Yay a quiz!!
A POP quiz even! I’m knee deep in party planning as my new ‘calling/assignment’ in the ward/congregation at church is The Activity Chairperson. (Say it with a voice of awe). I’m really excited and it’s really a fun calling to have. I’m in charge of throwing parties for the 350 person congregation on a regular (how much is up to me) basis. I also have money with which to throw these parties. Anyway. Tomorrow is our Halloween Festival. It’s all planned and tomorrow will involve some (much) running around by me- but it’ll be fun. But the Christmas party is in 6 weeks. I also want to present a tentative schedule of activities to the Bishop on Sunday in Ward Council for next year. So… on to the pop quiz.
1. I’m looking for some ‘different’ ideas for the Christmas party. Something other then Ham, Funeral Potatoes and jello followed by Santa and some long and boring program. No ‘Night in Bethlehem’ or the like. WAY too much work. It seems like there are only 5 ideas out there. (Traditional, Breakfast, Night in ____, long boring program, another long boring program) Yes, I have a bad attitude. I think ward parties should be fun for the whole family. Not too much sitting unless it’s for great entertainment.
2. What have been the best ward activities you’ve attended? (Any time of the year).
3. How do you go about hiring Santa?
4. What are you going to be for Halloween?
5. Do you like pancakes?
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We had the most awesome Christmas breakfasts dinners. In the morning. A ward party in the morning. It was cool. Broke up the norm and was still fun. They really were nothing huge but a good time and little stress and no long boring drawn out acting. Good Luck. Wendi
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1. This is just me shooting from that place in my brain where I talk without thinking things through, but what about something that’s more service oriented? Like working at different stations to put together dinner bags and make ornaments and then decorate some trees and dinner to give to needy famiiies. Just a thought. And a big dessert buffet.
2. Don’t know sorry… none very memorable.
3. It was always someone from our ward.
4. A haggard mother
5. YES! Breakfast is the best meal of the day.
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1. I like the idea of just having a singalong after dinner. No special musical numbers except maybe the primary kids.
2. a beach day…
3. hire? whatever. i vote no santa.
4. i don’t dress up
5. yes.
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1. Do Skits with children Participating. (12 Days of Christmas, ect.) We had a skit of “The Three Trees” last year. There’s video of that on Facebook if you want to see it. Also, we do a service auction. People donate services: Plate of Cookies, a Voice Lesson, A cake for an Occassion, Oil Change, group date, family game night at so and so’s house. Ect. People bring in canned food to donate to get “Play Money” to purchase the stuff with. It’s usually a silent auction. We also do a Ginger bread house construction Competition. Each Table gathers and builds a house out of Candy, Icing, and Grahm Crackers. It gets very interesting.
2. What have been the best ward activities you’ve attended? (Any time of the year). We had a bon fire last week that was enjoyable.
3. How do you go about hiring Santa? We always just get a random person from the branch… for free.
4. What are you going to be for Halloween?
She-Ra:Princess of Power. I made the costume…Yay.
5. Do you like pancakes? Yes, especially silver dollar. Finger food.
I was the WAC ( and yes, it was Wack) for 2 years before you got here. The activity I got the best feedback on that people loved was a Luminaria night - it takes some explanation and planning and work, but lots of people loved it. Plus it wasn’t a boring potluck dinner at the church, which I made it my goal to never have while I was in charge….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminaria
One year we also forgot the Christmas party altogether and had a New Year’s Eve breakfast. People liked that too.
Call me if you want more info or ideas.
I like the idea of the breakfast. There’s so many things going on in December that trying to fit another evening activity into everyone’s schedule is difficult. Our current ward does the breakfast and just has everyone bring something, rolls & breads, fruits, breakfast casseroles etc……….
I’m with you on the boring program. Maybe you could have some sort of activity for the kids and just let the adults visit? They could make ornaments or something like that?
The service auction sounds like a fun idea for the party.
I used to have your same calling. One of the most enjoyable activities we had was at Halloween. We had a dinner of Sloppy Joes and pumpkin desserts, then everyone carved their pumpkins. We took them all into the church parking lot and lit them, then the kids had a costume parade.
