The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve
Fear of entertaining seems to be an issue that's not so uncommon. I talk to many people who have told me they have never welcomed guests in their home. Some want their domain to be strictly a private refuge, others don't know where to begin and feel inadequate when it comes to inviting people over.
We welcome people into our home often, in fact tonight the Celebration women will be coming to our home and Sunday night we're having all of the newcomers over. We usually invite anyone who is new to the church over every other month, and have a "getting to know you" time. It's not uncommon for us to have anywhere from one or two people to 70 people at the house. A few New Year's Eve's ago, we had over 100 people here. It was organized chaos!
At times I do something with all of the china and the trimmings, and other times it's pizza and paper plates. In my experience, it's wisdom to plan around what you can handle at the time depending upon your schedule. With this in mind, here are three things to help you if you're struggling:
1) Invite others to bring some food
I'm doing this tonight. In years gone by, I might have made all of the food for this evening's gathering and spent a lot of time doing things that took a lot of work, like a 5 layer dessert, or a three to five course dinner, all made by me. Honestly, I don't have time for that right now. I'm working multiple jobs. But I really want to spend time with the women. Rather than say, "I don't have time to get things ready to spend time with the ladies," I simply ask them to help me. I've asked everyone to bring a dish to share tonight. I am providing all of the drinks (simple: only purchases involved except for my iced tea which they LOVE.) and also a very simple appetizer when the early birds arrive. One of my favorite things is chilled red pepper jelly and cream cheese on a cracker. That takes all of two seconds to make and will be ready when everyone gets there. Other than that I will have no personal food prep for tonight.
2) Use paper products
Everything doesn't have to be china and stemware to be special. Friends will be so glad you invited them in, and aren't concerned about whether they are eating off of Noritake or Chinet. Incidentally, I'm using all paper products tonight, except for the hot drinks.
3) Enlist your family's help with cleaning.
When we're having a party at our house, everyone helps to get the house ready. At times it even gives us an "excuse" to do special jobs we don't always do.
Happy entertaining! You can do it!
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| Dessert table at our leadership Christmas party at our home last year. |
We welcome people into our home often, in fact tonight the Celebration women will be coming to our home and Sunday night we're having all of the newcomers over. We usually invite anyone who is new to the church over every other month, and have a "getting to know you" time. It's not uncommon for us to have anywhere from one or two people to 70 people at the house. A few New Year's Eve's ago, we had over 100 people here. It was organized chaos!
 |
| Some of the kids dancing on New Year's Eve last year in our family room. |
At times I do something with all of the china and the trimmings, and other times it's pizza and paper plates. In my experience, it's wisdom to plan around what you can handle at the time depending upon your schedule. With this in mind, here are three things to help you if you're struggling:
1) Invite others to bring some food
I'm doing this tonight. In years gone by, I might have made all of the food for this evening's gathering and spent a lot of time doing things that took a lot of work, like a 5 layer dessert, or a three to five course dinner, all made by me. Honestly, I don't have time for that right now. I'm working multiple jobs. But I really want to spend time with the women. Rather than say, "I don't have time to get things ready to spend time with the ladies," I simply ask them to help me. I've asked everyone to bring a dish to share tonight. I am providing all of the drinks (simple: only purchases involved except for my iced tea which they LOVE.) and also a very simple appetizer when the early birds arrive. One of my favorite things is chilled red pepper jelly and cream cheese on a cracker. That takes all of two seconds to make and will be ready when everyone gets there. Other than that I will have no personal food prep for tonight.
2) Use paper products
Everything doesn't have to be china and stemware to be special. Friends will be so glad you invited them in, and aren't concerned about whether they are eating off of Noritake or Chinet. Incidentally, I'm using all paper products tonight, except for the hot drinks.
3) Enlist your family's help with cleaning.
When we're having a party at our house, everyone helps to get the house ready. At times it even gives us an "excuse" to do special jobs we don't always do.
Happy entertaining! You can do it!
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