Here We Come A-Wassailing

I suppose this is a day late and a dollar short for those of you who have already had your church Christmas programs. Our church had it's Christmas Cantata this past weekend. Besides the beautiful music and message, there was such a beautiful atmosphere. And it was made even more sweeter by the youth group serving Wassail and Hot Chocolate in the foyer before the service began. There wasn't a charge...it wasn't a fundraiser. Just bright and eager teens serving church members and visitors alike.  It was a special touch for a special morning. 

Just a bit of advice. Our group had cups with lids, which I found to be very practical. I believe they served Hot Chocolate made with mix and Hot Apple Cider instead of Wassail. Wassail is a bit more involved, but has wonderful results.

Here is a recipe for Wassail.  It is probably more practical with a larger congregation or group to serve Hot Cider. But it sure is extra special!  This would be great to serve at a Christmas Caroling party or small group.

I've Been Gone For Far Too Long!

Imagine my surprise one day when I came across my own blog in a Google search for an activity for Children's Church. I will (with great shame) admit that this particular blog has been sadly neglected. I really don't have a good excuse (maybe a few, but nothing life changing). I have a personal blog "There Will Be A $5.00 Charge For Whining" (which you can find the link to on the sidebar) that I am fairly faithful with and this little blog has sat neglected. So you can also imagine how surprised I was to see that I had several followers and many of you had commented.  I know how much these kinds of ideas mean to the church planner (of any occasion) and promise to do better to update as I can. I have changed the look a bit and have tried to organize some of posts better. I know I need to go through and test some of the links I have given you...just to be sure they work. Thanks for reading!

Recipe for My Life History

Once again I have taken an idea from someone else and I'm not sure to attribute it to. This is a wonderful idea for a women's meeting or a family get-together.

