2025 St. Paul’s Choir Gingerbread, Bake Sale & More sale

Gingerbread & More Sale Day
Saturday, December 6, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fondren Hall, Jones Building

Funds raised from our Gingerbread & More Sale support the Choir Fund at St. Paul’s, managed by the Choir Council. Fundraising helps to fund future choir residencies and other special projects.

There is an opportunity for all to participate. Below are details for each component of the big event:

Gingerbread Schedule

Volunteers needed: for prep, baking, construction, and decoration. Signups are available on the table outside the choir. All are welcome (even if not signed up.)

For more information, contact Fredrica at bfester@swbell.net

Baking Details

Sunday, November 30:
You should bring:
Any remaining candy you have forgotten about until now.
Items for our basket sale, the categories are Chef/Baking/Grill/International Cookery, Wine/Cheese, Movie/Game night, Arts/Crafts, Facial Care/Spa, Holiday Entertaining, Tea/Coffee.
Your calendar: we need signups for helping with the actual sale days of Saturday Dec 6th and Sunday Dec 7th.

Thursday, December 4
Assembly Day: 2 - 8 p.m.
Afternoon & Evening. Starting at 2 pm, we will be working on setting up our decorating area, putting together the pieces to create our gingerbread houses, loading the splendiferous candy buffet, prepping bake sale supplies, and then decorating gingerbread boys & girls, trees, and snowmen cookies. We also have 45 houses to assemble (but not decorate) for the St. Paul's School. Ending at 8 pm. No childcare available.
* Put the houses together
* Decorate large gingerbread people

Friday, December 5
Decorating Day: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Decorating gingerbread houses and cookies. Setting up bake sale. Helping assemble baskets. Wrapping assembled houses. Packing up our equipment and moving it back the Music office storage area. Note: decorating must be finished by 5 pm in order to let icing dry. Childcare is available from 8 am - 6 pm. We'll have lunch & snacks.
* Decorate houses
* Wrap houses and baskets
* Assemble baskets
* Set up the bake sale area
* Price and organize baked good, baskets, etc.

Saturday, December 6 (SALE DAY!)
Sale Day: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Prepare for and staff the Bake Sale! Wear festive attire. Help our generous customers. They want to see you! Childcare available 9:30 am to 2 pm.
* THE BIG DAY!! Set up and host the sale!

Sunday, December 7
Sell what remains 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Remains of the Sale before, during, and after morning services. Wear festive attire. Note that the choir is NOT singing this morning, so we will see you (right?)! Final move of equipment back to the Music Office storage. Church childcare is available as usual.
St. Paul’s Choir is OFF this morning! But we have Advent Lessons and Carols at 5 p.m. (3:30 p.m. warmup)

FAQ

I am not "crafty" so I probably can't help, right? Oh yes, you can! If you can carry a plate full of dinner on Thanksgiving Day, you can carry a gingerbread house. If you can hold your music on Sunday, you can hold two pieces of gingerbread together for a "crafty" person to apply icing to. If you can write with a pen, you can help price baked goods. Every task you CAN do, frees up a decorator to be able to decorate. Thanks.

Can I bring my child(ren) to decorate? We encourage family decorating on Thursday evening of the large gingerbread cookies. You are expected to purchase items your children decorate - cookies are $15 each. And children need to know that "we don't eat candy off of the candy buffet!" :D

Can I bring my own candy? If you are purchasing the house you are decorating with the candy, sure. If not, we would rather you just use our candy, which has been tested and will stick to icing and won't let colors run.

Can I bring a friend to help assemble or decorate? Certainly. We encourage teamwork! If you are new to decorating, we ask that you begin with our smallest-sized house.

Why are we doing this, again? To raise money for our activities like retreats and receptions, and to start saving up toward our next trip. Also, it's fun!

Bake Sale

Deliver your sweet or savory creations to Fondren Hall in the Jones Building on Friday, December 5th.  (cookies, bar cookies, fruit breads, cupcakes, party mix, cheese straws, etc.)

Label baked goods, and mark gluten free or contain nuts, etc. Bring items in containers with a clear cover or in clear bags so contents are visible. If you need a festive tin or food box to display your items, check with Pam Rowe.

Volunteers needed: Two to four volunteers needed on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6, to assist with labeling, price tags, ribbons, and set up.

Holiday Basket

Donate re-gifted, slightly used, and new items for holiday gift baskets. Deliver to the Choir Room by Thursday, December 4th. Popular themes include:

Baking Gardening
Grillmaster Stationary
Children’s Books/Games Holiday
Wine Arts& Crafts

Volunteers Needed:  2 to 4 volunteers on Friday, Dec. 5, to help organize and wrap gift baskets. More donated items are needed. If you need inspiration, check the collection in choir room corner.

Raffle Tickets

Raffle tickets to various arts performances, include Houston Ballet, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Symphony, Alley Theatre, Da Camera, Mercury Orchestra and more. Additional tickets are welcome!
Volunteers needed: 2 volunteers needed day of event to sell raffle tickets.

Questions about Gingerbread: Fredrica Fester
Questions about Baskets: Johanna Wolfe
Questions about Bake Sale: Pam Rowe