Orchard Holiday Tea Brings Area Women Together

By Natalie Bruzon
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The holidays are an exciting time for everyone. It’s a time for families to gather together and enjoy delicious meals. 

However, it can also be one of the busiest times of the year. 

With so many delicious meals to prepare and a house to decorate, sometimes it can be hard to stop for a moment and enjoy this wonderful time of year. 

The annual Holiday Tea offers women in the community the opportunity to come together and enjoy fellowship and some Christmas cheer, without the responsiblity of hosting the party. 

For the past 28 years, women from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church have taken time to organize the Holiday Tea. 
According to Amanda Bergman, one of the event organizers, the first Holiday Tea was organized by the then newly formed Daughters of Eve, a women’s ministry group formed by Lynae Stelling and Janice Mosel. 

“In 2013, the Daughters of Eve announced they were going to step down from organizing this event after 25 years of hard work and dedication,” said Bergman. “There were two local gals, Ashley Hauf and Desirae Schwager, who have attended many teas over their years who didn’t want to see this tradition fade.  In 2014, they took over the planning and recruited a few friends.  They decided to “recruit” a few more ladies in 2015 so the planning andwork load could be spread out a bit more and now there are six of us on the committee with help of others within the community.”

The women who organize the Holiday Tea see it as a time to pause from the busyness of the season and focus on the true meaning. 

“The event is really all about focusing on the spirit of Christmas and the joys it provides,” said Bergman. “The presence of Christ, sharing food and great conversation with friends and starting of the Christmas season with remembering how blessed we are.”

 Mia Bergman, another organizer, said that “the purpose of the Holiday Tea is an opportunity for ladies of all ages to come together to enjoy each other’s company with great food and entertainment, all while celebrating the most wonderful time of the year.”

For years, women from Orchard and surrounding communities have gathered together to remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, and this year will be no different. 

The ladies have planned a fun-filled evening, including little entertainers from Little Willow Daycare and a Christmas skit performed by local high school talent.
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This year, the Holiday Tea will be on December 5 at 7 p.m.