Comments on: Ward Christmas Parties … Bah, Humbug! http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/ Truth Will Prevail Wed, 23 May 2012 10:07:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kelly http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-38132 Kelly Mon, 03 Jan 2005 23:34:08 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-38132 Our Christmas Party is our least attended activity of the year... It is always a family event. This year we did a Journey back to Bethlehem. We decorated the entrance of the building like a old time village with bamboo poles with cloth roofs over the tables and had everyone sign in at the census. We divided them into 3 different rooms to start. The Toy Maker ( talked of the toys they had back then) each person was given a small dradle and taught how to play. Then there was Martha's Kitchen where she had a beautiful display and talked about the food of that time. Had some samples and socialized. Then there was the Three Kings. The bishopric dressed up as the 3 Wisemen and told the story of The Other Wiseman. It was spiritual but hard for the little ones. We then had a messenger take around an announcement that a new star has been seen. We met out in the parking lot and walked over to a Ranch home next door to the church. You could do it in the parking lot. There we had a very short story told by Mary and a song. We sang a couple of carrolls and had the closing prayer. We then announced that refreshments and a special visitor would be back at the building. This is when Santa came and then we all went home. It went very smooth. As I am on the Acitivities committee I feel an obligation to have a Christmas party. But sometimes I wonder if it is really necessary. We have a very nice, Steak/Chicken dinner for the adults in February. We also find good entertainment and play a few games to get to know each other better. We have about 200 attend this one. I think there is something to be said for Adult only and free food. Our Christmas Party is our least attended activity of the year… It is always a family event. This year we did a Journey back to Bethlehem. We decorated the entrance of the building like a old time village with bamboo poles with cloth roofs over the tables and had everyone sign in at the census. We divided them into 3 different rooms to start. The Toy Maker ( talked of the toys they had back then) each person was given a small dradle and taught how to play. Then there was Martha’s Kitchen where she had a beautiful display and talked about the food of that time. Had some samples and socialized. Then there was the Three Kings. The bishopric dressed up as the 3 Wisemen and told the story of The Other Wiseman. It was spiritual but hard for the little ones. We then had a messenger take around an announcement that a new star has been seen. We met out in the parking lot and walked over to a Ranch home next door to the church. You could do it in the parking lot. There we had a very short story told by Mary and a song. We sang a couple of carrolls and had the closing prayer. We then announced that refreshments and a special visitor would be back at the building. This is when Santa came and then we all went home. It went very smooth. As I am on the Acitivities committee I feel an obligation to have a Christmas party. But sometimes I wonder if it is really necessary. We have a very nice, Steak/Chicken dinner for the adults in February. We also find good entertainment and play a few games to get to know each other better. We have about 200 attend this one. I think there is something to be said for Adult only and free food.

]]> By: russ turner http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-37440 russ turner Wed, 29 Dec 2004 00:42:21 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-37440 Ward Christmas parties. How to try to make a counterfeit/quaisi religious celebration meld with those basest of all human qualities. A hard job. I would do away with the strategem to "keep the real meaning" foo foo and go ahead and have a "winter carnival" of sorts and reserve the "real meaning" for the "real day"--no put on angst, just good feelings for good reason! Ward Christmas parties. How to try to make a counterfeit/quaisi religious celebration meld with those basest of all human qualities. A hard job. I would do away with the strategem to “keep the real meaning” foo foo and go ahead and have a “winter carnival” of sorts and reserve the “real meaning” for the “real day”–no put on angst, just good feelings for good reason!

]]> By: Joel D. http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36763 Joel D. Tue, 21 Dec 2004 16:54:43 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36763 We actually had a fun Christmas activity. I was just called to serve in a branch presidency in a small urban branch in our stake. They are in a fairly new building, so the branch had planned to go Christmas caroling to the houses in the neighborhood to build up goodwill. We had about twenty branch members (average sacrament meeting attendance of 60) show up, including three sets of missionaries, and we went caroling and passed out little wrapped bags of treats with a pass-along card for a Joy to the World video. The little kids passed out the gifts and were so excited! I thought the activity was a big success: built ward unity, enjoyed Christmas music (my favorite part of the season), was in a spirit of service, and did some missionary work. No Santa, although I confess that we did have a ward dinner afterwards with plastic tableware. We actually had a fun Christmas activity. I was just called to serve in a branch presidency in a small urban branch in our stake. They are in a fairly new building, so the branch had planned to go Christmas caroling to the houses in the neighborhood to build up goodwill. We had about twenty branch members (average sacrament meeting attendance of 60) show up, including three sets of missionaries, and we went caroling and passed out little wrapped bags of treats with a pass-along card for a Joy to the World video. The little kids passed out the gifts and were so excited! I thought the activity was a big success: built ward unity, enjoyed Christmas music (my favorite part of the season), was in a spirit of service, and did some missionary work.

No Santa, although I confess that we did have a ward dinner afterwards with plastic tableware.

]]> By: mary smith http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36749 mary smith Tue, 21 Dec 2004 14:16:14 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36749 Our ward christmas party every year involves going to the local pool and having a b.b.q (of course this is in Australia where we are blessed to have christmas in summer!). We also have a sacred music evening where choirs, ward and others, and individuals sing christmas songs and hymns, it's always fantastic, even the ward choir! Our ward christmas party every year involves going to the local pool and having a b.b.q (of course this is in Australia where we are blessed to have christmas in summer!). We also have a sacred music evening where choirs, ward and others, and individuals sing christmas songs and hymns, it’s always fantastic, even the ward choir!