"RECIPE FOR MY LIFE HISTORY"
Combine a generous slice of your life history, a dash of nostalgia, several cups of facts and feelings and 104 deliciously interesting questions. Draw one slip of paper. Take a few minutes to enjoy the memories. Paste or write the question at the top of a blank page. Fill in your answer. Don't worry about your handwriting or spelling - just tell your story. This product was prepared to preserve your life as a message. Enjoy the scrumptious, home-made memories that celebrate something very important - YOU!"
Print the following questions on strips of paper and place in the jar:
Tell something about each of your children - the personalities, talents, and traits that make them different and special.
Describe a favorite vacation of your married years.
Tell about home cures or old wives tales: hiccups, toothaches, earaches, or arthritis.
Where were you and what were you doing the day the wall came down in Germany (or the coup occurred in USSR or when World War II started or ended)?
Describe your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, etc. (suit etc, if male.)
Write a description of your husband or wife.
Tell about your retirement - when, where, what will you do with your time?
Describe your mother's wedding dress - what do you know about her wedding?
Where did you live as a child - town, country, suburb, etc?
What is your greatest joy? Your greatest sorrow?
Do you have a favorite author? Who? Why? Tell about your favorite books as a child and as an adult.
What do you feel has been the most significant world events that has taken place in your lifetime and why?
Describe the most serious illness or accident that you have had.
Describe your yard as a child. Did you help with the yardwork?
What are your memories --- Draw a diagram if you can.
Tell about Family Reunions.
Tell about your teen-age social life - your friends, dances, dating, outings, church functions etc.
What would you like to be remembered for?
Describe your last home as a young couple.
How did your father spend his time supporting his family?
Tell about exciting experiences as a young woman.
Tell about your life as the children left home - new interests, etc. What did you do with the extra time -- new employment, moves, hobbies, etc.
Tell about handed-down talents, foods, clothespin dolls, willow whistles, pottery, quilting, whittling, meat drying etc.
What lessons did you take as a child? Did you carry any over into adulthood?
What were your favorite places to go with your family when you were young?
Tell about any ancestors that you know about - name dates, etc. for historical purposes and any stories about them.
Tell about anniversaries, celebrations, trips, gifts.
What were your fears, expectations, anticipations about getting married?
Tell about a special date you had with a boy/girl friend or your fiancée.
What is your mother's best trait? Worst? The traits you share?
What is your father's best trait? Worst? The traits you share?
Give one word on how to live successfully.
How do you feel about winning? Losing?
Tell a courtship story about your parents - how they met etc... Tell the same about your courtship.
Describe a favorite childhood friend and something you did with her or him.
Tell about your grandchildren - how many- how did you feel about being a grandparent?
Have you met or worked with famous people? Who? Where?
How did you become engaged?
What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you? The worst?
What is your child-rearing philosophy?
Describe your Sundays as a mother/father or as a child.
What can frighten you the most and why?
Do you wish you had more sisters or brothers? Why?
Tell about your favorite aunt.
What is the most exciting place that you have ever been to and why?
What was your worst, really embarrassing moment?
What games did you play as a child - inside and outside?
Where did your grandparents live? What was their home like? Did it have a certain smell or look?
Tell about your favorite uncle.
Did you have a close relationship with your grandparents? Tell about it.
Did you have a bicycle, and what was it like?
Tell how, when, where you learned to drive and any memorable experiences.
Tell about each of your children's names, birthdate, where, doctors, circumstances surrounding the birth - raising them in the home - problems, joys, etc.
How did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child?
What were the advantages or disadvantages?
Tell about a frustrating experience that you have had with a car.
What is your advice to those younger than you?
Were you ever in a drama, speech, sports, pep or glee club? Tell about it. Did you and your father share any interests together - what and why?
What is your favorite scripture and why?
Describe a childhood Christmas.
Describe a typical day in elementary school.
What did you do when you were a child that got you in the most trouble, and how did your parents handle it?
Tell about your first crush.
Did you go camping? Tell about your experiences.
How did you feel about school?
Do you remember any of your four grandparents? Any greats? What were their names?
Tell about your mother: her personality, characteristics, stature, coloring, talents, temperament, family stories about her, her role in your home, etc.
What do you fantasize about doing or being?
What is your personal secret of happiness?
Describe a perfect spring day and activities on that day?
What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?
Thinking back, was there a teacher who had a great influence on you?
Tell about your own family traditions: Christmas, birthdays, graduation, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Mothers or Fathers Day, weddings, funerals, hunting etc.
Describe a childhood birthday.
How did you become engaged?
What personality trait do you admire and why?
Did you have a favorite TV, radio, program as a child? Tell about it.
Did you go to college or have vocational training? Where or when?
Did you have a childhood hideout? Tell about it.
Tell about a favorite trip or vacation.
What is your secret for good health?
Describe a childhood Christmas.
Did it snow much when you were a child - tell something about it, what did you do?
Describe getting a Christmas tree as a child, when did you put it up and decorate it?
Tell about your civic or political activities.
Write about some places you went with your father.
Write about some places that you went with your mother.
What do you think about movies - what is your favorite movie and why?
If you could be an animal, which one would you choose and why?
Describe a typical day during your Junior High years..
What kind of extra-curricular activities did you participate in at school?
Tell about the houses you lived in childhood - addresses, phone numbers, etc...
What do you think brings good or bad luck?
Tell about all the places you have worked.
Describe your wedding day.
What are your food preferences and how did they come about?
How did your mother spend her time?
Were you responsible for household chores? What were they? Which did you enjoy most/ least?
What are your most deeply held values?

VBS with a Twist

VBS is a great outreach tool, but boy can it wear you and your church folks out! A few years ago, I did some research on how to make VBS work at our little church. I apologize to whoever posted this in the first place. It has been a long time and I have had this in my "files." Another alternative to the ideas below is to do a month long Wednesday Night VBS that involves the whole church. We actually have done this and enjoyed it.

Weekend VBS
The weekend VBS schedule is somewhat like the one-day schedule, but with a little more breathing room. This schedule starts on Friday night and continues through Saturday, offering a slower pace. Again, the schedule is demanding for preschoolers and younger children so workers in those age groups need to plan their schedules to allow for the physical needs of their learners.
Friday5:30-6:00 pm - Light dinner6:00-6:30 - Worship Rally6:30-8:30 - Day 1
Saturday 8:00-8:30 am - Worship Rally8:30-10:30 - Day 210:30-11:00 - Worship Rally11:00-1:00 pm - Day 31:00-1:30 - Lunch1:30-2:00 - Worship Rally2:00-4:00 - Day 44:00-6:00 - Day 56:00 - Dinner/Closing Worship Rally/Family Night

