Getting Acquainted:
“He Giveth Snow Like Wool...” Psalm 147:16
You don't have to have real snow to have a "Snow Party". My son lives up north with snow from October through March and they have real sleigh rides. I live in the south and rarely get snow, but with the colder temperatures and artificial snowflakes and snowmen it is easy to decorate like a "Winter Wonderland". You can hang plastic or paper snowflakes from the ceiling on narrow white ribbon. White Christmas balls or styrofoam balls can be placed in center pieces or in large clear glass vases. There are all sorts of snowmen and snowwomen that can be placed on tables around the room to decorate. You may even wish to make your own out of Sculpy clay like those below. There are also many snowmen dishes, serving bowls, and paper plates and napkins in various color themes. I searched the web online and found various "famous" snowmen and printed out pictures of them. Our first activity will be to see who can identify these snowmen.
Door Prize:
“Hast Thou Entered Into The Treasures Of The Snow?...” Job 38:22
Wrap a large open box with Snowflake Christmas wrapping paper and fill it with white packaging peanuts. Bury all of your treasures in the peanut "snow". I found snowman shaped candy dispensers, cookie tins and cookie cutters, cups, toys, puzzles, table decorations, pot holders, dish cloths, and musical toys for just $1 or $2. Count and make sure you have enough for all your guests.) The guests can pick numbers out of a black felt hat. Number 1 pulls one treasure out of the snow. He/she can choose to keep the treasure or bury it back into the snow and choose once more. Continue in numerical order. Each guest can keep the first treasure or choose to bury it and find one more, which is kept. (Don't put anything in the snow that could get broken. I found several pretty snowman-decorated picture frames and glass candle holders. I put them in white paper bags for the adults.)
This year we had our snow party after Christmas and I was able to find many snowman decorated items on sale. I had enough for each guest to have two prizes so we played a sharing game. In turn, each guest picked two items from the box. He/she kept one item, and gave one item away. No one could keep more than two prizes, so if someone gave "Susie" an item and she already had two gifts, she had to give one away. If it was "Susie's" turn and she already had two items, she still picked two from the box, but had to give two of her four away. In the end, everyone should have two prizes. Playing this way, most of the children ended up with the toys and candy, and the adults ended up with the decorations and kitchen supplies.
Refreshments:
“As The Cold Of Snow...” Proverbs 25:13
A large pot of homemade soup or chili beans is good on a cold evening. I also keep Chex cereal party mix on hand through the winter. Hot apple cider or hot chocolate are also good choices to warm your guests. Our neighborhood doughnut shop is now selling snowman doughnuts. Last year, with a small group, we baked gingerbread house pieces ahead of time and they put the house together with "snow" icing and candies. Each year we also invite different small groups to our house to make cookies. We have the dough made ahead and chilled and the children roll out the cookies and cut them into shapes. After they are done we "paint" them with new, washed brushes and bowls of colored icing. Coconut balls could be stacked on a plate to look like a pile of snowballs. Rice Krispie treats can also be formed into "snowballs". (I also want to try making snowman Smores with two large marshmallows and pretzel arms, decorated with icing faces.)
Devotions:
“And Samuel Grew, And The Lord Was With Him, And Did Let None Of His Words Fall To The Ground.” I Samuel 3:19
I read this verse a couple weeks ago and it has stuck with me. Because I was planning a snow party and thinking of the snow falling to the ground, this verse stood out in my mind. I started thinking about how many things fall to the ground. The rain and snow, and even trees can topple during bad storms. As I thought about it I realized that anything can fall to the ground. Gravity pulls everything down. But God's Word will always stand true. God told Samuel what was about to happen and "the Lord was with him, and did let none of His words fall to the ground." The Word of God stands firm. Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." Friends may fail you and let you down. Family may forget promises and go back on their word. But God will never let you down and His Word will never fail.
A simple activity I want to try at our next party will be to make marshmallow snowmen without letting them fall. Give each person a sandwich bag containing 3 large marshmallows, 2 pretzel sticks (arms), 1 red & white Hershey's Kiss (hat), and 7 whole cloves (eyes, nose, & mouth). See who can be the first to complete a standing snowman. I found some chocolate covered marshmallow snowmen for prizes. (I have enough for everyone.)
Out Reach:
“As The Cold Of Snow...” Proverbs 25:13
Winter is a time when Christians can reach out in warmth to those in need. We read in James 2:15-16, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" One year our church took up hats, gloves, and blankets for the homeless. A young preacher at our church and a few men delivered the items along with food and fruit to an area where several homeless people live. They witnessed to them and gave them Bibles, but also gave them food and clothing for their physical needs. This year our church is collecting gifts for a children's home.
Projects:
“He Giveth Snow Like Wool...” Psalm 147:16
Our youth visits a nursing home once a month, and we are planning to take Christmas cards to them in December and snowmen in January. We used a sock, filled with two plastic bags of rice, and decorated with squiggly eyes, pom poms and yarn. The nose is made of Sculpy clay shaped like a carrot. Make one ahead to see how much rice is needed to make the round snowballs for the size socks you are using. The top of the sock is tied tightly with yarn and folded down to become the hat.
(Our youth enjoyed making the snowmen and the nursing home residents enjoyed getting them.)
We had many small children at our snow party this year and several activities. After our games and refreshments, we had activities set up at three tables. The gingerbread house was already assembled and the smaller children chose to decorate it with the frosting and candy. At another table we had the Sculpy clay and snowman cookie cutters. And at another table the children made the sock snowmen. (Our group of children were younger this year and we let them keep their snowmen instead of taking them to the nursing home.)
