Spring tea benefits world hunger relief      

[April 09, 2007]  The Lincoln Christian Church Fellowship Center will be the site of the fourth annual Spring for Tea in Lincoln, a premier seasonal event of the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger. Scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the tea is one of several events hosted annually by the Harvest of Talents ministry. Marcia Bidwell and Michele Garrigus, co-chairs, have expressed excitement and anticipation as preparations are in the final stages for the event, noting that tickets have been sold out for several weeks.

Doors open at 10:45 a.m. to a traditional promenade of tables with background music provided by a string quartet. Men in black will escort tea guests to their assigned tables.

The tea menu will feature several sweets, including strawberry bread, blueberry lemon scones with lemon glaze, truffle cookies, fruit kabob, lemon curd bars and butter almond tea cookies. Savories featured will be asparagus ham loaf, ham with apricot on raisin bread, lobster bisque cheesecake, olive-nut tea sandwiches, chicken caesar roll-ups on tomato basil, cucumber sandwiches and roasted garlic pecans. These delicacies will be accompanied by cups of a special blend of tea.

Each table will be beautifully appointed by individual table hostesses with fine china, crystal and silver in a variety of styles, patterns and colors. Hostesses will each provide their finishing touches with flowers, greenery and added features, including some table favors.

Julie King will serve as mistress of ceremonies. Following the taking of tea, Jean Ann Hutchinson, wife of Lincoln College President John Hutchinson, will present the program, titled "Flowers in the Garden." As she speaks, Deb Theobald, a talented flower arranger, will assemble a delightful spring bouquet.

Each guest will receive a keepsake tea program, which will include recipes for all of the delicacies served at the tea. It will also include the names of table hostesses and the patterns of china, silver and crystal adorning their table. A number of lovely door prizes are being provided by local merchants and friends of the Harvest of Talents.

A table featuring the many events of the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, being arranged by Dianne Schmidt, of the ministry team, will be on display as the guests prepare to enter the tea room.

The co-hostesses announced that those who are interested in attending the fifth annual Spring for Tea should mark their calendars for Feb. 1, 2008, when tickets will be available for purchase at the Lincoln Christian Church office.

All proceeds from Spring for Tea in Lincoln, as well as other Harvest of Talents events, are channeled through International Disaster Emergency Service, a Kempton, Ind.-based Christian organization, to meet hunger needs worldwide.

The 24th annual Harvest of Talents for World Hunger is scheduled for Oct. 27 in the facilities of Lincoln Christian Church in Lincoln.

[Text from news release received from the Harvest of Talents for World Hunger]