Appendix B: How to Host a Holiday Tea
First Universalist Church, Minneapolis,
Minnesota
This annual affair revisits the elegance of china and
silver coffee servers. It is a popular tradition that attracts
approximately one hundred women, some of whom come from other
churches. The Christmas Tea, at First Universalist Church, is a time
for women to feel the support of other women before the Christmas
season (during which time women tend to overwork) moves into full
swing. It is a time when the women remind each other to be conscious
of choosing what to do and experience, and what to avoid, during the
season ahead. It is a time to brace for the season by first reviewing
the importance of responsible consumption.
September/October
- Secure a key organizer for the event.
- Select a date and get on the church calendar (tea
usually runs from 2–4 p.m.)
- Invite all of the women in the church, women’s group
members or not.
- Extend invitations to area churches/fellowships if
they are to be invited.
- Recruit the following volunteers: a communications
person to put notices in the church newsletter, send out e-mail
reminders, contact other churches, etc.; a small group of two or
three to polish the silver (in November); someone to make table
centerpieces and buy candles; two or three persons to plan the flow
of events and secure entertainment/programming and served as the
contact person for this; several women to set up tables/chairs, put
on tablecloths, and to arrange cookies as they come in (should
arrive at 10:00 a.m. or so) two coffee pourers; a cleanup crew of
six or so, including two who know how to run the dishwasher and a
couple who are strong and can move tables and chairs if
necessary.
- Secure childcare providers.
November
- Make sure silver is polished.
- Consider whether or not you want to have any other
decorations.
- Call women’s group members to ask for donations of
Christmas cookies/bars for the tea itself; some can be assigned to
bring items such as mints, nuts, and grapes (must be fingerfood).
Ask them to drop off all food donations in the church kitchen by
1:00 on the day of the tea.
- Make sure publicity about the tea has occurred and is
occurring.
- Make sure that program subcommittee is planning fine
details of flow of events for the tea (opening and welcome, give a
blessing, welcome women to have coffee and cookies/bars, introduce
speaker/entertainer, music/songs, and closing.
- Send out reminder postcards about the tea to all
women’s group members.
Week before
- Are centerpieces being made and candles
purchased?
- Are there enough tablecloths?
- Are enough cookies/bars guaranteed? Grapes, nuts,
mints?
- Are all volunteer spots filled?
Day before or the day of the event
- Buy half and half
- Check to make sure there’s enough coffee
- Set up tables and chairs
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