A good idea worth sharing

When you are going to steal an idea, steal a good one.

Diane Braun serves up more hot spuds.

When Wayne and Diane Braun attended an Elysian church fundraiser years ago, they discussed the novel idea of a baked potato dinner. Not many of them around, and a somewhat easy undertaking. That was seven years ago, and today, the LeCenter United Methodist Church is serving up spuds with all the fixings in their sixth year, raising money for their church and community and doing the Lord’s work all at the same time.

There are many stalwart volunteers at their church, but its Diane and LeAnn Jones who head of the fund-raising committee, something the previous pastor assigned to them. Noticing their dedication and determination, he knew how important to have strong leaders.

“We have a great team of people at this church,” said Diane. “We all enjoy doing it and seeing the results of our work.” Their results are no secret, as many people in LeCenter have benefitted from their generosity. Maybe a person coming to town doesn’t have much food, not enough money for gas or just down on their luck temporarily. Time in and time out it’s the local United Methodist church passing along a grocery or gas card. “It’s our belief to help out others,” added LeAnn, who recalled helping a family with children get beds and other needs.

And it all begins with a hot potato.

Whether it’s chili or turkey and gravy to start out the piling on procedure, a person can add broccoli, ham, green or black olives, mushrooms, cheese or sour cream - all of them. Scooping for a side dish is encouraged, but when you mash it all up, it warms the tummy something yummy!

Add coleslaw and an assortment of bars or cookies (including gluten-free) and no one goes away dissatisfied. And before or after the meal, three tables of silent auction items await for anyone looking for a good deal and another way to help the community with their donation. Don Hoffman mans the tables and is the answer man there, while Mary Frank minded the till at the front door. So many more volunteers filled take-out orders at a separate station upstairs and jumped into their battle station when it looked like another order needed filling.

Volunteers:, back row: Jenn Jones, LeAnn Jones,
Lynnette Hoffman;front: Sandy Parks, Diane Braun,
Gerry Zimmerman

Meanwhile, Wayne is scooping up the potato and slicing it up for hungry goers, while kitchen helpers attend to food-related duties. In all, the energetic bunch served up 20 takeouts and over 80 taters downstairs - a good turnout indeed, in fact, more than the last two years!

All food is donated and signup sheets passed around weeks before the event. This year the calls to businesses for silent auction items came later than usual but the merchants from LeCenter, St. Peter, New Prague, LeSueur and Montgomery generously came through. It’s the likes of businesses like Evie’s Soups and More and Walt’s Hook, Line and Sinker or the donation of bags of yellow cherry tomatoes that keep the fund-raiser going.

Wayne Braun prepares
potatoes for eating

None of the food goes to waste. The first Monday of each month there is a community dinner at the church, so the women will cut up and fry up the potatoes and put out the fixin’s. Sunday services have coffee and treats so the sweets have a place to go.

The church service averages 30 parishioners each Sunday, but their generous ways touch the community. They are proudly known for their charity, “I think the impact of people in need in the community has been substantial and we try to help all we can,” added LeAnn. Pastor Amy Jo Bur, new in the last year, is proud of the impact her lambs have. “It’s amazing how they serve the church and town.”

Amy Jo hails from Michigan and moved from Georgia last year with her husband. Her diverse background and intellect, including a study under Desmond Tutu (South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop), helps lead the church for the future. No one outhustles the UM women’s group in town!  Oh, there is a garage sale in the spring and the men’s chicken and biscuit dinner early in the year as well, pretty much manned by the same volunteers. But it’s not often a church group has 94 year olds wanting to return to help. “Ruth Frederickson didn’t want to retire at 88 but we kind of told her she’s put in her time, it’s OK to just come and enjoy,” said Diane. “Another lady was 94 last year and we told her she didn’t have to work. But that’s our mission, to serve and that’s what they want to do.”

This year’s money is earmarked for local help, but it may be time to divert funds to an air conditioner in the office and narthex, along with roof help in the future. Whatever it might be, this congregation is ready for the challenge.

