Presbytery 2010!

What a weekend we had last week! The annual Presbytery meeting was chosen to be hosted by - you guessed it - our church this year. The last few months have been spent in planning... and replanning... and finally the real thing happened. Our family found ourselves in charge of food, which is quite a job - and we couldn't have done it without great friends like Anna, Beth & Dawn and Megan & Raeanne (and many others who so sweetly volunteered to help).

Thursday marked the beginning of Presbytery; most of the men were in meetings for a majority of the time (that is the reason everyone comes anyway!), but the families were kept busy with games and activities. I don't have any photos of the very amusing relay races that the Hirsts and Geaschels came up with, as we were busy in the kitchen packing lunches.

We were blessed to have the Kayser family from Nebraska stay with us, along with their friend Laura. Here are the girls in the car on the way to the church (excepting yours truly - someone has to take the picture!)

Here we are - the Thursday morning kitchen crew, packing lunches for Friday. Many hands make light work!

Thursday's dinner was a "Taste of Christ's Church," with different tables offering victuals from the different ethnicities within our church. The Hills & Webbs had the Chinese/Korean table, and here's Wendy and Mrs. Webb making...

Sushi!

One BIG bowl of garlic butter for garlic bread at the Erber's Italian table

Megan & Anna making a fun sign for the evening

Part of the Beatty's and Geaschel's farm table...

...with its very popular "squeaky cheese"

The Chinese/Korean table, which I personally think wins hands-down for the best decorations.

Would you LOOK at this adorable, sparkly-eyed little man!!

After the taste-of dinner, everyone gathered for "CPC's Got Talent!" - a talent show showcasing some real talent, and some... well, let's just say we laughed a lot that evening.

Here are our own string players, plus 3 Adams, performing a fun, pizzicato song called "Plink, Plank, Plunk!" You did a great job and brought the house down! Video below:

(sorry Josh - we cut off your clever intro :-)

Anna, Megan & Raeanne performing one of their famous parodies. There is a video for this, but maybe you girls can send us the words because it gets hard to hear when everyone starts clapping along...

Next "Jolly JoJo" takes the stage with some vulnerable volunteers, who had the privilege of eating 5 saltine crackers and then attempting to whistle afterwards. :-)

Another cute little man - we've got a lot of 'em at our church! :-)

Some more volunteers were roped into performing an impromptu synchronized swimming routine with a few set props (shower caps and goggles - and a blue sheet). Some call it embarrassing, but somehow I get the feeling that Mr. McDonald was having a little too much fun. :-)

I have basically no pictures from Friday - but the day was filled with choir practice, food, and most families packed up and went to a nearby park. The evening held an ordination service, pizza (Chicago style!) and an ice cream social, plus a concert with The Wintons AND a dance (yeah - we are crazy).

Tons of pizza... and this was only the first delivery!

Dawn caught me redhanded devouring a whole box of mini cheesecakes!

(just kidding - I was simply sampling one to make sure we didn't poison anyone)

Certain gentlemen decided to take a whole tub of ice cream to their table and eat it themselves. They only managed to eat part of it - thankfully.

We're almost through, folks, if you have managed to read this far. Sunday morning found our building packed to the gills as most families stayed for church. For the first time, we had a line out the door for lunch. :-)

Tara & Dawn serving Italian Beef Sandwiches

(which, if you are wondering, is Italian beef on a sandwich)

Food, glorious food!

Megan & Anna feeling slap-happy, Grant wanting to get in on the fun, and me smiling and not knowing I am in the picture (sorry girls, I couldn't resist!)

"One of these things is not like the others..."

"...one of these things just doesn't belong!"

We found it humorous that we ended up with a picture of Melinda surrounded by a bunch of boys and Jonathan surrounded by a bunch of girls. In Melinda's defense, Tara was sitting with her but got up to take the picture. I'm afraid Jonathan doesn't have an excuse. :-)

Here's the last picture and the end of the post -finally! :-) A wonderful time was had by all. It was great to "fellowsheep" (inside joke) with everyone, meet new friends and strengthen friendships with "old" friends. I think everyone is looking forward to Presbytery 2011 in California!