I have been asked to do the cake and mints for a reception for our new pastor. Cake for 300 and approx. 700 mints. 
I am really excited and flattered to do this but am stumped as to what to do. I consider myself only an average decorator as you can see from my photos. I really want this to be something special for him and there will be a lot of people there seeing my work. They want something special for the centerpiece and the rest just done in sheet cakes - which is no problem. You guys always have such great ideas I was hoping you could help me out. This is the first new pastor we have had in 20 years so it is really a big deal and everyone already loves our new pastor so it need to be as great as I am able to pull off! 
Thanks in advance for all your help! 
Wow, you have your work cut out for you. Your cakes look very nice. Are you thinking of a tiered cake for the centerpiece? If not, I think a Bible with a meaningful passage would be nice, but not sure it would be as large as what you are looking for.
Cindy
I was thinking of a tiered cake of some kind. Several layers - round probably- but nothing definate.
I saw some cakes somewhere (if I can remember where, I'll post the link) that were simple shapes (squares, I think) that had the pastor's stole made from fondant, like cloth, laid across the cake, with the words "Thank you, Pastor So and So" ("Welcome" in your case) between the two halves of the stole. Flowers around the base of the cake. You could also put a scripture passage beneath the "thank you" part. I'll look hard for the photos. I just saw them yesterday or the day before!
How about a topper or design that looks like a shephard guiding his flock? A scripture like Psalm 78:53 would go nicely with it.
Thank you all for your great ideas! I am also going to look in the galleries some more because I am a visual person and it is so helpful to have a picture! The scripture verse you suggested is perfect for this occasion and I am going to start looking for some kind of topper. Don't have much around here except a WalMart and a very small bookstore that carries a FEW religious items so it might be tough. Wish me luck!
One easier (and cheaper!) suggestion would be to use the chocolate design method from The Whimsical Bakehouse. If you find a picture you like, you can easily reproduce it in melting chocolate (like the Wilton wafers you can get at Walmart and color with oil candy colors available at Michael's and maybe Walmart as well). It's extremely simple, and it looks great. I LOVE THAT BOOK!!!
Do you have a Hallmark store nearby? I'm sure that there is a Precious Moments figure that would work. Might even be on clearance as part of a left-over nativity scene! Plus, it would make a nice keepsake for the pastor. I did a quick google image search and found a bunch of pictures, so you shouldn't have problems finding one that would work well for a chocolate design if you go that route also.
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