Such is the most recent trip to Bear Creek Lutheran Church's Meatball Supper in rural Grand Meadow. Amidst the corn fields, red barns and rolling hills sits a gem of a country church, full of tradition that each parishioner is proud to talk about.
And a meal to brag about.
Serving up meatballs is exclusive in itself, with not many church socials centered around what would seem an easy fixing. But its recipe is a guarded secret and not shared, which made the meal even more enjoyable! On this Wednesday evening, September 5, over 220 people gathered to share in a familiar sit-down pass the potatoes meal.
Usually attending church meals means a buffet style of serving the food. Not here at Bear Creek. Once you buy your ticket, you're promptly guided to a table set for eight and before you know it, food appears in front of you, ready to be passed around to newly met friends. Freshly prepared meatballs and gravy, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, buttered buns - and a wonderful added touch from country gardens - sliced tomatoes encircle your plate. That was the bonus on this summer meal - tomatoes from parishioner gardens. Ahhhh, the memories of mom's garden produce on my plate! Milk, coffee or lemonade was filled for each of us, and the all-you-can eat was on. Don't forget to leave room for apple, pumpkin, triple berry or cherry pie - that would be sacrilegious!
"Last year we got to the bottom of the potatoes and wondered, 'oh boy, I hope we have enough!'" said Glen Warn, who has worked at all the 30+ meatball dinners. "It's hard to know, we plan for about 260." Glen was busy with Ann Hanson, cashier, greeting guests on the beautiful sunny summer evening, in a sweet, unassuming atmosphere. Visitors were encouraged to stuff the 'ballot' box for a chance to win a beautiful handmade quilt - or they could buy one that was on display, made by members of the congregation. Other than that, they were guided - not that they couldn't smell the way - downstairs to their seat.
The family-first congregation and WELCA sponsor the dinner. In the spring, a ham dinner is served over Memorial Day weekend, which allows visitors from all over dropping by the cemetery to add a great meal to their pallet. That dinner has been going on for close to 60 years: a lutefisk dinner at Bear Creek went for 40 years before ending some time ago. On this night, there happened to be another meatball dinner down by the Iowa border at a Spring Grove church called Black Hammer, but this was the place to be for hungry, dedicated meatball lovers!
LaVae Ringen runs the kitchen crew and with tradition on her side, the group flawlessly served up bowls full of delectable foods. She makes six pumpkin pies for the meal, but the others are bought through a local bakery. "We just don't have enough people with the time to make as much pies as we would like," she said. But the meatballs are handmade the Tuesday before, with the Pastor Shirley Redmond on hand to help. It takes about four hours to make 80 pounds of meatballs into circular gourmet - the day before it's time to peel the over 100 pounds of spuds, as well as prepare the coleslaw, tomatoes, corn and buns. LaVae's husband has six generations of family who have attended Bear Creek, and it's that spirit of tradition and loyalty that serves the close-knit congregation now and in the past.
"Tradition is very important to us," LaVae said. Said well, considering she has been helping out at this supper since the beginning as well. Money raised goes to many outside charities or causes, including American Bible Society, Rachel's Hope and world hunger. Aside from the Memorial Day dinner, every year on Dec. 23 the church has its annual Christmas celebration. They pack with standing room only the little church, which probably holds less than 100 people, with a children's program, worship service and social time afterwards. And for all the little kids in attendance, they get the traditional bag of peanuts and candy that has been handed out for over 100 years during this service.
Everyone, including adults, also gets an apple. It indicates the simplicity and lack of commercialism that existed in the 19th century, but also shows the importance of church, family and friends.
This was the first year since the meatball supper started that Beverly Hanson hasn't participated. She was instrumental in starting the supper, but this year family came first. She and her late husband, Loren, enjoyed working at the church socials.
One woman that arrived ready to eat laughed to a friend, "the scale isn't going to like me in the morning." Or as Glen said earlier in the evening, "the older we get the less we need to eat, and then here we are (ready to eat all our fill)."
As the church moves on after 156 years, it's easy to see why it stands tall amongst the ripening corn and soybeans in southeastern Minnesota. The dry weather may have been on most people's minds and in their conversations on this night, but after a belly full of good food, all went home content.
Although a grand display of friendliness, comraderie and love of church was at the forefront, it was clear those qualities were the foundations set many years ago - and will continue continue for many years to come.
UPCOMING DINNERS:
*Saturday, September 15 - Trinity Lutheran, Blue Earth, Salad/Sandwich Luncheon, 8-1
*Sunday, September 16 - Trinity Lutheran, Elmore, Annual Pie and Ice Cream Society with pork sandwiches, salad, beans; 22:30-6:30
-St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Mazeppa, 11-1:30, Ham and Turkey Dinner
-St. Francis Xavier Annual Chicken DInner, Lake Park, 11-1
-St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Hawley, Turkey and the Trimmings/desserts, 11-1
-St. Adrian Catholic Church, Adrian, Annual Fall Dinner, 4-7
*Wednesday, September 19, Dodge Center United Methodist Church, pork chop dinner; 4:30-7:30
-Chicken Pie Dinner, Hector's UM Church, 4:30-6:30
-United Methodist Church, Detroit Lakes, Meatball Supper, 4:30-7
*Sunday, September 23 - St. John the Baptist de la Salle, Dodge Center, 21st annual Turkey/Ham Dinner, 11-1
*Wednesday, October 10 - Vineyard United Methodist Church,Hutchinson, Complete Turkey Dinner, 4:30-7
Serving up meatballs is exclusive in itself, with not many church socials centered around what would seem an easy fixing. But its recipe is a guarded secret and not shared, which made the meal even more enjoyable! On this Wednesday evening, September 5, over 220 people gathered to share in a familiar sit-down pass the potatoes meal.
