Dinner for 22

As I mentioned yesterday, we are having 22 for dinner Sunday night. It is part of our small church family's attempt to do better at building loving relationships within the congregation and to reach out to those who are loosely connected with the church family, but not regularly attending. Various families were 'identified' back in the spring time as families that would be possibly willing to exercise their hospitality gifts by inviting families to their home for a simple meal and time of fellowship. Surprisingly, our family was honored to be one of the ones asked to host a gathering of families. We prayed about it and then agreed. It was up to us to set the time and date, but the guests were prayerfully chosen by the church health team. The goal was to have these meals during the summer months, with the deadline being Labor Day. Well, we are just squeaking ours in aren't we??? They don't call me the 'Queen of Procrastination' for nothing!

Actually, I'm not that bad - really! Since our Pastor and wife attend the dinners and facilitate the informal fellowship afterwards, we needed to work with their schedule, as well as the schedules of the guests, and our family schedule as well. It wasn't easy to come up with a mutually acceptable date, but this one worked for everyone, so we have been looking forward to it for a while.

You'd think with all of the time we had to plan, I'd have had the menu set weeks ago, but I didn't. In fact, I had several menu ideas floating around and it took talking with my dear sweet Mum today to pin it down. Keeping in mind that we are to keep it simple and stress free, here is what we have come up with.

Fellowship Dinner for 22

Sunday, August 23rd
5:30pm

Raspberry Iced Tea
Pink Lemonade
Coffee or Hot Tea

Sunday Dinner Rolls - double batch
butter pats

Pickle and Olive Tray
Veggie Tray with Dilly Dip

Salad #1 (brought by guest family)
Salad #2 (brought by guest family)
Baked Beans (double batch in Crock pot)
Scalloped Potatoes
Brown Sugar Glazed Ham (two)

Fresh Fruit Salad
Brownies
Mini Cup Cakes
Butter Tarts

Homemade After Dinner Mints

We are praying that this meal and fellowship time is a blessing to all who attend! We are also praying for nice weather since we are hoping to serve buffet style and send some out to the patio table to sit! Our kitchen just won't hold 22 for a sit down meal, and we don't have a dining room, but we will just get creative if we need too - we might just clear out the family room and haul a table in there if it rains. I'm sure it will all work out. Where God leads, He provides!

Grammy this picture of the Storyteller is just for you!
I caught him lounging in the sun room and watching the butterflies in the herb garden.
He was trying to hold his breath until you come for your fall visit!
Don't worry, I finally convinced him that it wouldn't work!