…along with a lot of planning and organization.
I agreed to take on an event at our church for the sending off and 10 years of service of our dear Youth Pastor’s family. They are heading to a new ministry in Georgia. The event was a three hour drop in event and I wanted it to be as simple as could be with finger food and no heating necessary but also have some elevation in taste and presentation.
This is the beautiful family we were celebrating.
Volunteers were enlisted for three shifts of service. My first 5 shift volunteers from 1pm until 4pm did all the peeling, chopping, mixing, slicing, stuffing, frosting, arranging and clean-up for West Coast Chicken Sliders, Veggie platters, and elevated brownie bites. Once the sliders were stuffed they were stacked in stainless pans between waxed paper and stored in the refrigerators for the event. Before the volunteers arrived I staged the serving tables with tiered servers and some sparkly accents and candles. My second shift of volunteers had the task of keeping the buffet tables stocked with the goodies we prepared. Husband, Greg, was in charge of the water and coffee. We had a third shift of two families who were in charge of the final clean-up, putting away tables and chairs and taking out the trash. The first two shifts of volunteers kept the kitchen clean-up to a minimum washing prep items as we went along. What a fabulous crew.
We will miss this dear family but send them off with prayers for their continued growth in their love for the LORD Jesus Christ and the Great Commission to go out into the world and make disciples.
I’m battling with Plantar Fasciitis for the first time ever . With lots of prayers on my behalf, I was able to make it through the event with little or no pain. As is the case with this condition after coming home and sitting for a while and then standing up again my feet ceased to function well. I’m trying some remedies to ease the problem along with good supportive shoes. I woke up on Wednesday with very little pain and am thankful. Hopefully icing, massaging, and doing a few exercises before I get out of bed will help the condition and make it cease.
Hope all is well in your corner of the world.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Best wishes for the family on their move. The event looks great, lots of yummy food.
Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend.
…I just gained a few pounds looking your pictures.
Everything looks absolutely delicious! It sounds like organization and good help were the keys to a successful send off.
Thank you, Elaine.
What a lovely send off, with such delicious looking food.
Oh, Ellen, what a planner you are! Just doing all the calculations for how much food you would need for those delicious looking recipes would have worn me out. Everything is so beautifully presented and what a wonderful team of workers you had
May God bless this dear family as the minister to those God has called them to .
I’m so sorry to hear about your Plantar Fasitius. I dealt with that when we got home from our trip to Maine four years ago. Do I know how painful it is. You are doing all of the right things to help with it. Talk about resilience!
Dianna, Thank you. I have gotten lots of good tips on how to make my feet get better. So thankful.
A wonderful send-off for your dear young pastor and his family that you put together. I wish them many happy years in their new Parish. Very sorry to learn you have Plantar fasciitis. It is so painful and one I remember having a few years ago. I hope you recover from it quickly. Sounds like you are already getting some relief and I certainly hope it continues.
Thank you, Denise. The relief continues. 🙂
The “going away” party pictures are lovely. I love all of the tiered serving trays – beautiful presentation!! I’m sorry you are struggling with plantar fascitis. I had cataract surgery today and my vision is blurry so if I have not spelling things correctly . . .it is because I can’t see very well. It should clear up tomorrow!!
All the food looked fantastic. You did a great job organizing all the workers.
What a lovely picture of the family.
Sorry to hear about your foot. Hope it feels better soon.
Karen, thank you. We had a very tearful Sunday since it was their last Sunday with us.
Sounds like you had everything very well organized. The food looks delicious. So sorry about the plantar fasciitis and hope the improvement continues.
Lorrie, the older I get the more I know that organization is key for me surviving these events. 🙂 Thank you.
Oh wow – what a wonderful event! The food looks so delicious and beautifully presented. You are amazing Ellen! Sorry to hear that you have plantar fascitis and pray your feet feel better real soon. Hugs …
Best wishes to your Youth Pastor and family as they continue their work in Georgia! Your church’s celebration looked wonderful!
I amd sorry to hear that you are suffering form plantar fascitis! I had a bad bout of that many years ago. I had 3 steroid injections and then did water and sonic therapy. I also had othotics made for my sneakers and I never walk without padded slippers in my house. All treatments helped and it never came back.
Your presentation was lovely and I’m sure the food was delicious! Whew . . . what a big task to take on, but it sounds like your thoughtful organization and hard work of your whole team resulted in a successful event! The family must have been so honored with such a send-off!
I hope that your remedies for plantar fasciitis are bringing you relief!
I’m sure the pastor and his family will have fond memories of that delightful and festive looking goodbye reception! A job well done!
Thank you, Mary. Our church had a tearful Sunday as it was their last one with us.