“We’re Back” Primetimers Hold Post-Covid Christmas Party
“We’re Back!” Primetimers Hold Post-Covid Christmas Party
by Barbara Hiura
by Barbara Hiura
The Primetimers are BACK! Their Christmas Party held on Dec. 11, was proof that no one is being held back by COVID as the Fellowship Hall, so nicely dressed for Christmas, was full of merriment and excitement as some 70 attended this festive event. After a four-year hiatus, finally it was a return of this traditional Holiday party. All I can say is this group has a wealth of wonderful cooks and they showed off a delightful array of tasty main courses and salads, but the desserts, oh my…were to die for.
Primetimer chair, Warren Hayashi kicked off the event, excited that after several years of COVID isolation and ZOOM meetings, the group slowly emerged this year with face-to-face fellowship gatherings which led up to this party and an uptick in its numbers of attendees. Yes, the Primetimers are back!
Rev. John got the show on the road with a prayer to God for our bounty, our health, and our gratefulness for this potluck and the event was off and running. Along with getting on with lunch, the group was entertained by the Wesley Ukulele Band and hula dancers who provided an array of uplifting holiday music. It was really cool to see hula to such atypical non-Hawaiian songs as “A Marshmallow World” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Oh, what fun!
Dessert followed and then …”Let the Games Begin!” Bringing LOL humor and ending up to be a spirited see if you can “STUMP MARK” (Mark Teagle) game. It was his charge to guess if “contestants” from the audience can fake him out with a lie as they presented him with two choices, one truth and one fib. The caveat was he can ask questions and that usually kicked that lie right to the forefront. Mark did well but the winning stumpers were Jim Tengan, Liz Yokota, Helen Morimoto, Misako Ogi and Art Black. Congratulations.
The other games included guessing the number or ornaments in a jar which ended in a tie and no game can end in a tie. The sudden death game “Jan Ken Po” was needed as the tie-breaker. That savvy Larry Inouye bested Kazuko Tengan, but undaunted, she came right back to win the final guessing game of the afternoon by knowing what was inside a Christmas sock. Good Job, Kazuko.
There was plenty of Christmas merriment and all who attended were filled with the spirit that God provides in such uplifting church activities where being out of the house and into relationships is so important. We are thankful.
Rev. John also announced that the Primetimers received a grant of $5,000 for the upcoming year which will go towards providing busses for day trips Warren is currently planning. They’ve been missing these excursions since COVID, and many are looking forward to these new out of town adventures.
There are always many to thank for putting this party together. The primary planning and organizing committee included: Jane Hayashi, Judie Kanemoto, Rose Kitagawa, and Patsy Utsumi. The early set-up of tables and chairs was done by Mary and Dale Sasaki, Shelly Nakashima and Rev. Jon Oda. To give the room that elegant appearance, they even covered the tables with white table cloths which were decorated with pine greens and a large origami crane center piece adding elegance to the whole set up and warmed up the room in an instant all done nicely by the organizing committee. “It was beautiful!” Warren stated.
Many thanks also to our on-site hostesses; Mary Sasaki, Bev Acuna, Cynthia Fukuda, Janet Kaku, Terri Koike, Barbara Mulford and Bev Louvas.
Primetimer chair, Warren Hayashi kicked off the event, excited that after several years of COVID isolation and ZOOM meetings, the group slowly emerged this year with face-to-face fellowship gatherings which led up to this party and an uptick in its numbers of attendees. Yes, the Primetimers are back!
Rev. John got the show on the road with a prayer to God for our bounty, our health, and our gratefulness for this potluck and the event was off and running. Along with getting on with lunch, the group was entertained by the Wesley Ukulele Band and hula dancers who provided an array of uplifting holiday music. It was really cool to see hula to such atypical non-Hawaiian songs as “A Marshmallow World” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Oh, what fun!
Dessert followed and then …”Let the Games Begin!” Bringing LOL humor and ending up to be a spirited see if you can “STUMP MARK” (Mark Teagle) game. It was his charge to guess if “contestants” from the audience can fake him out with a lie as they presented him with two choices, one truth and one fib. The caveat was he can ask questions and that usually kicked that lie right to the forefront. Mark did well but the winning stumpers were Jim Tengan, Liz Yokota, Helen Morimoto, Misako Ogi and Art Black. Congratulations.
The other games included guessing the number or ornaments in a jar which ended in a tie and no game can end in a tie. The sudden death game “Jan Ken Po” was needed as the tie-breaker. That savvy Larry Inouye bested Kazuko Tengan, but undaunted, she came right back to win the final guessing game of the afternoon by knowing what was inside a Christmas sock. Good Job, Kazuko.
There was plenty of Christmas merriment and all who attended were filled with the spirit that God provides in such uplifting church activities where being out of the house and into relationships is so important. We are thankful.
Rev. John also announced that the Primetimers received a grant of $5,000 for the upcoming year which will go towards providing busses for day trips Warren is currently planning. They’ve been missing these excursions since COVID, and many are looking forward to these new out of town adventures.
There are always many to thank for putting this party together. The primary planning and organizing committee included: Jane Hayashi, Judie Kanemoto, Rose Kitagawa, and Patsy Utsumi. The early set-up of tables and chairs was done by Mary and Dale Sasaki, Shelly Nakashima and Rev. Jon Oda. To give the room that elegant appearance, they even covered the tables with white table cloths which were decorated with pine greens and a large origami crane center piece adding elegance to the whole set up and warmed up the room in an instant all done nicely by the organizing committee. “It was beautiful!” Warren stated.
Many thanks also to our on-site hostesses; Mary Sasaki, Bev Acuna, Cynthia Fukuda, Janet Kaku, Terri Koike, Barbara Mulford and Bev Louvas.
The Primetimer committee and assistants who made the party a success: (from left) Cynthia Fukuda, Judie Kanemoto, Jane Hayashi, Patsy Utsumi, Rose Kitagawa, Nora Yamashiro, Nary Sasaki, and Warren Hayashi. Kneeling; Barbara Mulford.
There were around 70 who attended the party.
Cindy Fukuda and Terri Koike discuss logistics while behind them, Dale Sasaki and Bev Acuna commiserate on cutting egg rolls.
“Guess how many ornaments, Mary Horio asks.
Chair Warren Hayashi and Rev. John Oda start the program.
Wow! What a spread, as the Wesley Ukulele Band lead off the lunch line as they are up first to perform. The WUB get ready to perform and show off their brand new logo and band sign.
Hector Acuna failed to “Stump Mark” (Mark Teagle, left) perhaps because he knew too little about fighting fires??? The sign was done by our very talented Carl Morimoto.
Ohhh…clearly a loss for Kazuko in her battle with Larry Inouye.
Both winners, Jim and Kazuko Tengan.
Jane Hayashi announces the other games and winners.
A highlight was Rose Kitagawa presenting Rev. John with this reindeer bonnet to keep his head warm while playing golf during those “burrr!” cold winter months and the perfect Charlie Brown tree for our no. 1 Peanuts fan, Mark Teagle.
Having a good time are, clockwise, Jean Yamaguchi, Jill Aragaki, Yumi and Wayne Haraguchi and Jim and Jan Yamaguchi
Posted in Newsletter 2024-12-19