Formally-dressed waiters escorted 100 ladies to tables cast in the soft glow of many candles for the Albany (Ore.) Church’s fifth annual Victorian Tea. Each of the thirteen hostesses from women’s ministries invited up to nine ladies to the tea, which was held in the church fellowship hall. Several ladies of other denominations attended and became better acquainted with the ladies of the Adventist church.
The hostesses decorated their own tables uniquely using a variety of floral, statuary and other decorations, such as porcelain dolls, candelabras, fountains, music boxes, china tea service and linen. The hall was arranged as a Victorian garden with sculpted benches, a tea table beneath a rose-covered arch and water features. Many of the ladies wore Victorian dresses and hats.
Waiters, many husbands of the hostesses, served a three-course tea, and dinner music was provided by the 4Praise Quartet. The featured speaker of the evening was Corleen Johnson, Oregon Conference women’s ministries director.
Other Albany women’s ministries events this year have included prayer breakfasts, holiday food baskets for the needy, Christmas shoeboxes stuffed with gifts for needy overseas children, and an “Angel Tree” for Christmas presents for local needy children. They produced and sold a 300-recipe vegetarian cookbook to fund these projects and to contribute to Central Valley Adventist Academy’s worthy student fund. Upcoming events include the annual women’s retreat on the Oregon Coast and a Columbia riverboat cruise for ladies and their families.
Albany women’s ministries committee, from left: Louise Warren, Judy VanTassel, Joy Miller, Dee Wright, Coralie Cole.