One-Day VBS
Hillcrest Baptist Church in Lufkin, Texas is one of several churches that have reported having a one-day VBS. Steve Chandler, VBS director, reports that the church has used the schedule for three years. The change to the one-day VBS schedule was based on the need for volunteer workers and dealing with the busy schedules of today's children. Saturday is the day of choice for most one-day VBSs, though a Sunday could also work. A typical one-day VBS might follow this schedule:
8:00 am - Continental breakfast8:30 - Worship Rally (the only Worship Rally of the day)9:00-10:30 - Day 110:30-12:00 - Day 212:00-1:00 pm - Lunch1:00-3:30 - Day 33:30-5:00 - Day 45:00-6:00 - Dinner6:00-7:30 - Day 57:30 - Family Night Celebration
Because the schedule for each "day" allows for only an hour and a half, kids will not be able to rotate through all sites each "day." Plan to have Opening and Closing Bible study for children in each "day" and then offer a different rotation option (crafts, music, missions, recreation) in each "day." For instance, music with Day 1, crafts with Day 2, recreation with Day 3, missions with Day 4, crafts (or another rotation site) with Day 5. While the day-long event could be fun and exciting, Steve Chandler says the schedule is difficult for preschoolers and some younger children.

Thank You For Keeping the Nursery

Here is a poem I found some time ago online for nursery volunteers. You might attach to a little gift or just print it out on a pretty piece of paper. Take the time to tell them how much you truly appreciate them! Again...(I do this alot!) I am sorry that I cannot give credit to the original author.

Update: This poem was written by Lois Turley. You can find the poem here at the author's website.

Mama left me in the church nursery.

She said, "You can stay here and play."

I was so very afraid, but you comforted me.

And Mama was saved that day.

At least once a month in the nursery,

You served God by caring for me

So Mama could attend church and learn to make

Our home everything it should be.

There were those who said, "I'm too busy,"

Or, "I don't want to miss church today.

I'm too young. I'm too old. I've done my part.

The nursery? Please, don't ask me to stay."

But you said, "No, I'm not too busy.

I'm just the right age I know.

I could never do enough for the King that I serve.

When you need me in the nursery I'll go."

My life might have been so different

If you had not answered God's plea

For workers to serve where the need is so great,

To care for little people like me.

Thank you for keeping the nursery.

Mama taught me to follow Christ, too.

Many people had a part, but the most special one

To me will always be you

Children Go Where I Send Thee

I wrote this 3 years ago...somethings just don't change!

When I was a little girl some of my most favorite memories were of my parents talking about their work as Missionaries in Nicaragua when I was born. It sounded all so romantic. The beautiful people, the tropical countryside. Even the work itself sounded rewarding. I could just imagine teaching little children to read in my thatched hut complete with tikki torches and pineapples. I have done more than my share of fretting throughout the years. Am I truly doing what I was put on the earth to do? Am I missing my calling by clinging to the conveniences our great country has to offer?

Last fall I went on a 3 day Retreat just for women. I had been excited if not apprehensive for weeks. It had been awhile since I had participated in communal living. It was also to be one of the few times I was going to spend the night away from my little boy. At the same time I relished the idea of a few days in such beautiful surroundings. Imagine if you will with me the first time I walked into the dorm and realized that I would be sharing my space for the next few days with 40 women. Not only that, but the beds themselves were bunkbeads with plywood bases and 2 inch mattresses. Immediately I could feel all of the pins and screws in my legs and hips groan. To make matters worse I couldn't sit upright on these beds. I did my fair share of initial fussing. My first fear was that I would fall out of bed and break my other hip. My other concern was that my legs would mold to the plywood and it would take an electric drill and some WD-40 to set me free. Thankfully, my whining was heard by my two nurse friends and one of them pushed two beds together and gave me a double. I felt only momentarily guilty.
Around church time another concern was raised. Did I really want to see the bare hinnies of all these women in the dorm? I will be the first to admit that my own figure is far from a happy state of public viewing. I could bring down several small aircraft with just the shine of my bare bum alone. Let me be somewhat more specific. What I witnessed was not a hopeful sight for young women everywhere. I have trouble enough worrying that when I am old my breasts will clear my knees. Right now my body is shaped more like a fluffy, marshmallow puff. When I am old I will be cottage cheese. All that said, most of us kept our disrobing to a bathroom stall. I get enough comments from my 3 year old son.

After a service of refreshing and spiritual renewal we all headed back to our prospective rooms and proceeded to settle down for the night. I noticed right away that the room was stifling hot. One of the ladies got a tool and jimmied down the air conditioner. Herein rose another problem. Most of the women in that room were experiencing menopause, or like me, they are warm all the time and would sleep happily naked in the ice box. Other women in the room had taken to bundling up with four and five blankets. As I blocked out cries of, "turn it off" and "just put on another blanket," I thought of another convenience I had neglected to bring along with me. For most of my life I have depended on the noise and air circulation of a fan to help me sleep. A crutch you say? Absolutely. But it is my crutch and I can't sleep without the lull of a swishing fan blade...winter or summer. For the rest of the night I dozed 10 minutes here, 30 minutes there. Moved from side to side on my plywood mattress and tried to pretend that the concert of snores I was hearing was in fact, a sleek Windmere fan...singing me to sleep.
It was at some point in that long night that I decided that next year my group would spend the extra money and stay in the posh new campground hotel on the hill. The one with real beds, a television and an elevator that goes both ways. By the time morning arrived, many more ladies in the room were also making plans to book rooms at the hotel next year.

