The BJCC holds a monthly vegetarian potluck lunch after morning Shabbat services nearly every month during the year.   If you volunteer to host or cohost it, here are instructions for what to do.

Buy:

• 3 bags of bagels (Lender's is good because they are precut)
• 8-oz. package of regular cream cheese (for the bagels)
• Three 1/2 gallon containers of orange juice or an equivalent amount of apple juice
• 1/2 pound of ground regular coffee
• 1 pint of milk or half-and-half for coffee
• 2 packages of Entenmann's cakes

On Saturday morning, before services, set up 3 or 4 tables (the size of the crowd varies through the year) and put tablecloths on them. The tablecloths are located under the counter. Set up a food service table separately, and put a tablecloth on it too.

Make sure the serving utensils, tables, tablecloths, etc. are clean. Set up the coffee in the big urn: Make sure the pot is clean. Use two styrofoam cups of ground coffee for 1 full pot. Fill with water to the inner "full" mark. Instruct people as they come in where to put their dishes if they aren't sure. Go upstairs and enjoy the service.

About 15 minutes before the end of services (i.e. when the final Amidah starts in a Conservative service, or soon after the Torah discussion starts in a Reform service), take note of how many people are present -- you'll need to pour that many cups of wine for Kiddush. Go downstairs (with a helper if possible) and:

• Plug in the coffee pot and a pot of water for tea, at the left-hand end of the serving counter at the wall. Put out coffee cups, sugar, artificial sweetener, tea bags, milk, and a few spoons near the coffee pot.
• Put the food that people have brought out on the serving table. Check the refrigerator for food that people may have placed there. Make sure everything has a serving spoon. There are serving spoons in the kitchen drawer to the right of the sink. Remove all the plastic, foil or other coverings from the food and save them so the leftovers can be re-covered at the end. Arrange everything on the serving table and the counter.
• Set out napkins, plates, and flatware. They are under the serving counter towards the left.
• Cut up the cakes and arrange attractively on serving plates on the serving counter. Also set out desserts that other people may have brought. Serving plates can be found under the serving counter.
• Open and warm the bagels. Place them on the serving table.
• Open and place the cream cheese near the bagels.
• Pour out one or two containers of orange juice into large plastic cups that are located under the counter.
• Set out little cups on a tray and pour wine for Kiddush.

Clean Up. Ask people to help you clean the tables and put used plates in the trash and vacuum the floor. Do yourself or ask someone to take the trash to a dumpster. Also, take the tablecloths home and wash them and bring them back the next week.

Questions? Call the BJCC president or social chair.