Thank you for being an Advent By Candlelight Hostess.
Setting a table and serving a dessert may not sound like much, but because of your work, hundreds of women can attend an evening of fellowship and fun as we look ahead to the birth of our Savior. Thank you! You make Advent by Candlelight possible!
Hostess Guidelines and General Info
There are many details here! If you don’t find an answer to your question, just ask! The “Things You Should Bring” list is at the bottom; just scroll down.
Who Can Host? Anybody who’d like to attend and who’d love to set a table/make a dessert can host. Ask a friend to help out and pool your resources. Some ladies like to decorate, others like to bake. You do not need to be a St. Lorenz member to host. Cute remark made at a recent Advent by Candlelight by a young mom: “I love to get out my nice things and decorate a table like this. But what’s really nice is that I can do it here and I don’t have to clean my whole house!”
Sign-Up Process If you are hostessing, feel free to fill some of the seats at your table through personal invitation. However, do try to leave some spots open. We will have sign-up posters showing which tables have openings for guests. Ladies hoping to attend will reserve a seat by signing their name in an open spot. Please try to leave room at your table for the sign-up process. It is a lot of work, but we know from the experience of churches smaller than St. Lorenz that many women would never get invited if all the seats were filled only through hostess invitations. Providing seats for the sign-up process is a great way to meet new ladies within the congregation (or from outside our church), and to give them the opportunity to attend our event. Thank you so much for supporting this.
When can you set up? Any time after Noon. The gym doors will be open all day.
Refrigeration The school refrigerator or freezer will be available for use. Many desserts are served at room temperature.
Table Size, Seats The tables and chairs will be set up for you. The table is 30” x 72”. This is not a very wide table! 8 seats, or a squishy 10 if you put two seats on each end. If you want to make a tablecloth, you’ll need 2-1/2 yards of 45” material. We will also have a roll of white paper tablecloth and you can help yourself to that.
Invite! Get the word about the sign-up posters, or ask ladies to attend. If you’re table is full, let them know about the sign-up process. After 13 years, we are still hearing ladies say, “I haven’t come because nobody invited me.” What is easy for some is not so easy for others, so help them along with a friendly invitation.
Timeline If you cannot let us know by early November if you’ll be hosting, please do call us anytime throughout the month. We will add tables as long as there is room to do so. We hope to have the sign-up posters available for the three Sundays before Thanksgiving, which means the sign-up posters will have two strong weeks to be filled.
Hostess with the Mostess You set a table and make a dessert for those at your table. Also important: be ready to greet your guests with a smile and a welcome. Encourage introductions around the table, if needed. Pray for those who will be attending.
Centerpiece Every table should have candles. The gym will be dimly lit, so be aware of “lighting up” your table. Try your centerpiece out at home. Smaller candles in votive holders (we’ve seen baby jars with a ribbon) spread the light around the table. Many of you bring in ideas from the Christmas story. Great! You might use a focal point like an Advent wreath, angels or nativity scene. Or simply make your candles be the centerpiece. We only ask that you please leave Santa and his elves at Bronner’s, as Santa already gets much attention.
Safety Use caution in keeping ribbon, tissue paper, garland, greenery and all other decorations away from the flames. Make sure that any candles placed near the guests are enclosed (like in a votive holder). Also be aware of hot wax and how it may drip.
Nametags An important touch if you think the people at your table may not know each other. You can either make the nametags beforehand by getting the guests’ names from the sign-up sheets, or you can bring blank nametags and have the ladies make their own.
Flexibility If your dessert flops, improvise or let SaraLee help you out. This evening is to be a relaxing time of fellowship; there’s very little that HAS to be done a certain way.
What about drinks? In recent years, some hostesses have prepared, say, a flavored coffee at home and brought it in a thermal container. Another used a punch bowl as her centerpiece and served pretty red punch. This is fine; we have no objections. But no alcohol, please, lest some be offended.
Plain or Fancy? There's no need to go to great expense to set your table. If you have china and would like to use it, this is a great opportunity for many to see your beautiful dishes. But paper products are fine, too. Today, with such a great variety of color and pattern, paper products can be easy and fun. Or, mix the two: bring your fancy teacups but use disposable plates. Serve coffee in paper cups, but ice water in wineglasses. Use whatever is convenient and affordable for you. The charm of so many tables is the wide variety of settings! Some will be elegant and sophisticated, some will have a homespun country flair, some will be whimsical, some will be plain and simple. All will be beautiful!
