Minneota’s annual Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held again this year at the Bethel Fellowship Church in Minneota.

Community Thanksgiving tradition at Bethel

Hosting a Thanksgiving feast for family and friends is not only expensive, but it's also a lot of work. Bethel Fellowship Church can solve both of those problems for you with its annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner that will be served beginning at noon on Thursday.

Audrey Timm has been attending the event at Bethel Fellowship for the past five years. “Most of my family lives out of state so it’s hard to all get together,” said Timm, who has lived in Minneota her entire life.

“This event is so heart-warming and has a family atmosphere. The people are so nice and they make me feel so welcome there.” Timm’s husband passed away 13 years ago and she doesn’t feel the need to cook a big meal for herself. So she attends this community event and celebrates with her community family.

“They decorate the church so beautifully,” she noted.

“It really does feel like a big family Thanksgiving.” Although a free-will donation is accepted, there is no charge for the meal. Bethel Fellowship Church members do all the planning, shopping, cooking, serving, decorating and clean-up. The food is prepared in a home and then brought to the church where it's kept warm.

Bethel Fellowship is even offering free rides to the church to those without transportation. Home-delivered meals will also be available. David Myrvik is the volunteer driver. If anyone needs a ride to the church, call 507-828-7433 or 507-872-6604.

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner this year will consist of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, corn, squash, cranberry sauce, homemade buns, pumpkin and apple pie with whipped topping or ice cream, and beverages of all kinds.

“You leave the church feeling very full,” laughed Timm. “It’s a lot of food and it’s all very good.”

There will also be a short program at this year’s event.

“We served about 140 people last year, including our church members,” said Pastor Tom Nomeland.

“That's about what we average every year. Everything is home-cooked and we even use real plates and silverware to make it seem more family-oriented. And we decorate elegantly, so it's somewhat like a banquet.”

Bethel Fellowship Church inherited the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner five years ago and has been serving it every year since then.

“We want to show our love of the community,” Pastor Nomeland said. “We have a mission statement that reads, 'To extending the love of Christ to those within its reach'. This is an extension of that love. We want to bless the people and allow them to have a nice day.”

RVSP is preferred to give the church an idea of how many will be attending, but it's not required, Nomeland noted. Call 507-828-1637 or 507-872-6498.

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The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492