Exciting stuff has been happening around here, yet I’ve hardly had time to post about it. This summer, I turned my eBook, Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story
Although I love using the Kindle app on my iPhone, you just can’t beat the feel of real pages under your fingers. I suspect I’m not the only one who holds this opinion, so my book is now available as a paperback. I hope this will make things easier for your fall small group as you consider your next Bible study or book club.
To that end, I made a few improvements in the paperback – like a freshly-designed cover and discussion questions at the close of each chapter. (Pssst- at the end of this post you’ll have a chance to enter to win a set of my books for your small group!)
To help me celebrate the paperback launch of Daughters of the King
I am such a fan of her site, that I knew I needed her eye for detail and fun! She’ll be posting about some of her ideas in the coming days, but I thought you might like a sneak peak at our tea-themed soirée.
Many of these ideas can be replicated for your own women’s ministry tea or kick-off event to your Daughters of the King fall Bible study. Here’s a little inspiration to get you started.
On our menu we offered a variety of cakes and a fruit tart that disappeared in seconds – all made by my amazing culinary friends (thank you notes are forthcoming!) I made scones with fresh clotted cream and strawberry jam. (The day after my party, I had the best breakfast! You can’t beat cake with morning coffee).
I served one of my favorite hot teas, Ginger Peach Tea
Kristen oversaw every detail, like this amazing wreath made out of vintage book pages. (Yes, she is planning on offering a tutorial on her site very soon!) Imagine how cute it would be for a back-to-school party!
Her best idea, however, was the Daughters of the King photo booth, complete with glittered crown and scepter props. She even included white gloves and paper tea cups!
We had a lot of fun playing with our crowns, but if you’ve read my book, you know that our spiritual heritage in Christ is not fully represented by such symbols of royalty. As I write in my book: “A Daughter of the King is known not by the crown she wears but the message she bears.”
So, as a part of the launch, I asked a friend who works with a local rescue ministry in Pittsburgh – Living in Liberty – to come to the launch and share about the hope they provide to victims of trafficking. During the party, we were able to raise over $300 in book sales for this crucial ministry. So, thank you to everyone who purchased a book at my party!
Host your own tea
The launch party was a special night for me, but it can easily be tweaked as a tea or book club event for any women’s group. Here’s how:
(1) Purchase your copies of the Daughters of the King
(2) Gather your tea cups. I found most of mine at auctions and thrift stores. While I loved visiting antique shops, they tended to be a little pricey. Estate sales are also a gold mine for adding complete sets of tea cups to your collection. If your group is large, then ask each lady to bring 3 things to the party – two tea cups and a friend.
(3) Select a local ministry in your area or within your church and suggest a donation to be collected at the party. If possible, invite a representative from the ministry to share at the event. For easy donation collection, coordinate withe the ministry to use the paypal app and free reader for participants to donate via paypal, check, or credit card.
(4) Print out some of these free printables to decorate your tables or to set up your own photo booth. This above printable pack (click image to download) includes book quotes, menu cards, and more! You can download an invitation – ready to be customized – HERE.
Now, for the giveaway! Enter below to win a set of books for your small group (up to 10). Contest HAS ENDED. Winner announced below! Thank you to everyone who entered!
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What a great party and ideas. Would love the book!
Congratulations Melissa!
Thanks Susan!
Our ladies’ ministry doesn’t do any kind of a kick off event. They usually do one Bible study a year and that is it.
Dessert and Devos theme
oooh, I love that idea!
While we don’t have kick-off events, we have Mother-Daughter lunches each year with different themes. I liked one where hostesses decorated one table, with the only rule being to have a cross somewhere in the table centerpiece.
That is a great idea and would be really fun to see how each hostess incorporated a cross into each centerpiece!
I’d love to win copies of the book! I have loved the e-book and appreciated the Biblical theology of Daughters of the King. Thank you and God bless your book to the hearts of many sisters!
Thank you Julie! I learned so much about the beauty of the Scriptures as one, unified story while writing this! Blessings to you!
Our Women’s Ministry relaunched in January after a year hiatus. We chose to do a “Cupcakes & Cocoa” themed event. We decorated the tables with red chargers ladened with cocoa toppings – sprinkles, peppermint chips, and chocolate chips. We ordered gourmet cupcakes from a local baker and put them on tiered racks sorted by flavor. The cupcake table had our mission statement and 3 core scripture verses displayed in matching picture frames. Cute little snowmen dotted the room that was decorated in red and white. The event was a huge success.
I wish I could share photos because it did turn out very pretty.
That sounds yummy AND adorable. I don’t know if you know this, but I am a hot chocolate ADDICT! I would have loved to have attended this one!
Our Women’s Ministry meets quarterly, even through the summer, so we have a never ending cycle of events happening. No need for a kickoff event, just constantly open to new visitors and guests!
Our ladies group had a mother daughter tea this past year and in years past we had a Christmas tea and our husbands would serve us. That’s my favorite!!
Oh a Christmas tea sounds lovely.
My mom’s church hosted a High Tea for the mother-daughter banquet. It was the kick-off event for all the women’s activities at their church. Such a wonderful time of fellowship, praise, and dress up!
We are kicking ours off with a cookie exchange! They only seem to be done at Christmas time, but why not in September too!?
This looks like an amazing idea. I have been thinking and thinking of a good women’s small group to start and this really pulls on my heart strings. Thank you so much for sharing it
We dont have a kick off event. We have a fall and spring bible study and then a one day retreat at the church in the spring.
I’ve been anxious to read this book! Would it also be appropriate for young girls (middle school)? This year our Bible study kick off is just a fun night of food and games. We also do a fall retreat at a camp.
I’m comming out of my comfort zone, God has put in my Heart to host this curriculum in my home. I’ve been pondering on this for a month now . Today while at church. my HEART says move on and start hosting/teaching.
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Hi Carla, how is your study going in your home. So thankful for your obedience. I’d love to hear how it has all come together!
Can you make the Who is King Jesus? bookmarks a bit bigger? I’d love to use them for our Women’s Ministry luncheon in May 2018. When I printed them they were a bit small. We have quite a few elderly in our church and I think they’d find them hard to read. Thank you.