For Halloween I hope to be a mom who has successfully completed her kids costumes in time for them to wear them to the school parade.
Pancakes are good if I don’t have to make them.
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1. Last year we did a manger set up with costumes that the families could dress up in and take their picture. We had a photo printer there, and all the families took home a picture. Then we used the costumes to have the kids act out the Nativity story. Did the normal food thing and had Santa come at the end. Not nearly as much work as Night in Bethlehem, program was only about 10 minutes, and everyone really seemed to enjoy it.
2. I’m a fan of Pioneer Day activities - the breakfast, bike parade, pioneer games. Don’t know why, though.
3. We don’t hire Santa. The wards in our building chipped in together and bought a suit. We normally pick a jolly man in the ward to be Santa. Works pretty well.
4. You’re assuming I have time to think about a costume for myself.
5. Yup. With peanut butter and syrup (I know, weird, but it’s my husband’s fault.)
I can’t help you with 1,2 or 3. But 4…a nurse, and 5…yes. LOL!
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White elephant gift exchange! Granted it was in a single’s ward where they could appreciate receiving a DI special treasure wrapped up all nice in shiny paper…
I like the forget to plan it and do something for New Year’s instead!
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1-Talent show with Santa after (although I personally have issues with Santa at ward Christmas parties.) At least with talent shows you get people involved.
-or-
My mom did a huge service project last year. All humanitarian aid and sub for santa type stuff. They did sing-a-long and dinner, I think, but the theme was service and doing for others. It went over really well.
2-Our ward’s Halloween soup-tack-u-lar is popular. Everyone dresses up and brings soup and muffin tins so they can sample all the different kinds of soup. Everyone seems to love it. We do it the night before Halloween so that everyone can go trick-or-treating on Halloween.
3-I have no idea. Every ward I’ve been in has a member who does it every year. I’m not even bothering to go to our ward party. I’m also tired of dinner/breakfast and Santa.
4-If I have time, I’m going as Elizabeth Bennett. If not, my traditional old Scottish costume is coming back out.
5-Yes, Yes and Yes. Love them to bits. We make them at least twice a month, if not more. Breakfast is the best meal of the day, which is why it gets eaten at all meal times at my house.
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Chris Coombs makes a great Santa, even has the whole outfit!
Hey, I know it’s not Christmas related at all, but the absolute most fun ward activity I have ever been to is a Square Dance. I know that sounds silly, but it was super fun. (Obviously, it was for the adults.) I have only been to the traditional Christmas parties. Santa coming, food, program. Sorry I’m not to helpful.
1. Parents had a “Christmas Around the World” in their ward: international dinner, hymns in foreign languages, but my mom’s favorite was a creche display of all different types.
2. Best activity was one where they took the kids to another room and had games for them while the adults got to have some real conversation.
3. Always a ward member (but some people in our ward are ANTI Santa so we had him in another room, he read a story to the kids and then let them sit on his lap).
4. I can’t tell yo…you’ll just have to come to my house and see.
5. Yes! Because I don’t have to make them!
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1. You could throw a Family Christmas Ball. Christmas music and decorations, goodies, punch and dancing…. AND of course Santa.
2. Camping Trip
3. You could just rent a suit and ask someone you know to be Santa.
4. Probably nothing. In know I’m boring.
5. Um… YES!!!
1. I don’t really have any ideas that are different. It is a good thing that I don’t have your calling, but you are perfect for that job.
2. One of our wards did breakfast one Saturday a month. It was fun. The different groups would take turns getting the food: YM, YW, Elder’s, RS, Primary. The food was never extravagant. Alot of time it was just muffins and fruit, but it was fun.
3. Someone in our ward had a santa suit and they asked Tyler to be Santa. Sounds lame to have someone in the ward do that, but honestly nobody recognized him, not even the Bishopric.
4. We are doing a cowboy theme because Tyler and I already have cowboy costumes and that is the furthest thing from reality that Tyler and I are. Also, Addy loves horses so Tyler suggested we get her one of those costumes that looks like she is riding a horse. We actually stole that idea from you, if I remember correctly.
5. Pancakes are always good. Who doesn’t like pancakes??
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