Advent by Candlelight

Food for your table

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

Potluck desserts table

• Each table brings 1-2 desserts to place at the potluck desserts table 
• Each dessert should feed at least a minimum of 12 guests
• All desserts should be cut, ready to serve & include serving utensils
• All women are invited to enjoy desserts from this table

Beverages

• Coffee, tea & water are provided
• Guests bring beverages for their table (i.e. wine, pop, or punch)

Register Your Table

One hostess registers and pays online for each table. The cost is $10 per person, including the hostess. Our 60-inch round tables seat 6–8 people, so a table of six is $60 and a table of eight is $80.

Enter your total number of seats when you register. You do not need to submit guest names. Your invited guests do not register separately. You’re welcome to ask each guest to reimburse you $10 for her seat.

The registration fee helps cover the speaker, music, beverages, decorations, and event supplies.

Plan Your Table

• Invite your guests and let them know you’ll register for the group.
• Coordinate appetizers and drinks to share at your table. Coffee, tea, and water will be provided.
• Ask two guests to each bring a dessert for the shared dessert table. Please bring desserts ready to serve, with at least 12 servings each.
• Bring a tablecloth and a place setting for each guest: a plate, napkin, utensils, drinking glass or wine glass. 
• Decorate your table on your own or with your guests. Keep it as simple or as festive as you like! 

Individual (open seating) Responsibilities

• Register online
• Bring a beverage for yourself &/or to share with table guests. (wine, pop, punch, etc.)
• Bring a potluck dish (hors d’oeuvres) to serve 8 table guests
• Optional: Bring a dessert for potluck desserts table

Tables

• 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 note this when you register. The Event Team will place individuals at your table for you. If you're open to this, someone from the Event Team will contact you closer to the event to help review this with you.

Helpful Information for Table Guests

It's suggested that table guests pay the hostess $10 each to contribute to the overall table cost

Guests bringing beverages:

• Bring enough to last your table for 1 hour (& bottle opener, if wine)

Guests bringing hors d’oeuvres:

• "Heavy" appetizers/light meal items are shared with your table guests
• Can be homemade or store bought - make your favorite holiday finger food (i.e. mini quiches, skewers, dips, shrimp) 

Guests bringing desserts:

• 1 - 2 desserts should be brought to be shared on the potluck desserts table
• Individuals for open seating are not bringing desserts so we need to make sure there are plenty for them to indulge in too!
• Each dessert should serve a minimum of 12 people
• Bring the dessert cut & ready to serve with serving utensils
• Ideas: Cookies, pies, cakes cupcakes, special holiday desserts & anything festive

Set Up & Clean Up

Set up:

• Table set up is Sunday afternoon from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.
• It's a lot of fun as everyone is decorating their tables together!
• Desserts can be dropped off for the potluck dessert table, if you wish

Clean up: 

• Each table is responsible for their own clean up
• Please make sure to bring all of your dishes home
• If you happen to have used the kitchen for anything, please make sure you leave it like you found it
• Clean up should be done prior to Adoration at 6:30 p.m.

Provided:

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

Table Sizes & Decorating Ideas

Table Sizes

• Round table (60-inch table): seats 6 - 8 people
• Hostesses provide their own tablecloths

Ideas 

• Review photos for ideas:  Advent by Candlelight Table Ideas
• Candles: both real & battery candles are acceptable. Battery candles will be available for use. 
• Centerpieces

Make your table as simple or as festive as you like! Fine china, paper plates, and everything in between are welcome. If you’d enjoy adding a centerpiece, an Advent or Christmas poem, or a small keepsake at each place setting, go for it. The essentials are plenty, too. What matters most is that everyone at your table feels welcome.

12:00-2:00 p.m. - Hostesses set tables

4:30 p.m. - Hostesses arrive

4:45 p.m. - Guests arrive and find their tables

5:00 p.m. -  Welcome & Opening prayer, fellowship, appetizers, & dessert

5:35 – 6:05 p.m. - Advent reflection with guest speaker Sheri Wohlfert

6:05–6:20 p.m. — Clear tables and head to church

6:25–7:30 p.m. — Eucharistic Adoration in St. Robert Church

Yes! The gathering before 6:30 p.m. is an Advent evening for women. Everyone is welcome to join us for Adoration from 6:30–7:30 p.m., whether or not you attend the gathering.