Saguaro Park Ward Christmas Party

As promised: the run down of how to plan/execute a dinner for 200+

Three weeks before: Ask people to play/sing

Week before: Assemble 25 centerpieces ($17 ornaments and garland. Lots of borrowed vases and mirrors). Buy 0.5lb ham or 1 lb uncooked turkey per person. This ended up being 5 hams (~55 lbs) and 5 turkeys (~115 lbs). Total meat cost? $175. Collect decorations from ward members that answered bulletin/email requests. Call/email reminders to the 40 people who actually signed up to bring food.



Night before: Spend an hour at the church putting up the light supports (twine and electrical tape). We had two ladders and 3 people. Spend an hour at home deboning 5 hams and 2 turkeys and placing in warming dishes. (3 other turkeys cooked and deboned by committee)

Morning of: send a committee member to Costco for 24 dozen rolls, butter, 2 chicken nugget bags, 1 ice bag, 1 flat of chicken broth, 3 pies. Cost? $100. Attend your brother's graduation, and gorge yourself on food.

Afternoon of: Put up 25 tables with chairs. Borrow tablecloths from the stake. Two serving tables, 1 dessert table, 2 display tables also. Hang 500 ft of white lights. Place meat in ovens set at 275F. Ham divided into 3 pans, just covered, took about 1.5 hours. Turkey, also divided into 3 covered pans with broth divided evenly, took about 1 hour. Chicken nuggets took 15 min. Ice water in pitchers on the tables.


Night of: Answer peoples petty complaints. Make husband feed the children while you handle minor emergencies (like 10 year old boys having a frosted cookie fight and playing Tarzan on the stage curtains). Spill chicken broth down one side of you refilling the turkey.

Program:

Congregation: Silent Night

Message

One night a grandfather was reading a story to his four-year-old granddaughter when she looked up and said, “Grandpa, look at the stars!” The older man smiled kindly and said, “We’re indoors, honey. There are no stars here.” But the child insisted, “You have stars in your room! Look!”

The grandfather looked up and, to his surprise, noticed that the ceiling was peppered with a metallic glitter. It was invisible most of the time, but when the light struck the glitter a certain way, it did indeed look like a field of stars. It took the eyes of a child to see them, but there they were. And from that moment on, when the grandfather walked into this room and looked up, he could see what he had not been able to see before. (Pres Monson, Ensign, Dec 2010)

In this Christmas season, we are often times caught up in the hustle and bustle of what WE need and what WE want. We forget to look around us and notice what is going on. Many of you are familiar with the legend of Good King Wenceslas. As a noble man, he was warm and safe within his home. Upon looking out his window, he noticed another, less-fortunate man. Determined to spread the light of Christ, Wenceslas left his warm home and braved the elements. He brought food, warmth and light to those who would otherwise have gone without.

Piano Solo Good King Wenceslas

Message (From Pres Eyring, Ensign, Dec 2009)

There is another glimpse of heaven that becomes easier to see at Christmastime. It is of light. Heavenly Father used light to announce the birth of His Son. A new star was visible in both the Eastern and the Western Hemispheres. It led the Wise Men to the child in Bethlehem… The Wise Men rejoiced because of the birth of the Christ, who is the Light and the Life of the World…

We remember at Christmastime not only the light that announced the birth of Christ into the world but also the light that comes from Him.

Joseph Smith testified that:

“…[He] saw a pillar of light exactly over [his] head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon [him].

“… When the light rested upon [him Joseph] saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above [him] in the air. One of them spake unto [him], calling [him] by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:16–17).

Every person born into the world receives [the Light of Christ] as a gift.

(D&C 50:24–25). “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

“And … I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you”

That Light is easier to see as we help those around us and spread the Light which we have been given to others; thus lighting their way too.

Congregation: Jesus wants me for a sunbeam 60

I am like a Star 163

Message

May we this Christmastime seek those who need the Light of Christ. May we do as it says in Doctrine and Covenants 81:4-5

4 And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest ^agood unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the ^bglory of him who is your Lord.

5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; ^asuccor the ^bweak, lift up the hands which hang down, and ^cstrengthen the ^dfeeble knees.

Musical Number The Star of Bethlehem

Congregation: Joy to the World

Closing Prayer

After: Clean up. Mop up tired children. Get them in bed by 9. Eat dinner. Sleep.




It wasn't as bad as I was afraid it was going to be. I live in a ward with a lot of people who have done things a certain way every year for a long time. I did get a few comments on what wasn't done the way they wanted. Oh well. Change is good. I think about 220-240 people came. We ended up with about 1/2 ham and 1/4 turkey, 1 bag of rolls left over. We had 60 pounds of potatoes brought (mashed or sweet) and all but maybe 3 pounds disappeared. There were probably 40 sides, all of which were desimated. Ten people signed up for dessert. 25 people BROUGHT dessert. I needed two dessert tables and ended up having to clear one of the serving tables and bring out desserts halfway through. Also, for some reason, people couldn't place their pot-lucked side dishes. I don't know why it was so difficult. JUST PUT IT ON THE TABLE! It was suggested to me that I should have had a place card set out where each dish was to go. I will politely give that information to next year's person. One last thing, my sign-up sheets read "Vegetable (green bean casserole, corn, salad, brussel sprouts, etc.) ... Fruit (cranberry sauce, jello salad, sliced fruit, etc.)... Dessert (pie, cookies, cake, etc.)" This is NOT what people wanted. I got MANY MULTIPLE email/calls asking to be told a specific dish to bring. I don't know if that is a generational thing, a my-side-of-town thing or what.

However, I think it went pretty well. A few people made the effort to come find me and tell me that they enjoyed the evening. That made me feel happy. I am so grateful for all the help that came my way ESPECIALLY to all those that stayed to clean up. It always surprises me how fast a large event like that can be broken down. Merry Christmas!