It’s been said that with a teddy bear, happiness is always near.

And teddy bears and happiness were certainly on parade recently at the “Teddy Bear Tea Party” at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church, where little girls and their teddy bears were treated to an afternoon of faith and fun.

“The girls learn that they are valuable little ladies and what good manners are, and they get to play dress up,” Karen Brown, church secretary and wife of the Rev. David Brown, pastor, said.

These tea parties hosted by the church are the brainchild of Ruthann Kistler, Christian Education director and longtime director of the church’s Vacation Bible School.

“Many years ago God gave me a dream to start a ministry with little girls in the setting of a tea party as a way to teach basic manners and what it means to be a lady,” Kistler said.

Kistler recalled one day she came across the book “Tea Parties with a Purpose” by Bobbie Wolgemuth, which she cited as “my final inspiration.”

The tea parties date back to 2010 when Kistler launched the “Butterfly Tea Party” attended by more than 20 little girls. “It was a hit from the beginning.”

“Each girl goes home with a ‘goody bag’ filled with reminders of our time together including a magnet-backed paper teacup with the Bible verse of the day on it.” The verse for the Sunday of the party was “Love bears all things ...” from 1 Corinthians 13:7.

“God talks to us by giving us his words,” Kistler told the girls, adding that love bearing all things can come to fruition in many ways, such as showing kindness to a classmate who isn’t having a good day.

Each girl was also given a new teddy bear to take home courtesy of the church’s Teddy Bear Ministry.

“When children know how to behave and carry on a two-way conversation with others in social situations, they become confident, compassionate adults,” Kistler explains. “Manners are more than simple rules to remember – they are a way of showing love and being polite is showing respect to others. But be assured, these concepts are introduced in a fun way!”

“In our time together, we make a simple craft, we meet Miss Manners – my muppet friend – we make tea sandwiches and desserts, hear a relevant Bible story and learn a Bible verse and practice the proper way to set the table,” Kistler said. “We culminate our time together with ‘dress up’ before we have tea (lemonade) together at a table the girls had set themselves.”

“The girls receive a beautiful handmade invitation asking them to wear a pretty dress because I think that helps to set the stage for ladylike behavior,” Kistler said.

Moms are asked to RSVP as there has to be an attendance limit. Girls from age 4 to 12 are invited, and 3-year-old girls must be accompanied by their mother. Mothers may stay or drop their daughters off and pick them up at the conclusion of the event.

“I have been so fortunate to have many sweet ladies come to help, and many young girls who once attended the teas are now grown up and volunteering as helpers,” Kistler said.

Assistants at the event were Terri Zahnow, Sharon Wagner, Samantha Judy, Emma Weaver, Nancy Dunn and Lizbeth Lucero. “I really appreciate them,” Kistler said.

“Jaeda Rae attended for the last time as a guest because she asked if she could be a helper next spring and a crew leader at VBS in July, since she will be going to sixth grade next year. I love that!”

Every tea party has a theme. Some of the past parties include “Tip Toe Through the Tulips,” “Pumpkin Patch,” “Frosty Snowman,” “April Showers,” and “Bloom Where You’re Planted,” depending on the season.

All the elements in the different stations reflect the theme.

“Much preparation goes into an event such as this, but I always look forward to it. It is such a happy time, for everyone involved,” Kistler said. “I even have some college students who contact me to find out when I am holding one again, hoping they will be home at the time.”

“Truly I think the tea went very well. There were some first-timers and some familiar faces,” Kistler said.

“The girls were very well behaved and I think they had a good time – very ladylike!”

This year’s VBS, “Rainforest Falls,” will run July 12-17 with a kickoff dinner June 27 for volunteers and staff.

For more information on Holy Cross visit holycrossbethlehem.com/.