Esther's Feast
by Caroline Irwin / ga12062007

Click here to download the script for the melodrama

Here is an idea that I used for our "branch" social - my 1st official activity as a committee of one.  Our building is small, our numbers even smaller and our activities are for the whole family.  Our boundaries cover over 1500 square miles so organization is key but fun and learning is even more of our focus.

We happened to have the activity on Saturday in March right before Purim - the feast of deliverance [Esther's feast].  Easter was later in the month so we blended both scriptural items for this activity. The evening unfolded by everyone gathering in the banquet hall.  As space is limited the groups [tables/families] were invited to either start their dinner then go on a "walk with Christ" tour.  After prayer and welcome,  or vice versa - go on the tour first, then have their dinner.

The dinner was Mediterranean in flavor - Moroccan Chicken [slow cooker style recipe]. couscous rice and salad bar.  It was served buffet style so no servers were needed.  Had a light that flickered and rotated stars and moons in the room where food was served [like a disco ball but with stars and moons].  For the food, I created a committee who was responsible for fixing the food, decorating and cleanup of the area and making sure that all dishes were kept full.  Dessert was Hammentaschen cookies [jam filled sugar style cookies].  We explained to the children in Primary what Hammentaschen cookies were and had a plate for them to nibble on in order for them to help "advertise" the event.

The banquet hall [cultural/primary room] was decorated in jewel tone table clothes [plastic ones] and dinner items were throw-away's.  Who wants to be in the kitchen when so many things are going on?  We had borrowed a cluster of palm trees to place in the banquet hall from the local high school that came with foil colored leaves - very unique, gorgeous and colorful.

The Walk With Christ Tour [New Testament] was taken through 7 rooms, 1 for each day of the last week of Christ's life.  Each room had a symbolism and a "plaque" at the doorway explaining what one would see.  The 1st room:  The Last Supper, the 2nd Room:  The Garden; the 3rd Room:  The Judgment; the 4th Room:  The Scourging; the 5th Room:  The Crucifixion; The 6th Room:  The Tomb; and the Last Room:  He Is Risen.  Each group was asked to read the plaque to their group and in leaving the room to close the door for the next group.

For the tour, I asked for families to volunteer to decorate or set the theme for the room.  A signup was done for Room 1 through 7.  There were envelopes with each Room # on it giving instructions on what was expected and the theme of their room along with ideas.  The tour was in honor of the New Testament and the melodrama that followed was in honor of the Old Testament.