Tuesday 4: Tea Party

 

Welcome to Tuesday 4,  the legacy of Toni Taddeo, kept in her honor and memory.

Let's discuss tea parties. Okay! Here's a topic I enjoy talking about!

1. Do you invite people over for coffee or tea? I certainly have in the past, but this year has kind of put a damper on having people over for any kind of fellowship. Hopefully that will change in the New Year. However, I often have "virtual tea parties"...or a tea party for one (or is it three? me, myself, and I?) just for the fun of it.

My Christmas carolers are all ready for a tea party:

Here is a LINK to my most favorite Tea Party. We had so much fun with these precious little ones. I need to do this again someday, before they grow up too much and aren't interested in tea parties with "old ladies" anymore.

2. Entertaining is a good way to serve others. The Bible encourages it in talking about how to be a good person:

Isaiah 58:6-7 "“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? " 

Here is a link to other Bible verses that talk about practicing hospitality.

My favorite is Hebrews 13:2 "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels."

"A Tea Party with the Angels"

Do you entertain often?  Not as much as I used to.  But as a Pastor's family in the past we have had many gatherings in our home with friends, strangers, neighbors, family, church members, missionaries, kids young and old. I love to have people in our home. I am not a great cook or decorator...but when we get together with people we care about no one seems to mind that things aren't done according to specific rules of entertaining and etiquette. They just want to have a good time of fellowship and fun. Our home tends to be the family gathering place for holidays and birthdays as well.

This is a link to a lovely gathering of ladies in my previous home for tea, prayer, and fellowship

3. What kind of refreshments do you offer to guests? 

When we have large groups, everyone brings a dish of something to share, kind of pot-luck style according to whatever the season or holiday or theme may be. I normally provide the main course (meat), beverages, and other side dishes as necessary, but because we so often have large groups I have always found that people don't mind bringing something to share and it makes it more fun and interesting for all.  (and not as much work for me so I can enjoy the party!)

4. Do you enjoy tea and/or coffee? How do you take it?

I am a tea-totaller myself. I like hot tea or unsweet iced tea. Hot tea with a teaspoon of sugar (or honey) and lemon if available. Iced tea, unsweet with lemon and lots of ice. I also enjoy different flavors of teas/herbal teas, etc., but my normal everyday tea is Lipton black orange pekoe tea.

 

My tea "station" in our kitchen, where I fix a pot of tea every morning to make a pitcher of iced tea later, and a cup of hot tea for my morning wake up cup.  I have never liked coffee, but my husband does, so I make him a pot of coffee every day.

If it is in your power to entertain friends and family, do so often. People get lonely and need to be with others. You have more to offer than you know! Giving of your time and self is priceless. 

 
I totally agree! The only thing that has held me back this year is this crazy "pandemic". People have not been as eager to visit in homes and I feel we have really lost something very precious and beautiful. My goal in the New Year is to get back into doing more entertaining, but probably on a smaller scale. I love having smaller more intimate tea parties with ladies...tea for two can be just as nice as tea for more. And if you prefer coffee, that's not problem at all! It doesn't have to be a formal tea party either...just a meeting of friends...sometimes to talk about personal issues, or perhaps a study of the Bible together...encouraging one another in our faith and daily living.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Hebrews 10:24-25

Thank you for joining in this little visit today, as we talked about having tea parties. For more stories about tea parties and tea times you can click on the links on the right side column under the heading of "Some Special Topics".

Thank you to Annie from Cottage By The Sea  for carrying on the tradition started by our dear blogging friend Toni Taddeo. You are welcome to join the party over at http://tuesdaysplace.blogspot.com/2020/11/tea-party.html to see what others have shared this week.

I hope this has inspired you to think about ways you can encourage others by opening your home for little friendly gatherings.  It will make a difference in someone else's life when you include them in your life!

(Note: I apologize for the strange formatting and mixed up fonts in this post. Couldn't seem to make it right, but hopefully you can still read it and enjoy it!)