“I’m so thankful for my workers,” said LeAnn. “Everyone has a talent and wants to do what they can to help. We are all good friends and we do the fund-raisers together. I’m 75 years old now, and not moving as fast as I used to, but Diane and I were nominated to lead, so that’s what we try to do.”

No Diane, many people try, you and LeAnn succeed!

Yummy Calendar:

Saturday, Oct. 12 - Pine River First Lutheran Church Lutefisk Dinner, 3:30-7:30

Tuesday, Oct. 15 - Blooming Prairie First Lutheran Church Lutefisk Dinner, 4:30-7:30

Friday, Oct. 25, Buffalo's Zion Lutheran Church, Lutefisk Dinner, 4:30-7

Sunday, Oct. 27 - Chili Luncheon at Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato, 10:30-12:30

It's in the Gravy

When the gravy makers had personal emergencies to attend to, Dee Markson didn't know what to do. Who was going to make the gravy? No one else had experience doing it.

Anna Budensiak is a grateful server

"Lots of things have happened over the years, you learned to take it and work with it," she said. "Thank God one of them could call and give me the recipe over the phone." The gravy extraordinaire had to take her husband to the emergency room Wednesday night and wouldn't be available to come into the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church to prepare the traditional scrumptious blond gravy for the Annual Turkey Supper. Mary Schuth-Taylor, another diehard volunteer and co-chair, led the charge on cooking turkey and making gravy. Never fear, all the gravy preparers came to the rescue and the 200-plus people didn't know the difference.

It was a bright, sunny day when the meal started and the church dining hall filled quickly on Thursday, March 21. The usual Mazeppa diners made their way into the church, but many were from Zumbrota, Pine Island, Rochester, Oronoco, etc. Despite cabin fever amongst most people nowadays, the aroma of turkey gravy and potatoes, along with so many salads and desserts drew them out of the homes and once there, glad they made the trip.

Dee assists her daughter-in-law, Callie LIffrig Markson, in planning the annual dinner, which has gone on close to 50 years - maybe more. Once a generation hands it off, unless history is tallied, it's anyone's guess who's still alive to venture a guess at how long and event lingers.

Norma Frank's lived in Mazeppa since 1961 and remembers helping out in the time period. "I'll be married 61 years, and you can't beat this food. My husband doesn't like it they put the turkey and gravy together, so he's having a burger tonight downtown. But there's plenty of people here that wait at the door to get in." Can't blame Ralph if there are $1.25 burgers at Leo's down the block, but there was plenty of full plates chocked high with potatoes and turkey gravy that would rather fill their tummies that way then with traditional beef!

Dee and Callie hard at work.

Callie & Dee

Norma and Cheryl Baertlein are just two of the friendly volunteers that help seat people, fill coffee, help seat people, carry trays, refill milk and coffee cups, whisk new desserts plates onto the table and replace empty salad bowls. "It's almost like we have too many people to help out here," chuckled Cheryl, which if true, is a great problem to have as many church dinners see volunteer numbers dropping. "This is a very healthy church," she said. "We have lots of young people involved as well." Norma and Cheryl represented many happy helpers either on the floor or in the kitchen. It was a well-oiled machine the co-chairs had put together!

Three generations of family volunteerism: Kathi Arendt,
Mindi Arendt, Makayla Arendt, Nicole Irish

This year, the two of four women's groups that volunteer time and food supply the 29 salads and 20 desserts - next year the other two groups prepare the foods. Anyone who knows anyone in town just knows the St. Rose group are the dessert masters while St. Theresa group is renowned for their salads. St. Ann and St. Gertrude are the other two women's teams.  It sure seemed like a lot of different delicacies sitting on that table by the kitchen, swooped up by hungry goers before I could write down all the varieties. All the food on the night is prepared in Mazeppa - either by loving hands in local kitchens or food brought from Hub Grocery in Zumbrota and prepared in the church kitchen. "It's a one-stop shop for us," commented Dee. "We have such a great relationship with Hub with the many things that go on at our church, they are so great to work with."

Close to 40 takeouts were delivered this year, and as fast as Styrofoam containers went out the door and drove down the road, another live customer stood in line. "I know there was 16 that went out at one time," marveled Dee. Not me, the people obviously knew a good deal when they saw it - delivering great food to their door on a 23 degree day!

