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 i...
Forget calling, responsibility and all that stuff..............I'm convinced some people might stay on our leadership team simply because they want to come to our Christmas party! ::giggles::
Every Christmas my husband and I host a party at our home to show our love and appreciation to our Celebration Church leaders. Between 70-80 people usually come as our leaders are invited to bring their spouse and kids.
Everyone loves this party from the youngest to oldest! We do everything from eat (of course!) to play games, and sit around the fire, and sing carols around the piano, and dance, and talk, talk, and talk some more.
We start at 6:00 PM and usually the last person leaves by about 2:00 AM. I did mention that our name is Celebration Church? Emphasis on the CELEBRATION.
Being a person that loves fresh culinary ideas, I'm always wanting to try something new but every time I dare mention changing the menu there is an outcry...."Nooooooooooooo! Don't change it!" These folks go postal if I suggest omitting any menu items. So, I don't. One year I omitted the artichoke dip and someone almost had a cow. So back on it went.
As a general rule Larry and I provide everything for this as a special appreciation to our people but there are those extra helpful folks who always say, "PD, I really want to help by bringing something, so pleassssssssssssssssse let me." I never turn down help. So a few of them will bring dishes to contribute and those are the items on the menu that may be different from year to year. If they bring something I let them decide what it is, but ask that it be along the lines of appetizer or dessert.
People often ask me for ideas along the lines of hospitality and I'm happy to help. In case you're looking for some menu ideas, here's our tried and true one that we've done for the past 10 years straight.
If you'd like any of the recipes just comment and I'll be glad to post a recipe.
Leadership Christmas Party Menu
Hot Crab Puff Appetizers (people go bonkers over these and I do mean bonnnnnnnkers!!)
PD's famous chicken salad sandwiches (I serve them on a variety of breads ~ croissants, King's Hawaiian Bread, 12 Grain Bread, Martin's Potato Rolls among them - we go through several large trays of these.)
Cream Cheese & Pepper Jelly with Crackers
Mexican Layered Dip with Tortilla Chips
Hot Crab Dip with Scoops
Hot Artichoke Dip with Assorted Crackers
Cheese and Olive Tray
Vegetable and Dip Tray
Cocktail Smokies wrapped in croissant
Cocktail Meatballs
Chocolate Eclairs
Cream Puffs
Mini Cheesecakes
New addition this year: Chocolate, Vanilla and Red Velvet Cake Balls (My husband is making them - new recipe he fell in love with from our friend Kirstyn Visconti.)
Grape Punch
Iced Tea
Coffee
All of the photos in this blog post are from last year's event. I'll post some from this year once it's over Sunday night!
Comments
The second time they were called was a party we had for Jordan. About 100 people were here. Again, lots of cars and this time and the kids were loud, but it wasn't even dark outside when the police came. They were just in shock at the amount of people at the house.
We made a compromise and moved all the cars to the community clubhouse parking lot and shuttled people back to the house, but they still said they had to keep the noise level down.
We do have some great parties. And we'd love to have you at our church! :)