Warren Pa Cjurch Delevering Thanksgiving Dinner to Family

Churches Welcome All for Thanksgiving Meals

11/xix/2014

-By Jackie Campbell-

In many communities across Western PA, United Methodist churches open up their doors on Thanksgiving Day to welcome friends and neighbors for a Thanksgiving banquet. Information technology's a dear gift  and a way to encounter that no ane has to be without a "family unit"meal on the vacation.

At Beulah Park UMC in McKeesport, church youth, seniors, families and community volunteers help to set up a community meal. Several families rearranged their family dinners in society to aid at the church.

 "We are excited," said the Rev. Kathy Barnhart.  "One of my 80-year-old women de-bones all the turkeys on Monday of Thanksgiving week, so we roast and slice.  My biggest worry this year is who will make the gravy," she said.

Beulah Park's meal is served from 12-2 p.m. on Thanksgiving and volunteers volition deliver to anyone unable to come to the church. "Don't sit home lone; come up and join our family," reads the invitation ad the meal.

"Last year we only delivered meals to shut-ins and families who were in need, most of them not church-affilated," said Barnhart. "The school district guidance counselor helped us with names.  We worked with the Catholic parish in Mckeesport and had a blast."

This yr, Barnhart said, Beulah Park volition work with their sister church, Christy Park UMC, to provide the meal, including the delivery and takeouts.  They served about 100 take-outs last yr.

In its second year, the Thanksgiving meal at Coraopolis UMC is expanding to provide bus transportation for residents in a nearby housing community. Read how the ministry got started.

New Castle

The seven churches of the New Castle Cooperative Ministry building, which formed two years ago, assist with the preparation and serving of a community Thanksgiving meal. "We will be serving over 400 meals and partnering with Outset Presbyterian Church building, said Pastor Thom Scott.

Northward E

This will exist the quaternary almanac Thanksgiving Solar day repast for the community at Park UMC in N East. It was started past Dr. Rev. Mark Hecht and his wife, who moved to Warren, PA this year, and Park is conveying on the tradition.

"Concluding yr we fed 100 to 120 on Thanksgiving Day," said Shari Cooney, who is coordinating the endeavor for the outset time.  "The response I heard the most from both church members and those from community was how prissy it was to share a table with others rather that eating lonely," she said.  Others appreciated sharing the joys of Thanksgiving Day. Many remarked that the church was so welcoming that they would return and maybe assistance with the meal next time.

Dull food preparations are really fun when you work with others in the kitchen, according some of the Park volunteers.

Signal Marion

Point Marion UMC will host a free customs meal for the 2nd sequent year.  The menu includes a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and across, including turkey, ham loaf, mashed potatoes and sweetness potatoes, green beans, desserts, beverages.  "Concluding year 65 people were served, many of whom are clients served by our monthly food bank," the Rev. Bev Roscoe said.  "Others were those who are elderly, single, or merely didn't desire to cook!  Nosotros are expecting a larger turnout this yr.
The repast volition exist sponsored by the Outreach team and prepared by Rose and Carl Cook, co-chairs.

Carmichaels

Carmichaels First UMC has a long-standing ministry of providing a costless meal to the community every Thanksgiving from 1-four p.yard., said Pastor Bruce Judy. The average attendance is 120 and a lot of helpers.  Judy said it was organized and run by laity many years ago and still is, with Carol Maurin in charge this year. "People come equally much for the fellowship as they exercise for the food," he added. "It is held in our fellowship hall where we serve a gratuitous monthly dinner too."

In addition Thanksgiving Day meals will be served at Beginning UMC in DuBois, Garden Metropolis in Monroeville,Otterbein in Greensburg and Ford City UMC, which is handicap accessible.

Thanksgiving Eve in Verona

Other congregations offer meals at unlike times or in different ways.Verona UMC will provide a community dinner beginning at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov 26. It is followed by a seven p.m. community Thanksgiving Eve Service, said Pastor Linda Harrison.

Saegertown

This is the sixth year that Saegertown UMC in the Erie-Meadville Commune volition host a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community on Sunday, Nov. 23.  "On average we serve about 350 meals during this event," said Dulcie Anderson. "For a congregation that averages 200 per week, this is quite the customs response.

"We take a wonderful team that floods our building for grooming work the calendar week leading up to the dinner and for the day of the dinner, working tirelessly at cooking, serving, table service, keeping beverages stocked, commitment to community close-ins, and cleaning up later on.  Nosotros are thrilled yet humbled to be fortunate enough to offer such a wonderful ministry building and fellowship to our community," she added.

The Saegertown church besides offers a monthly food pantry with the help of the community ministerium that donates appurtenances and funds regularly to keep the outreach. The food depository financial institution serves 20 families every month with a handbag of food and hygiene staples and a fresh nutrient voucher from our locally owned marketplace.  "During the months of Nov and December, the food pantry receives donations of turkeys and hams to provide the families with all they would need for their vacation meals, "plus a little extra sweet from our local suppliers for Christmas."

Food Pocketbook Ministry at Chippewa

Chippewa UMC in Beaver County is helping 70 families through its Thanksgiving Food Pocketbook ministry this year. Nether the management of the Mission Team, the church collected food over the by few weeks past distributing the food bags to all worshippers in the five weekend worship services. The food bags were brought dorsum and the Mission Teams and other groups sort it provide a very special Thanksgiving for 70 families, said the Rev. Rod Smith.  "Families are asked to pray over the numberless when they are brought dorsum to help families know that they are being prayed for during the Thanksgiving flavor," he said.

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Source: https://www.wpaumc.org/newsdetail/491016

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