Despite my lack of comfort and my tendency for whining, I had a wonderful time at this retreat. It was wonderful seeing women from all walks of life come together with a common purpose. To be refreshed. The weekend did confirm something I had been suspecting about myself for quite a number of years. I am High Maintenance! To be truthful, my idea of a “roughing it” is a Motel 6. Camping is my least favorite activity. Air Conditioning one of my most favorite things. Hey, I admit it! God had other things in store for me. One of theme was not sleeping in a thatched hut in darkest Africa. My whining alone would create global tension.

Snacks

Christmas Wassail

I love the holidays! There is nothing like sipping something hot by the Christmas Tree watching the lights.
2 qts. of apple juice
2 cups of orange juice
1 cup of lemon juice
1 and one-half teaspoon of whole cloves
5 cups of pineapple juice
Sugar or honey to taste
1 cinnamon stick

Heat all the ingredients in a large pan or crock-pot. Simmer for 30 minutes. Remove cloves and cinnamon stick. Serve in a crock-pot to keep warm. Light a candle, put on a Christmas CD and enjoy!

They do make packaged cider mix that is really tasty and easy, but this recipe is something extra special (and not quite as sugary).

Spinach Dip

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed (do not use fresh)
1 1/2 c. sour cream
1 c. mayo
1 (4 oz.) pkg. dried vegetable soup mix
1 (8 oz.) can water chestnuts, finely chopped
3 green onions, finely chopped (I’ve used chives, also)
Loaf of round bread ( I used sourdough, but you can use pumpernickle,etc.)
Squeeze spinach until dry. In medium bowl, stir together spinach, sour cream and soup mix. Add finely chopped water chestnuts and green onions. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. Cut slice from top of round loaf of bread, hollow out loaf to leave shell to contain dip. Use bread removed from shell and top slice to cut into bite size pieces. Butter inside of bread shell, fill loaf with dip and place on platter and surround with bread pieces and/or variety of raw vegetables.

Chocolate Fondue

Now this is a Pampered Chef recipe and I hope I am not infringing on any copyright codes by sharing it with you, but this is one of the most popular party dishes I have ever taken anywhere. Just serve with fresh fruit, marshmallows, cookies or whatever tickles you fancy. I love Pampered Chef and own many of their cookbooks as well as cooking gadgets, serving pieces and other odds and ends I have a rectangle baking stone that I absolutely love!
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 container (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping (thawed)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 rum or vanilla extract (optional)
Place chocolate morsels and half of the whipped topping in a small bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 1 minute or until chocolate is melted and smooth, stirring after each 20-second interval. Fold in remaining whipped topping, cinnamon, and rum extract, if desired; mix until smooth. Cover; refrigerate at least 30 minutes. To serve, spoon fondue into small bowl.
Yield: 2 cups

The Best Ever Cheese Dip

This is a really good nacho dip. I can’t count how many youth parties and church get-togethers I have been asked to bring this dip. I think the mushroom soup makes the difference-you decide.

1 pound of ground beef or sausage, browned and drained
1 pound of Velveeta cheese
1 can of Rotel
1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Add all the ingredients to a crock-pot. Set on high and let it cook up, stirring often. It can be cooked quicker in the microwave if you need to, but it isn’t as good. Be sure to turn the crock-pot off or on low. It will burn if you are not carefully.

Salsa

“Why make salsa when you can buy it at the store,” you say? You have never had this salsa! It was first introduced to us by a family that we knew from Venezuela. I have also seen Martha Stewart make a version of it on her show. We eat buckets of this stuff in the summer time.

4-6 tomatoes
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
Salt
Juice of one lemon
Optional: green or yellow pepper, cilantro, and oregano

Chop up all fresh ingredients in the food processor. Be sure to pulse some of the tomatoes so that you still have some “chunks.” Add the lemon juice and salt to taste.

You can eat this stuff with chips, on eggs, over steak. It’s wonderful!