 |
| Emma Grafe is one busy eight-year-old at the meatball supper. |
Usually attending church meals means a buffet style of serving the food. Not here at Bear Creek. Once you buy your ticket, you're promptly guided to a table set for eight and before you know it, food appears in front of you, ready to be passed around to newly met friends. Freshly prepared meatballs and gravy, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, buttered buns - and a wonderful added touch from country gardens - sliced tomatoes encircle your plate. That was the bonus on this summer meal - tomatoes from parishioner gardens. Ahhhh, the memories of mom's garden produce on my plate! Milk, coffee or lemonade was filled for each of us, and the all-you-can eat was on. Don't forget to leave room for apple, pumpkin, triple berry or cherry pie - that would be sacrilegious!
 |
| LaVae Ringen was head of the kitchen this year. |
"Last year we got to the bottom of the potatoes and wondered, 'oh boy, I hope we have enough!'" said Glen Warn, who has worked at all the 30+ meatball dinners. "It's hard to know, we plan for about 260." Glen was busy with Ann Hanson, cashier, greeting guests on the beautiful sunny summer evening, in a sweet, unassuming atmosphere. Visitors were encouraged to stuff the 'ballot' box for a chance to win a beautiful handmade quilt - or they could buy one that was on display, made by members of the congregation. Other than that, they were guided - not that they couldn't smell the way - downstairs to their seat.
 |
| Ann Hanson was an inviting host at the Bear Creek function. |
The family-first congregation and WELCA sponsor the dinner. In the spring, a ham dinner is served over Memorial Day weekend, which allows visitors from all over dropping by the cemetery to add a great meal to their pallet. That dinner has been going on for close to 60 years: a lutefisk dinner at Bear Creek went for 40 years before ending some time ago. On this night, there happened to be another meatball dinner down by the Iowa border at a Spring Grove church called Black Hammer, but this was the place to be for hungry, dedicated meatball lovers!
LaVae Ringen runs the kitchen crew and with tradition on her side, the group flawlessly served up bowls full of delectable foods. She makes six pumpkin pies for the meal, but the others are bought through a local bakery. "We just don't have enough people with the time to make as much pies as we would like," she said. But the meatballs are handmade the Tuesday before, with the Pastor Shirley Redmond on hand to help. It takes about four hours to make 80 pounds of meatballs into circular gourmet - the day before it's time to peel the over 100 pounds of spuds, as well as prepare the coleslaw, tomatoes, corn and buns. LaVae's husband has six generations of family who have attended Bear Creek, and it's that spirit of tradition and loyalty that serves the close-knit congregation now and in the past."Tradition is very important to us," LaVae said. Said well, considering she has been helping out at this supper since the beginning as well. Money raised goes to many outside charities or causes, including American Bible Society, Rachel's Hope and world hunger. Aside from the Memorial Day dinner, every year on Dec. 23 the church has its annual Christmas celebration. They pack with standing room only the little church, which probably holds less than 100 people, with a children's program, worship service and social time afterwards. And for all the little kids in attendance, they get the traditional bag of peanuts and candy that has been handed out for over 100 years during this service.
Everyone, including adults, also gets an apple. It indicates the simplicity and lack of commercialism that existed in the 19th century, but also shows the importance of church, family and friends.This was the first year since the meatball supper started that Beverly Hanson hasn't participated. She was instrumental in starting the supper, but this year family came first. She and her late husband, Loren, enjoyed working at the church socials.
One woman that arrived ready to eat laughed to a friend, "the scale isn't going to like me in the morning." Or as Glen said earlier in the evening, "the older we get the less we need to eat, and then here we are (ready to eat all our fill)."
 |
| The inside was just as beautiful as the outside of the rural Grand Meadow church. |
As the church moves on after 156 years, it's easy to see why it stands tall amongst the ripening corn and soybeans in southeastern Minnesota. The dry weather may have been on most people's minds and in their conversations on this night, but after a belly full of good food, all went home content.
Although a grand display of friendliness, comraderie and love of church was at the forefront, it was clear those qualities were the foundations set many years ago - and will continue continue for many years to come.
UPCOMING DINNERS:
*Saturday, September 15 - Trinity Lutheran, Blue Earth, Salad/Sandwich Luncheon, 8-1
*Sunday, September 16 - Trinity Lutheran, Elmore, Annual Pie and Ice Cream Society with pork sandwiches, salad, beans; 22:30-6:30
-St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Mazeppa, 11-1:30, Ham and Turkey Dinner
-St. Francis Xavier Annual Chicken DInner, Lake Park, 11-1
-St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Hawley, Turkey and the Trimmings/desserts, 11-1
-St. Adrian Catholic Church, Adrian, Annual Fall Dinner, 4-7
*Wednesday, September 19, Dodge Center United Methodist Church, pork chop dinner; 4:30-7:30
-Chicken Pie Dinner, Hector's UM Church, 4:30-6:30
-United Methodist Church, Detroit Lakes, Meatball Supper, 4:30-7
*Sunday, September 23 - St. John the Baptist de la Salle, Dodge Center, 21st annual Turkey/Ham Dinner, 11-1
*Wednesday, October 10 - Vineyard United Methodist Church,Hutchinson, Complete Turkey Dinner, 4:30-7
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