Bear Creek: gem of a meal, church

Every meal time is unique and it's those of yesteryear that we remember the best. When we grew up on the dairy farm near Rochester, every supper all of us grabbed our seat, passed around the cookin's and slarfed down our food before the rest grabbed it from our plate. But the food was always the best.

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.

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

Strawberries in Moland

Alas - strawberries mixed with yesteryear

Winding country roads, warm sun with a cool breeze, tasty food - topped off with strawberries smothering angel food cake and ice cream. A Sunday doesn't get any better than this.

When traveling to Moland Lutheran Church for it's annual strawberry festival on Sunday, June 24, the entire experience was marvelous. The small country church is nestled amongst corn and soybean fields and with it's welcoming arbor-like iron sign travelers get a glimpse of rural Americana at its best.

When you have 24 enrolled at the church, putting on such a festival encompasses ALL of the congregation. The food draws in the visitors, but it's the workers that skillfully coordinate the 56-year-old celebration.

"We keep this church going one way or another," chuckled Beverly Hortop, who greeted newcomers and hungry patrons in the front landing of the church. Alongside her manning the tables holding melt-in-your-mouth baked goods were LeMae Erler and Arlene Balzer. All three recall the days when families brought in a couple quarts each of home grown strawberries - stemmed and washed - ready to be sliced up. "It was quite a sight," added Beverly, "seeing all those berries brought in the day before." It's people like these three women, who are 50-plus year members, that keep the quaint church lively.

As much as the congregation would love to bring in fresh, garden-picked strawberries nowadays, that's something that went away with small producing farms. However, the potato salad and chocolate cakes are still made in local kitchens - with rules.

Faye Noble, president of their WELCA, had to take training classes for the church to be able to hold its annual function. New state health rules has forced many such church socials to either abide or close down their food fundraisers. Faye in turn, taught those who worked the importance of properly handling food - including wearing plastic gloves for all.

The women of the kitchen - front:  Tonnie Derscheid,
Beverly Hortop and Faye Noble; back: Kim Dressel, Judy
Bauer, Phyllis Derscheid, Stacey Thofson.

When she's not planning a strawberry festival, you can see Faye playing the organ every Sunday. She's a humble, but hard-working soul that proudly tackles the task at hand - just like fellow members. She credits Julie Dressel as the chairperson of the festival, spending time and trips to Faribault and Owatonna pricing food, buying supplies and delivering items to church. She and her husband, Eric,  make the trip the day before to pick up the strawberries, and extra kudos go to him for picking up and installing the new freezer. After that, if that wasn't a lot, he went to Nerstrand Meals to deliver that produce to the church. "Their hours of work are greatly appreciated," Faye said.

As for produce, it takes 100 pounds of strawberries, 75 pounds of pulled pork and 10- 5 quart pails of ice cream to feed the hungry at the festival.

Back to the potato salad, which is one of my favorite foods, so I become interested in every spoonful of summer potato specialties in my personally-appointed connoisseur way. "Every woman brings in their recipe of potato salad, which I've thought about putting out two dishes on the table - one with a little more mustard and another with maybe more white dressing. Everyone makes it different, for myself, I have fresh cutup radishes and pureed onions. It gives people a different taste depending on when they come during the day."

The chocolate cake is simpler but just as scrumptious. "We make just a plain chocolate cake with frosting and German chocolate cake," added Faye. "Can never predict what will happen, but last year we ran out of German chocolate cake, the year before that ran out of angel food cake." Eight pans each of chocolate and angel food cake usually feeds the 275 or so people who attend yearly.

Maggie Peach used to supply the homemade canned pickles but she passed away earlier this year. That may be what decides the future of this wonderful festival - survivors. Since 2005, 25 parishioners have passed away. The pulled pork from Nerstrand Meats is another favorite to pick at the a la carte feast. Strawberries were coming from Northfield this year until the eight-inch rain fouled up those plans, but Hy-Vee came through with the lovely red fruit. And Faye ordered the higher end strawberries to ensure quality and great taste. This year was a little harder since the weather has forced things about three weeks early.

Faye became a church member in 1964 after attending the Methodist church nearby. Moland Church can be found near the Dodge, Steele, Rice and Goodhue county lines - making it a popular worship spot for many farm families over the years.

The younger generation pitching in: Paige Schultenober,
Jenna Engel, Kaylin Hanson.

Years ago, the coffee for the festival was made at the Creamery 1/2 mile down the road. The piping hot java was hauled to the church in creamer cans and handed through the basement window to be served - sometimes so warm it scalded rings into the tile floor when place there. Faye said the first festival was held at a parish member's home until moving to the church, where they built a basement and got running water. In years gone by, Moland had a creamery, gas station, grocery store and a couple smaller businesses. The creamery building still stands - although not so stately anymore -but the rest have since been torn down.

All the commotion on Saturday mornings at the church means it's strawberry festival time - and women and men (and children) pitch in to get the work done. Although most years the money raised goes to kids' camp trips or earmarked church projects, some money was gobbled up before the event started this year when the freezer quit. In the past the Salvation Army locally has also received funds and the festival also donates money in honor of a church WELCA member who passed away during the year to a missionary serving somewhere around the world. "It helps them out for one day, but we think it's worthwhile and honorable to do," said Faye.

'Moland' has Norwegian origins which is fine and proper in where the church sits among Scandanavians. And it is fitting that in 2005 a group of visiting dignitaries from St. Olaf College came down and ate at the festival. "That was during our anniversary year," she said, when the church marked it's 125th year.

Although the date is always the final Sunday in June, the hours change as they work around other goings on in the area. Normally, the festival starts right after the 10 a.m. service until 5 p.m. And in the spring, the men put on a pancake breakfast for all to enjoy. A turkey dinner went by the wayside several years ago.

Pastor Nancy Edwardson came and served coffee at the event, something she's done for 12 years. Moland Lutheran Church shares her services with Kenyon Sunset Home. Everyone makes the Moland Strawberry Festival a success everyone should experience once.

It took me 20-plus years, but I got here - and the adventure was worth every single spoonful!

Added information - Faye  clarified a couple things: the 24 enrollment shown in the picture above is for Sunday School children; Moland church has 150 members total with 42 women's auxiliary members.

Future events:

St. John's United Church of Christ - Strawberry Festival, July 8, 4-7, rural Faribault.
Christ Episcopal Church, Austin - Salad Luncheon, Thursday, July 12, 11:30-1, 301 Third Avenue.
Hope United Methodist Salad Luncheon, Faribault - Saturday, July 14 - 11:30- 1.  3166 197th Street, Faribault
Sacred Heart, Hayfield: Salad, BBQ, Bars, Tuesday,  July 17 - 11-1 p.m.
St. Augustine's Church, Austin: Salad Luncheon, Thursday, July 19, 11:30-1:30.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Basswood Grove (south of Hastings), 8435 South St. Croix Street, Corn and Pig Roast, Saturday, August 20 (located in Denmark Township)- 4-8 p.m.