I'm looking for ideas on anything that has been really successful/well received that you may have done in the way of something a little more "creative" with church dinners.
Over the past 2 years, we have been working hard to strengthen fellowship in our church. I've sort of taken this aspect under my wing...and have been leading the way in this. Our church needed some strengthening in this aspect and we have come a really long way!
We have had your basic covered dish dinners, we've had an "international" dinner where everybody brought something from their ethnic background (we have a lot of nationalities represented in our church), also we have had Thankgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, church picnics, etc. And all these have been incredibly received and well attended...it's really brought a lot of cohesiveness to our church family.
But what am I wondering is...have any of you done anything different from the basics or something I have described above that has really gone well in your church in the way of fellowship?
We have done a luau themed party. Everyone was asked to wear their cruise or island wear. (modest of course! ) We had a best costume contest and a limbo contest. Handed out lei's at the door. Ate tropical themed foods. It was a blast! Four years later everyone still talks about that party! Makes me wonder why we didn't do it another time. Oh yeah, and we had it in the middle of a very cold, Midwest Winter!
Karen
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"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Our "welcoming" service was interesting, they had an EVENING OF ELEGANCE... People wore their after 5 attire, the overhead lights were off and we dined by candlelight (and a few of the icicle style Christmas lights)... We had heavy hors d'oevres (shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, crab dip, chicken fingers, etc.) and a beautiful fruit and vegetable trays... We had one of those punch fountains... It was not a sit down dinner but it was one of the most memorable experiences that we have had...
I am also enjoying this discussion. I am getting some great ideas as well.
My mother, who is also a pastor's wife, had a rainbow luncheon in the spring and she said it went great. I am thinking about having one at our church. The church was broken into groups alphabetically by last names and given a color to represent. They assigned group leaders for each color. Each family was to bring a dish that is the color that they were assigned (i.e. yellow-corn, red-red velvet cake) as well as dress or accessorize in that color. During dinner, each group gave a brief presentation about the biblical significance of that color.
Mom said that it went over well. They had fun and they also learned a lot. Being that I am gifted in the ministry of dance, I would also like to add dance to the whole concept. I was thinking about having our dancers minister with many different colors flags and scarves to a song by Kirk Franklin. I am not sure of the title, but the theme of the song is "It doesn't matter what color you are, as long as your blood was red." We are trying to foster more unity and fellowship in our congregation, and I think that it would speak to us about the fact that we are all unified by the blood of Jesus.
Isn't it fun how God answers the simplest prayers. I have been wondering how to get started with dinners like those mentioned and here are so many answers. I love this place! thank you thank you!!
Well, whaddya know Ralinda, this is my favorite place too...
These are good ideas, I'm enjoying them. We have had so many in the last year. Not just dinners, but socials like ice cream (we just had a "giant mega sundae bar" last month.) We picked up the ice cream from Sam's, but everybody in the church that came that night was assigned to bring a topping which we put on a bar for everyone to come and make their sundae. We also served rootbeer floats.
Our youth pastor did a thing called "Baptism Bistro". I know it might sound a little corny but it was really cool and some people probably came just wondering, "what in the heck is a baptism bistro?" My dh asked him (Pastor Phill) to do something on water baptism night and he decided to make it a youth thing. We had water baptism and the youth band led worship in the fellowship hall and then they served homemade stuff the YP wife and leaders made...bistro stuff like sandwiches, homemade cakes & pies, coffee, etc. There was a menu and people paid a certain amount, all proceeds to the youth. Went over very, very well.
We have had just desserts after on a Sunday night, asked people to bring their favorite to share. I like to have different groups do things and help out so it's not "the ladies" or the same people all the time so I asked the college group to set up that night and decorate, which turned out really great.
The best dinners we have had aside from our missions banquet have been the international dinner where everybody brought something from their background/nationality, and then our Thanksgiving dinner.
At Christmas time, during the intermission of our Christmas musical, we do a cookie and punch reception in the fellowship hall, and on Easter Sunday morning we serve free continental breakfast in the fellowship hall before the service. This year we had so many visitors come to it just because it was advertised. I was SHOCKED!
We also had a "shower" for our church kitchen, and replaced everything in there with totally new stuff and "blessed" our church kitchen with both needed things and some extra special things. We had "shower food" type stuff (finger foods) at that.
Those are just a few things we have done in the past year, but if I think of more I will post it...
We have done a Valentine's Day Dinner for the married and engaged couples. The youth cook the food, wait tables, clean up, and take a nice photo of each happy couple. There is also valet parking done by our boys with good driving records! LOL! Free babysitting also !This has been well recieved, and the donations($10.00 or whatever you can afford) helped our kids get to Jamaica to do some Mission work there. We have also done a drive-in movie night, weather permitting. The youth group has a hot dog, and popcorn and soda stand(again, any donations welcome), and a "G" rated movie is shown outside on a large white screen built by our wonderful youth Pastor and the boys!(just several pieces of plywood nailed together & painted white:it's not hard to do) People from all over town come to this, and it gives them a chance to get to know us. We do a Veteran's Day dinner. All vets in the church bring memorabilia from thier time in the service and each one will stand and share a fav. memory from the service. A good bit of bonding takes place at this event. After we eat, we walk around to the tables and see all the displays, and we get to know eachother better. Hope you all like some of these ideas. Love, L.W.
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...... Then they came for the Catholics, and I was a Protestant, so I never said anything. And then, they came for ME, and there was no one left to speak up. Martin Neimoller, German Pastor, WW2
) We had a best costume contest and a limbo contest. Handed out lei's at the door. Ate tropical themed foods. It was a blast! Four years later everyone still talks about that party! Makes me wonder why we didn't do it another time. Oh yeah, and we had it in the middle of a very cold, Midwest Winter! 
