Christian banquets provide opportunities for fellowship with other believers while creating happy memories. An event like this is an opportunity to show honor to members of different ministry teams who have given graciously to others. An informative and entertaining event will build support for important ministries.
Missionary Banquet
Fall is an excellent time to reflect on mission projects with the theme "Harvest the World for Jesus." Decorate the stage area with a large world map, framed with cornstalks and large pumpkins and gourds scattered around; decorate the tables with baskets of smaller pumpkins and gourds surrounded by a few fall leaves. The program for this Christian banquet should feature a speaker serving with mission groups, such as your denomination missionaries, Wycliffe Bible Translators or Teen Mission International team members or leaders. Dinner can be an international food buffet or a dinner planned around a single country's cuisine.
Banquet Honoring Senior Citizens
Entertain the Senior Citizens of your church with a banquet filled with music using the theme "Name that Tune." Invitations and program can be written on paper that has musical notes as part of the border. For entertainment find a person or group that can play a large selection of those old but favorite Christian tunes. For the centerpieces place bright potted flowers on an old record in the center of the table. A few smaller records may be scattered around the table for interest. Use a black and white color theme for the table setting with the potted flowers adding a splash of color.
A turkey dinner, complete with cranberry salad, sweet potatoes, biscuits and mashed potatoes with gravy, is always a great banquet favorite for senior citizens. A cake decorated with musical notes and displayed near the entrance can announce the theme of the banquet.
Christian Youth Ministry Banquet
Honor the people who make the children or youth ministries happen while raising awareness of the work and needs of these ministries with a special banquet. Create an atmosphere that reflects the love and fun of working with youth. Invitations and programs can paper doll cut-outs made from brightly colored construction paper. Fill the fellowship hall with multicolored balloons tied with ribbons. Then cover the tables with white cloth and place pictures of the children ministries in action on the table cloth. Finally, cover the table with clear plastic to protect the pictures. Make fun table centerpieces by creating a bouquet of lollipops in a semi-sphere styrofoam painted a bright primary color.
The dinner menu can begin with a green salad. Baked ham with yellow pineapple rings and red cherries on top, creamy potatoes au gratin, and green beans almondine, make a fun main course. Desert for this special banquet can be a scoop of orange or lime sherbet with a decorated gingerbread man cookie standing in the middle of the scoop.
Ask for youth volunteers to wait tables and help with set up and clean up. Give the youth an opportunity to be part of the program by sharing their experiences and their musical gifts as part of the program.
A Power Point presentation with pictures of the children and youth ministry leaders and kids in action provides an interesting and informative program. Show your appreciation by honoring the leaders with certificates of service and a center piece or other gift. A clown character can make the perfect master of ceremonies to add excitement and fun to the event.
Tags: children youth, musical notes, part program, pictures children, potted flowers, pumpkins gourds