Developing a Theme

Nametags/Decorations:

Snowflakes, skates, or mittens (a small, real knitted mitten would make a cute nametag and also a nice take-home momento – possibly glue names on) would make cute but simple nametags. For decorations, clear marbles/stones on white tablecloths give appearance of ice; cotton batting sheets under white Christmas lights for snow can give a peaceful but winter feel (could especially work for the food table), and white or pale blue candles in the middle of table with crystal/clear candlestick holders would make great table centerpieces.

Refreshments:

Frozen fruit kabobs in a crystal bowl • coconut flakes on top of pies or cakes (see recipe idea on page 6) • rice pudding • white chocolate fudge • cranberry salads or a frozen cranberry dish • snowball cookies (see recipe below)

Grandma Brock’s Snowball Recipe

Mix until creamy:

3 c. margarine
2 T. water
2 T. vanilla

Combine dry ingredients:

1 ½ c. sugar
1/8 t. salt
6-8 c. flour (add until dough will roll nicely)
1 c. nuts (chopped fine)

Combine all ingredients. Roll and place balls on cookie sheets close together. Bake in 225 degree oven about 4 hours (or more if needed to be hard). Then roll in powdered sugar.

Games/Icebreaker

Shoebox Relay Race

Supplies: Tootsie Rolls (1 for each person); shoebox for each team; bell for each team; 2 mittens for each team; 2 bowls for each team

Preparations: Place tootsie rolls in a bowl at the opposite end of the room. Hang a bell from the ceiling, over the tootsie roll bowl.

How To Play: Divide the women into two or more relay teams. Explain that when you say, “GO” the first person on each team will put on the mittens, step into the shoeboxes and race to the other end of the room where they will ring the bell with their nose. They are then to pick up a tootsie roll out of the bowl and race back to their team still wearing their mittens and shoeboxes. Pass the mittens and shoebox to the next person in line, sit down, eat your tootsie roll. The first team to finish eating their tootsie rolls wins!

Devotional

You could begin by talking about how one vowel changes a word completely: wonderland could easily be wanderland with a simple change of the vowel a. A wondering mind is much different than a wandering mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to bring into captivity those wandering thoughts. A wondering thought can be exciting. Think about a child’s wonderment: he is absorbed with learning and finding answers to everything that affects his life. I think God enjoys hearing and seeing us wanting to know more and more about Him. The fine line between spiritual wondering and dangerous wandering happens when we fail to have faith in what we cannot understand or comprehend.

Another idea for a winter devotional that is more of a Christmas theme could be the story of Anna as she waits to see the Savior in the temple.

Below is a tool that could be used for a devotional relating to the names given to Christ from Isaiah 9.

ISAIAH 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called…

WONDERFUL

The name means “miracle” (Psalm 77:11, 14; 78:12; 89:5; 119:129; 1 Timothy 3:16). One of the greatest miracles of the Messiah is that He was born of a woman but equal to God—the union of the Divine with human nature.

COUNSELOR

The name means “to advise, to guide” (Psalm 16:7; 32:8; Isaiah 14:27; Romans 11:34).

In Christ is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).

THE MIGHTY GOD

The name means “powerful, strong Almighty.” The word God is the Hebrew word `El which means strong and mighty, referring to the Almighty. In essence, “the mighty God” reads “the mighty Almighty” (Psalm 24:8; Jeremiah 32:18; John 1:1-2. Jesus is God).

THE EVERLASTING FATHER

The name means “eternal father.” In the same verse, Jesus is called a “child” and a “father,” a man born of a woman, yet God (Romans 1:20; John 3:16, 36). Jesus cannot offer eternal life unless He is also eternal (1 John 1:2; 5:20).

THE PRINCE OF PEACE

The name means “captain of safety and wellness” (Luke 2:14; Ephesians 2:14; John 14:27; Colossians 1:20-21).

Jesus brought peace through His death on the cross. At salvation we are reconciled and experience peace with God.

In our daily lives, we experience the peace God gives us through fulfilled promises and sanctification.