BETHEL — The Bethel United Methodist Church will hold its annual Valentine’s Day tea party from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14.

Pastor Carol Stevens, who has been involved with the Valentine’s Day tea party for the past four years, said Monday afternoon that the women of the church provide the food and tea.

“It’s very relaxing,” Stevens said. “We get a bunch of tables set up and sit around and talk with each other. Sometimes, we get family members of volunteers or other community members who are interested in the event to help us out.”

The tea is free and open to the public, Stevens said.

“It’s just a fun event for the community to participate in,” she said. “We usually get people coming to the church dressed up in red. It ends up being a really nice time.”

Former church organist Joan Cole will provide piano music.

“I have people weeks in advance asking if we’re still holding the Valentine’s Day tea,” Stevens said. “People seem to have a good time at it and look forward to it each year.”

Church member Musa Brown said she came up with the idea for the Valentine’s Day tea several years ago.

“I’m not sure exactly when it was I came up with the idea, but the first year I remember doing it was in 2007,” she said. “I was sitting indoors one day, and the weather was cold and gloomy. I thought, ‘Why not do something to brighten up the month? We’ll try it and see what happens.’”

Brown said the tea is “not just for the ladies.”

“People hear ‘tea’ and have this idea that it’s just women, but that’s not the case,” she said. “It’s a real casual event, and a bright spot in these cold months.”

For more information, call the Bethel United Methodist Church at 364-8703.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com