Host Both Nights? You’re hosting on Saturday; what are you doing Sunday? If you’d only be sitting home watching Sunday Night Football, why not consider hosting both nights? Your tablecloth, centerpiece, candy dishes, etc., are already set up. Refresh your candles (if needed), recruit somebody to make a dessert, bring in clean plates (of course, haha). Or team up with a girlfriend: Set the table together but you host one night and she hosts the next.
Pictures We are looking for some nice candids of smiling faces at our beautiful tables. If you are taking pictures, please pass a few on to Pam.
Email Please let us know of any changes in your email address. The hostess (paper) mailings and postcards have worked well for many years, but it is expensive, and the switch to electronic RSVPing has worked well. We will mail paper copies of hostess guidelines to anybody who needs them.
|
|
Basic Schedule for the Evening
Times are approximate!
Many hostesses set their table in the afternoon.
|
|
5:45 – 6:00
|
We suggest that you be in the gym for final preparations like filling the water glasses, coffee carafe, creamer and sugar, lighting candles. And visiting each others’ tables!
|
|
6:30 – 6:40
|
Doors open; guests move from hallway to gym.
|
|
6:40
|
Table viewing/visiting.
|
|
6:55
|
“Please take your seats” announcement. Make introductions around the table.
|
|
7:00 – 8:00
|
Program lasts about an hour or so.
Out of respect for the speaker and those around you, please do not serve dessert during the program.
|
|
8:00 - ?
|
Serve dessert and beverage to your table. Everybody visits. Sometimes the dessert fellowship lasts another hour! Ladies may also get up and take another look at the tables or visit the book table. Some tables are cleaning up while others continue to chat. No hurry.
|
|
|
|
|
Things You Should Plan to Bring
|
Centerpiece with Candles
Lighter
Tablecloth
Serving Utensil
For the 8 at your table (includes you):
Mugs/TeaCups/Glasses – Your choice. Most hostesses offer a hot drink and ice water, but if you want to serve punch or cider, that’s fine.
Dessert & Dessert Plates
Silverware
Napkins
Optional:
Carafe for Hot Coffee, if using
Pitcher for Ice Water, if using
Creamer & Sugar Bowl, if needed
Nametags, if needed
Candy, Nuts
Lemon Slices for Water
If serving tea: Teabags, Hot Water Carafe
TV Table or Small Side Table to hold Dessert
Decaffeinated Coffee
Sugar for your sugar bowl
Creamer (whole milk)
Ice & Ice Water
Hot Water for Tea
Thank you for being an Advent By Candlelight Hostess.
Setting a table and serving a dessert may not sound like much, but because of your work, hundreds of women can attend an evening of fellowship and fun as we look ahead to the birth of our Savior. Thank you! You make Advent by Candlelight possible!
Hostess Guidelines and General Info
There are many details here! If you don’t find an answer to your question, just ask! The “Things You Should Bring” list is at the bottom; just scroll down.
Who Can Host? Anybody who’d like to attend and who’d love to set a table/make a dessert can host. Ask a friend to help out and pool your resources. Some ladies like to decorate, others like to bake. You do not need to be a St. Lorenz member to host. Cute remark made at a recent Advent by Candlelight by a young mom: “I love to get out my nice things and decorate a table like this. But what’s really nice is that I can do it here and I don’t have to clean my whole house!”
Sign-Up Process If you are hostessing, feel free to fill some of the seats at your table through personal invitation. However, do try to leave some spots open. We will have sign-up posters showing which tables have openings for guests. Ladies hoping to attend will reserve a seat by signing their name in an open spot. Please try to leave room at your table for the sign-up process. It is a lot of work, but we know from the experience of churches smaller than St. Lorenz that many women would never get invited if all the seats were filled only through hostess invitations. Providing seats for the sign-up process is a great way to meet new ladies within the congregation (or from outside our church), and to give them the opportunity to attend our event. Thank you so much for supporting this.
When can you set up? Any time after Noon. The gym doors will be open all day.
Refrigeration The school refrigerator or freezer will be available for use. Many desserts are served at room temperature.
Table Size, Seats The tables and chairs will be set up for you. The table is 30” x 72”. This is not a very wide table! 8 seats, or a squishy 10 if you put two seats on each end. If you want to make a tablecloth, you’ll need 2-1/2 yards of 45” material. We will also have a roll of white paper tablecloth and you can help yourself to that.
Invite! Get the word about the sign-up posters, or ask ladies to attend. If you’re table is full, let them know about the sign-up process. After 13 years, we are still hearing ladies say, “I haven’t come because nobody invited me.” What is easy for some is not so easy for others, so help them along with a friendly invitation.
Timeline If you cannot let us know by early November if you’ll be hosting, please do call us anytime throughout the month. We will add tables as long as there is room to do so. We hope to have the sign-up posters available for the three Sundays before Thanksgiving, which means the sign-up posters will have two strong weeks to be filled.
