St. Joseph Catholic Church

Food for your table

• Each guest brings hors d’oeuvre to share among guests at their table (6 - 8 guests)

Potluck Desserts Table

• Each table brings 2 desserts to place at the potluck desserts table
• Each dessert should feed at least a minimun of 12 guests
• All desserts should be cut & ready to serve
• All women during the evening are invited to enjoy desserts from this table

Beverages

• Guests bring beverages for their table (ie. wine, tea, & punch)
• Coffee, tea & water are provided by the Events Committee            

• Table Hostesses will pay the parish office for their table(s). It's suggested that table guests pay the hostess $5 each to contribute to the overall table cost.
• Only hostesses will turn in money at the parish office for the reserved table(s). 
• Table Cost 
  • $30 for 1 round table of 6 (60 inch table)
  • $40 for 1 rectangular table of 8 (8 ft table)
• Note: You do NOT need to provide the names of your guests

• Invite women to your table or coordinate with a group to fill your table
• Assign 2 people per table to bring dessert for the potluck desserts table (ea. serve 12 people)
• Coordinate which guests are bringing beverages & food for your table (coffee/tea/water provided)
• Table Name: create a unique or fun name for your table (printed on your table tent)
• Decide the table theme & decorate either on your own or with your table guests
• Provide appropriate number of place settings (plates, napkins, silverware, wine & water glasses, coffee cups/saucers).
• Decorating will take place after Mass Tuesday night
• Be creative..have fun!  Candles (real or battery are both allowed), Advent wreaths, nativity sets, fresh flowers, crosses, angels are some ideas.
• TIP: bring a small side table (ie. card table) to set up next to your table so you can place your food on. This is an option if you can't fit all of your food & beverage items on your table.

Guests bringing beverages

• Bring enough to last your table for 2 hours (& bottle opener, if wine)

• "Heavy" appetizers/light meal items are shared with your table guests
• Can be homemade or store bought - make your favorite holiday finger food
• Mini quiches, crostini, or skewers are some ideas

• AT LEAST TWO table guests should bring a dessert to be shared on the potluck desserts table
• Each dessert should serve a minimum of 12 people
• Bring the dessert cut & ready to serve
• Ideas: cookies, pies, cakes cupcakes, special holiday desserts & anything festive

Registration DUE by December 1st

Register by completing online form OR turn in paper registration to office.

• $5 payable at event
• Bring a beverage for yourself &/or to share with table guests (wine, tea, punch, etc.)
• Bring a potluck dish (hors d’oeuvres) to serve 8 table guests
• Optional: bring a dessert for potluck desserts table

• Open Seating Tables will be provided with a simple centerpiece along with simple tableware
• If you'd like to coordinate an "open table" of individuals (decorating it, coordinating food & tableware), please mark this on your registration form. If you're open to this, someone from the Planning Team will contact you closer to the event to help you review this with you.

                                                                    

• Table set up is the night before, Tuesday 12/6 from 6:45 pm - 8 pm
• It's a lot of fun as everyone is decorating their tables together!
• Pick up your table tent & place on your table
• Desserts can be dropped off for the potluck dessert table, if you wish

• Each table is responsible for their own clean up
• Please make sure to bring all of your dishes home

• Coffee, tea & water
• Disposable coffee cups will be available
• Plates for potluck dessert table

Please click to view some images from "googling" as well as from past Advent Teas & other Advent by Candlelights.
Some table ideas

Feel free to be as creative or as simple as you want. Some use fine china while others use festive paper plates. Some choose elaborate center pieces, some contribute Advent / Christmas poems or little mementos for each place setting and others just bring the necessities.

Ideas

• Candles: both real & battery candles are acceptable
• Select a theme & table name for your table
• Centerpieces
• Advent / Christmas poems or small table favors for each place setting