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Holidays

Christmas Idea Exchange

Purpose

To share ideas, crafts, decorating tips, recipes, and devotions for Christmas holidays. For best results, plan your activities early in December.

Scripture

"We have fellowship one with another" (1 John 1:7).

I. Introduction

Invitations
Two weeks prior to the meeting mail or hand out.

Hostesses

Ask for volunteers to serve as hostesses—greeting guests, giving directions, and providing nametags. Small poinsettia corsages give special recognition to your pastor's wife, Women's Ministries coordinator, and auxiliary's sponsors.

Decorations

Decorate for the holidays. Provide one or more tables on which to display items for the idea exchange. Arrange seating in a semicircle(s) near display tables to provide a good view for everyone.

• Refreshment Suggestions
  
• Red and green finger Jell-O
  
• Cheese balls or logs with crackers
  
• Miniature fudge squares
  
• Christmas cake or fancy cookies
  
• Popcorn
  
• Punch, coffee, spiced tea

Publicity

Ask the Publicity Ministry Group to call every woman in the church reminding her of the Event Evangelism Christmas Idea Exchange. Call 2 or 3 days before the meeting.

Games

Choose two women to lead an icebreaker and one or two other games.

Consider:

1. A good icebreaker is to provide baked sugar cookies in various shapes for each guest to decorate as she arrives. Provide a plate for the cookie, tube decorating icing, and candy toppings (jimmies, red hots, and sprinkles). Ask each woman to decorate one cookie. Set the decorated cookies aside for judging.
   
   Have two judges for the decorated cookies; give a prize for the most beautifully decorated. Each woman can eat her cookie or take it home.
   
2. Ask each woman to introduce herself and tell what she likes best about Christmas. If she has a guest, she should introduce her and ask her to also share.
   
3. Early in the evening give a potholder, tree ornament, or other seasonal item to a person in the group. Explain each time she hears the word "Christmas," she must pass the object to the person on her left. (Two or three objects may be passed.) At the conclusion the person holding the object may keep it.

Idea Exchange

Let each woman show her idea and explain how it is made. Set a time limit, allowing time for questions.

If no one shares devotional ideas, ask for suggestions.

Conclusion

Sing a favorite carol.

Note: Although Christmas is the most popular time to exchange ideas, an Idea Exchange can feature New Year's, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, July 4 (Independence Day), Thanksgiving, etc.