For almost four decades, I have always had at least one (and one year, up to four) shows on Halloween.  This year I actually had it off, but we did have a show on the 30th at our home church.  The event was billed as a harvest party, and it was open to the community at large and for all ages.  If you brought hats, gloves, mittens or coats for local children, you had a chance to try to dunk our pastor in a dunking booth, and there were lots of games and candy for all.  Our show was for 45 minutes in the middle of the event.

There was a very good turn out for the evening, and just as many adults as kids.  There was evening a good turn out of teens.  I tried to put together a show that had something for everyone.  I included "Mary and Marty", a routine based on the account of Jesus' visit with Mary and Martha in the book of Luke.  This is my favorite routine, but I don't do it often.  It was great to include it and have it appreciated by so many who were there.  I also included the disappearing champagne bottle and a new dove production both for the first time at my home church.  There have been many new people in our church in recent months, so this was a chance for some of them to see what we do for the first time.

A highlight for me was interacting with a family of Chinese immigrants during an audience participation routine.  I did not recognize them, and they are not part of our church, so it was special that they came out that night.  After the show, the eldest member of the family -I'm assuming the matriarch - thanked me for the show in labored English. 

After the show, there was a short dance / gymnastics display that included four youth from our church.  Our daughter, Rose, and the pastor's son Joey, were among this group.  When Joey did a back flip from a standstill it brought the house down.

Then the dunk tank opened, and Pastor Mike took his place on the seat.  Tom Smith sneaked a few bags of ice into the tank just to make it interesting, and the fun began.  Many bags of warm clothes were collected for kids in the community, the Gospel message went out, and fun was had by all.  And, without a gig on the actual night of Halloween, we were able to relax and reflect on the fun from the night before.