Hostess with the Mostess You set a table and make a dessert for those at your table. Also important: be ready to greet your guests with a smile and a welcome. Encourage introductions around the table, if needed. Pray for those who will be attending.
Centerpiece Every table should have candles. The gym will be dimly lit, so be aware of “lighting up” your table. Try your centerpiece out at home. Smaller candles in votive holders (we’ve seen baby jars with a ribbon) spread the light around the table. Many of you bring in ideas from the Christmas story. Great! You might use a focal point like an Advent wreath, angels or nativity scene. Or simply make your candles be the centerpiece. We only ask that you please leave Santa and his elves at Bronner’s, as Santa already gets much attention.
Safety Use caution in keeping ribbon, tissue paper, garland, greenery and all other decorations away from the flames. Make sure that any candles placed near the guests are enclosed (like in a votive holder). Also be aware of hot wax and how it may drip.
Nametags An important touch if you think the people at your table may not know each other. You can either make the nametags beforehand by getting the guests’ names from the sign-up sheets, or you can bring blank nametags and have the ladies make their own.
Flexibility If your dessert flops, improvise or let SaraLee help you out. This evening is to be a relaxing time of fellowship; there’s very little that HAS to be done a certain way.
What about drinks? In recent years, some hostesses have prepared, say, a flavored coffee at home and brought it in a thermal container. Another used a punch bowl as her centerpiece and served pretty red punch. This is fine; we have no objections. But no alcohol, please, lest some be offended.
Plain or Fancy? There's no need to go to great expense to set your table. If you have china and would like to use it, this is a great opportunity for many to see your beautiful dishes. But paper products are fine, too. Today, with such a great variety of color and pattern, paper products can be easy and fun. Or, mix the two: bring your fancy teacups but use disposable plates. Serve coffee in paper cups, but ice water in wineglasses. Use whatever is convenient and affordable for you. The charm of so many tables is the wide variety of settings! Some will be elegant and sophisticated, some will have a homespun country flair, some will be whimsical, some will be plain and simple. All will be beautiful!
Host Both Nights? You’re hosting on Saturday; what are you doing Sunday? If you’d only be sitting home watching Sunday Night Football, why not consider hosting both nights? Your tablecloth, centerpiece, candy dishes, etc., are already set up. Refresh your candles (if needed), recruit somebody to make a dessert, bring in clean plates (of course, haha). Or team up with a girlfriend: Set the table together but you host one night and she hosts the next.
Pictures We are looking for some nice candids of smiling faces at our beautiful tables. If you are taking pictures, please pass a few on to Pam.
Email Please let us know of any changes in your email address. The hostess (paper) mailings and postcards have worked well for many years, but it is expensive, and the switch to electronic RSVPing has worked well. We will mail paper copies of hostess guidelines to anybody who needs them.
|
|
Basic Schedule for the Evening
Times are approximate!
Many hostesses set their table in the afternoon.
|
|
5:45 – 6:00
|
We suggest that you be in the gym for final preparations like filling the water glasses, coffee carafe, creamer and sugar, lighting candles. And visiting each others’ tables!
|
|
6:30 – 6:40
|
Doors open; guests move from hallway to gym.
|
|
6:40
|
Table viewing/visiting.
|
|
6:55
|
“Please take your seats” announcement. Make introductions around the table.
|
|
7:00 – 8:00
|
Program lasts about an hour or so.
Out of respect for the speaker and those around you, please do not serve dessert during the program.
|
|
8:00 - ?
|
Serve dessert and beverage to your table. Everybody visits. Sometimes the dessert fellowship lasts another hour! Ladies may also get up and take another look at the tables or visit the book table. Some tables are cleaning up while others continue to chat. No hurry.
|
|
|
|
|
Things You Should Plan to Bring
|
Centerpiece with Candles
Lighter
Tablecloth
Serving Utensil
For the 8 at your table (includes you):
Mugs/TeaCups/Glasses – Your choice. Most hostesses offer a hot drink and ice water, but if you want to serve punch or cider, that’s fine.
Dessert & Dessert Plates
Silverware
Napkins
Optional:
Carafe for Hot Coffee, if using
Pitcher for Ice Water, if using
Creamer & Sugar Bowl, if needed
Nametags, if needed
Candy, Nuts
Lemon Slices for Water
If serving tea: Teabags, Hot Water Carafe
TV Table or Small Side Table to hold Dessert
Decaffeinated Coffee
Sugar for your sugar bowl
Creamer (whole milk)
Ice & Ice Water
Hot Water for Tea