" (a group of three). The church is given a set amount of time to go and hide. The Church will become the Guards for the next round.
The "Guards" try to keep the church from growing. Guards carry unobstructed "on" flashlights at all times. Their main job is to tag the Followers & lock them outside the building in the Courtyard (don't just look for the church). If they tag or grab a Follower, the Follower must surrender (don't keep resisting) and be escorted out the nearest Courtyard door. Once the follower is outside, their job is to find a way back in, which is difficult because we will change the unlocked door from time to time. Everyone must continue to try to get in; they can't just sit outside and chat.
The "Followers" (No light sources allowed including cell phones.) try to find the Underground Church without being tagged by the Guards or giving away where the Church is. If a Guard finds the Church the round is over. But, if the Church has 7-15 members (depends on how many play) the round is over and the UNDERGROUND CHURCH has won!
Here's the haunted style. It's a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde thing. When a Guard tosses a Follower out into the courtyard they switch rolls. The Follower gets the flashlight and when they find their way back in become a Guard. The Guard is now a Follower.
6:30 Hide the Evidence
Help clean up the church.
7:00 Go Home
