The pastor who started the party was the first to offer welcoming words.
“Father Woody always said, ‘Everyone who comes is our beloved guest,’” Victoria McCabe said.
McCabe quoted "Father Woody" Woodrich outside Knights of Columbus in Denver where thousands lined up for Christmas gifts and a free meal.
“[Father Woody] said, ‘One day, I want our homeless friends to have a sit-down dinner, to be waited on by other people and to get beautifully wrapped Christmas presents,'” McCabe said.
McCabe is director of Father Woody Programs and a faculty member at Regis University. She often quotes Father Woody, once called Denver's patron saint of the hungry and homeless.
As quotable as the pastor is a 91-year-old volunteer who seems immune to old age.
"Oh please, You know I'm 91, but from knees up I feel 16," Lovia Shipp told a fellow volunteer.
Shipp's jokes don't seem to get old either.
"I'm on cloud 10! Usually, I'm on cloud 9," she smiled, gripping a cane with two hands."I could probably fight Goliath with this cane."
For decades, Shipp has been the official greeter at Father Woody's Christmas Party. She shouts to all she meets, "Thank you for coming!"
It's her job to make others feel as good as she does, and she's pretty good at it.
"You gotta keep the love going, you know?" Shipp said.
Shipp said she worked with Father Woody for nine years before he died in 1992.
“Best nine years of my life," she said. "Because I learned how to give. I learned how to love.”
Those who hear her welcoming words each year get a taste of Lovie's love.