]]> By: Chris Williams http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36722 Chris Williams Tue, 21 Dec 2004 03:19:47 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36722 Mark B, RE: Cancellation of ward Christmas party Trust me, it was the right move. Christmas is still scheduled to go ahead as planned. Have a good time in Utah, where I understand Christmas celebrations are also on track. Chris Mark B,

RE: Cancellation of ward Christmas party

Trust me, it was the right move. Christmas is still scheduled to go ahead as planned. Have a good time in Utah, where I understand Christmas celebrations are also on track.

Chris

]]> By: J. Stapley http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36687 J. Stapley Mon, 20 Dec 2004 23:09:55 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36687 Matt: I spent the bulk of the evening pushing cloves into oranges with my kids (I am an admitted misanthrope, so ward parties are not typically my cup of tea). I think it went well. And it looks as if you survived your trip to SLC – you are my hero. Matt: I spent the bulk of the evening pushing cloves into oranges with my kids (I am an admitted misanthrope, so ward parties are not typically my cup of tea). I think it went well. And it looks as if you survived your trip to SLC – you are my hero.

]]> By: Matt Jacobsen http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36671 Matt Jacobsen Mon, 20 Dec 2004 22:13:48 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36671 My wife just finished planning our ward christmas party, so I feel obligated to swap my own story. I'm not much for parties in general, but I think this one went off pretty well. (At least if all the thank-yous to my wife are to be believed.) Santa made a visit at 5pm and dinner was at 6, so those families that wanted to meet Santa would show up early. Someone had a digital camera and one of those little printers that quickly prints photos. The food was purchased with our very limited budget and prepared by a small group. The tables for the food were in a room next to the kitchen, across the hall from the gym. So you didn't see the hustle and bustle of all the servers while you were eating. Instead of being self-serve, there were several helpers who dished up the food cafeteria-style as you went by. Very very handy for those with small children. I could hold two plates and fill them up without spilling it all over the place. It went much quicker than the usual one-line-on-each-side-of-the-table approach. It seems that children always finish their food by 6:05 and start running around the church. Instead, we encouraged them to visit the children's room that was set up in one of the larger classrooms. There was coloring and some other simple craft projects (like cloves in oranges), stories to read, or pillows to sit on while someone read to them. We did this kind of room last year and it was successful enough that we repeated the idea. The program was very simple. The choir started off with a carol. Then there was a staged narration of Pearl S. Buck's story 'Christmas Day in the Morning'. The primary kids got to sit on the floor and watch and then they closed the program with another carol. The program was over in 15 minutes. After the closing prayer the mc said we didn't have to leave, we could still stay and mingle. But of course, everyone started putting away the tables and chairs and cleaning up. Party over. My wife just finished planning our ward christmas party, so I feel obligated to swap my own story. I’m not much for parties in general, but I think this one went off pretty well. (At least if all the thank-yous to my wife are to be believed.)

Santa made a visit at 5pm and dinner was at 6, so those families that wanted to meet Santa would show up early. Someone had a digital camera and one of those little printers that quickly prints photos.

The food was purchased with our very limited budget and prepared by a small group. The tables for the food were in a room next to the kitchen, across the hall from the gym. So you didn’t see the hustle and bustle of all the servers while you were eating. Instead of being self-serve, there were several helpers who dished up the food cafeteria-style as you went by. Very very handy for those with small children. I could hold two plates and fill them up without spilling it all over the place. It went much quicker than the usual one-line-on-each-side-of-the-table approach.

It seems that children always finish their food by 6:05 and start running around the church. Instead, we encouraged them to visit the children’s room that was set up in one of the larger classrooms. There was coloring and some other simple craft projects (like cloves in oranges), stories to read, or pillows to sit on while someone read to them. We did this kind of room last year and it was successful enough that we repeated the idea.

The program was very simple. The choir started off with a carol. Then there was a staged narration of Pearl S. Buck’s story ‘Christmas Day in the Morning’. The primary kids got to sit on the floor and watch and then they closed the program with another carol. The program was over in 15 minutes.

After the closing prayer the mc said we didn’t have to leave, we could still stay and mingle. But of course, everyone started putting away the tables and chairs and cleaning up. Party over.

]]> By: Susan Malmrose http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36652 Susan Malmrose Mon, 20 Dec 2004 20:31:57 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36652 I really only remember two moments from any of the ward Christmas parties I've attended over the years. One is a young single adult sister singing "O Night Divine" in a beautiful, imperfect voice. The other is a youth performing some goofy song about how his grandfather is his nephew, or however that goes. He made it hilarious. I really only remember two moments from any of the ward Christmas parties I’ve attended over the years.

One is a young single adult sister singing “O Night Divine” in a beautiful, imperfect voice.

The other is a youth performing some goofy song about how his grandfather is his nephew, or however that goes. He made it hilarious.

]]> By: gst http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36648 gst Mon, 20 Dec 2004 20:23:16 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36648 This year, we had ours catered for $1550. Money well spent. This year, we had ours catered for $1550. Money well spent.

]]> By: SFW http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/ward-christmas-parties-bah-humbug/#comment-36642 SFW Mon, 20 Dec 2004 20:13:09 +0000 /?p=1767#comment-36642 Kim, consider yourself lucky! Kim, consider yourself lucky!

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