Tea celebrates Women of the Church and friends
Pink balloons wafted above pink clad tables at Ebenezer Church on Mother’s Day weekend, ready to welcome guests to a social tea designed for and by the Women of the Church and their invited guests.
“We invited women from Jacob’s Church and Lowhill,” said Rose Hamm, president of the group. “The tea is a perfect celebration for Mother’s Day.”
“This year we expect 72 women,” said Pam Delligatti, coordinator of the ladies’ tea, before the event. “This is our eighth ladies’ tea.”
Delligatti conceived the event “to thank all the ladies for all their support and volunteering throughout the year.”
This year’s theme was breast cancer awareness. “A lot of us have been dealing with breast cancer,” Delligatti explained.
“I never saw so much pink in my life,” grinned Nancy Zellner as she put the final touches on sandwiches. “They did a wonderful job for a wonderful cause.”
The event was a group venture. Ever the creative force for the group, Sheila Burkert created cake stands with items she found at the dollar store. Then, she paired the finished product with a matching oven mitt.
“We requested 10 cakes, but 13 cakes came in and I had to make more stands,” she said, as she unboxed her homemade hickory nut cake.
“Chris Rex [auctioned] off the cake and cake stands,” Delligatti said. A raffle and a “split the pot” added to the fun. “Whatever we earn is going to breast cancer awareness.”
Senior development manager of the American Cancer Society was an invited guest. She brought an enormous pink chair to serve as a background for anyone who wanted to take photos.
The event brings together Women of the Church and their friends and is typically held the first weekend in May.
“We had a lot of themes over the years,” Delligatti said. “The first year, we had an Alice in Wonderland theme.”
Women of the Church sponsor several events throughout the year, including a bazaar in October. As part of Ebenezer buddies, the group brings flowers to people who have trouble getting out of their homes, and delivers fruit baskets at Christmas, Hamm said.