|
 |
 |
 |
 |
House to House is a once a month opportunity to invite some folks to your home for dinner and fellowship. Take advantage of this vital relationship building ministry & practicing hospitality. We encourage you to have House to House the last Sunday of every month.
Hospitality Tips for the year!
January's Hospitality Tip
Have some soft music playing in the background as you warmly welcome your guests. Light a candle, use a table cloth & cloth napkins for your table, set it using fresh flowers as your centerpiece . . . Have a hanger for your guest's coats . . . pray a blessing as they leave.
February's Hospitality Tip
Turn on the porch light and hang a seasonal decoration by your front door. On these cold winter days, have a fire in the fireplace, or turn up the heat to warm the house before your guests arrive. Tell them you are glad they came. When it's time to say good-bye, walk your guests to the door, and make sure they make it safely to their vehicle before you shut the door. Wave goodbye with a smile.
March's Hospitality Tip
You create the tone. If you are happy and relaxed, your guests will respond the same way. Don't be worried or distracted. Remember the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was worried and distracted by last minute preparations. Jesus told Martha that Mary, who sat relaxed at His feet, had chosen the better way. (Luke 10). Complete tasks in advance so that your focus is on your guests. Keep a positive attitude. Stay calm - enjoy!
April's Hospitality Tip
All together now! Involve your guests in making the meal and it will become a labor of love for everyone. Have a potluck, and assign each guest a different course.
May's Hospitality Tip
Spring is finally here! Tie colorful balloons to your mailbox to welcome & help your dinner guests identify where you live.
June's Hospitality Tip
Eat outside during the summer! Set your table, add fresh flowers, and include citronella torches around the yard to keep the 'skeetos' away while creating the perfect ambiance for a moonlit night & bbq! After dinner, eat smores around a portable or makeshift firepit! FUN!
July's Hospitality Tip
* Invite a family with young children. Mothers of toddlers get very few opportunities to have grown-up conversation. Encourage the family to bring their children's favorite toys to play with if you don't have young children in your home.
* Move family heirlooms out of harms way before your guests arrive so that you can relax and the mom can relax and not worry that her children might break something valuable. Put together gift bags for the children with age appropriate treasures - crayons, coloring books, bubbles, matchbox type cars - (stop by the dollar store and see what you can find.)
* Plan a dessert that will delight the children as well as treat the parents. Nothing makes a parent feel more welcome than knowing that their children are welcome in your home as well.
August's Hospitality Tip
Light up your driveway and outside area with solar lights or torches to welcome your guests. Also, strategically place candles or small lamps around the house to create a welcoming atmosphere, instead of having bright lights.
September's Hospitality Tip
Invite old friends to your home and invite some new friends. Introduce each other and nurture precious relationships. Make a memory! Get the camera out and take some photos of everyone together. After the dinner, send the photo and a note thanking them for coming.
October Hospitality Tip
Theme parties are a great way to plan and organize a fun time with friends. Themes can be as simple as having matching plates and tablecloths or as elaborate as decorating your house to look like a beach, or dressing up for a masquerade. For the month of October - have a theme party!
November Hospitality Tip
Few things are more fun than a progressive dinner party. It's a great opportunity for a group of friends or neighbors to get together -- especially during the busy holiday season -- and visit several homes in a single afternoon or evening.
Steps:
1. Select the hosts (3 to 4).
2. Develop the guest list. Keep this to a manageable number. While some hosts may be able to accommodate 24 people for a sit-down dinner, many can comfortably accommodate only 6 to 12.
3. Send out invitations. Include the times and addresses for each host's house, and include a request to RSVP.
4. Follow up with guests who don't respond. You want an accurate count of guests, especially for the host who's handling the main course.
5. Follow up with each host a week before the scheduled date. Be sure each one knows the final number of guests and is still prepared to host his/her/their part of the meal.
6. Have fun!
December's Hospitality Tip Special thanks to Womenbygrace.com (Check out their website!)
For those of us that open our homes to friends and family for the holidays ... here are some simple suggestions. Even if your "guest room" is in the family room, basement or one of your kids are giving up their room ... make your guests feel welcome and special!
1. Some level of privacy is needed. Make sure there are changing areas and if using a kids room, have them pack a suitcase and make an adventure out of keeping their room off limits for a few days.
2. Keep an old comfy bath robe hanging on the back of a guestroom door (amazing how many people forget theirs!)
3. Also keep a supply of slipper socks handy
4. Leave an extra quilt on the end of the bed
5. Use lots of pillows, put a small bag of fresh lavender or oil on a cloth inside pillowcases. Kids love stuffed animals!
6. Use nightlights! They help guests find the bathroom in the middle of the night. You can give kids their own little flashlight!
7. Have a bedside lamp that can be reached without getting out of bed.
8. Provide reading materials at bedside (for kids too)
9. Provide a basket of toiletries ( I save free samples, hotel shampoos and travel size items) Don't forget to have paper cups in the bathroom.
10. If your guests are on medications, give them a safe place to keep them ... out of children's reach
11. Give your guests a tour of the house ... pointing out the location of bathrooms, extra toilet paper, towels and even the toilet plunger! I show them around the kitchen, the drinking glasses, beverage supplies, silverware drawer and trash can.
12. If they are an early riser or late-nite T.V. watcher ... they get a tutorial on making coffee and using the T.V. remote.
13. Have plenty of snacks available.
The goal is to make your guests feel welcome and at home ... and for you to enjoy their visit! Happy Holidays!