"We used to start at 4:30 p.m. but some people still work and had a hard time getting here that early, so we moved it to 5 p.m. The regulars can show up anytime, but it seems like it's helped." The numbers have stayed consistent over the years, but last year it was close - the turkey gravy was almost gone, as were the salads. A good problem to have!

On October 10, 1878, St. Peter and Paul's congregation was incorporated, the legal document bearing the signature of the late Archbishop Thomas L. Grace, pastor at Belvidere, attended to this place of worship. In the year 1880, under the administration of their pastor, Rev. John Meier, a fine church bell was purchased and the 14 stations of the Cross. Under the pastoral charge of Rev. Fr. Limberg a Sanctuary and Sacristy was built and a basement under the church made. Mazeppa, the city in the valley that borders close to Goodhue and Wabasha had its Catholic prayers answered.

Sherrie Ferber and Zonda Befort man the cashier's
table by the front entryway to the dinner.

They now share their priest with Pax Christi of Rochester, but the church located on the corner of Cedar Street and First Avenue appears vibrant and ready to serve its congregation and village.

It's evident this church congregation is proud of serving the people of the church and small hamlet of Mazeppa. Next year I will have to refrain from all meals on the day to have more room for the great food!

Recipes of the Day

Callie said "the Oriental salad is one of everyone's favorites.  I make this salad."

The recipe is:
2 bags of coleslaw mix
2 packages of ramen noodles ( any flavor, I don't use the seasoning)
1 small package of slivered almonds
1/2 c. sunflower seeds

Dressing:
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp of cider vinegar
1 tsp pepper
Mix everything together just before serving.
 

"Nicole Irish made a really good dessert that everyone raved about this year."
Butterfinger dessert
 
Its super easy! Make a yellow cake mix. while it is still hot poke holes or a fork in it. Mix together 1 jar Smuckers carmel topping and 1 jar Smuckers caramel topping and one jar sweet and condensed milk and pour that over. Let cool and top with cool whip and crushed butterfingers."

Thanks Callie and Dee for a terrific night!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

-Wednesday, April 3 - Faith United Methodist, Waseca, Spring Sandwich Luncheon, 11-1

-Sunday, April 7 - Jackson Lake Lutheran Church, Amboy- Spring Fest. Scandanavian 

             goodies! 10:30-1

   *East Chain Lutheran's "Church Basement Luncheon" will be held on Sunday, April 7 

             from 11AM to 1PM at the church.
    *Kimball Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ice Cream Sociel, Alpha, 11-1 

     *Gaylord's St. Paul's Lutheran Church Turkey Buffet Dinner, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-Saturday, April 13, St. Charles United Church of Christ, 11-1, Soup/Salad Luncheon
     *St. John's Lutheran Church, Mazeppa, Spring Fling, 11-1:30, hot dishes, cold salads

-Sunday, April 14 - Ascension Luthern Church, Albert Lea, 26th annual aebelskiver supper, 4-6:30
     *Spring Fling Luncheon, Salem Lutheran Church, Madelia, 11-12:30

-Friday, April 19 - Grace Lutheran Salad Luncheon, Waseca, 11-1.
     *Community Presbyterian Church, Plainview, Salad Luncheon, 11-1

-Saturday, April 20 - UM Church, Brownsdale, Annual Swiss Steak Dinner, 4:30-7
    *St. Paul's Church, rural Eyota, Annual Spring Luncheon, 12-2

-Sunday, April 21 - Highland Prairie Lutheran Church, Rushford, Meatball Dinner, 11:30-
      1:30

-Wed. April 24 - First Lutheran Church, Pipestone, Spring Salad Luncheon, 11-1

-Sunday, April 21 - United Redeemer Church, Zumbrota - Salad Luncheon with Cookie
    Auction - 11-1

-Wednesday, April 24, Wykoff UM Church, Annual Chicken Pie Supper, 4:30-7

-Saturday, April 27 - Hegre Salad Luncheon, Kenyon, 11-1.