Thanksgiving Feast: ‘It’s kinda special’

“It’s kinda special if you don’t have lots of family,” said Pastor Tom Nomeland of Bethel Fellowship Church. For the sixth straight year, Bethel is fixing turkey, ham and all the trimmings — and they’ve invited everyone to share it with them.

The annual Thanksgiving dinner at noon on Thursday, November 28 at Bethel Fellowship Church is a time when both individuals and families, “Sit down with people you know,” said Pastor Nomeland. Everything is a home-cooked meal, with some pies donated to the cause

“We just enjoy really blessing people and want to be of service to them,” said the pastor. Six years ago Bethel took up a void in the community and began the community celebration. “We like to love on ‘em,” Pastor Nomeland chuckled.

“We do want to give God the credit, with love,” he said.

While Pastor Tom heads up the chairmanship of the event that draws about 150 people each year, he says its easy to organize because people just “swing into action” when the time comes. It takes about 40 or more volunteers, including everyone from the elderly to young kids. “Even the older folks help out,” he said.

The event has become so popular there is a nursery available if needed and Dave Myrvik makes it his priority to offer transportation to the church for those who need it.

“Our goal is to have the community together,” said Pastor Nomeland.

While the Thanksgiving feast is free, some people want to “give back” to help out — and there was a time when he opened an envelope to find a $100 bill inside. But that’s not the goal. “We get a few who we don’t know where they come from.

Some even come from Marshall. They hear what a good meal it is and they come.” Otherwise, the event is widely advertised in Taunton, Ghent and Minneota. It was expanded from Minneota about the second year.

“It’s been good for us to meet people in all those communities,” Pastor Nomeland added. And he likes the way his group of parishioners work together to put on the event each year.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a blessing to me to have the same people head it up each year. It makes my job easier,” he said.

His wife Elana does all the decorating and setup while Deb Engels handles the kitchen, making sure there are people to carve the ham and turkey and so much more.

Joanne Myrvik always makes sure there are plenty of buns and gravy, Sheri Sternke is in charge of the deserts, and Tammy Tolk takes care of the nursery. There is a crew for the dishes, Josh Timmerman does the beverages, and Melissa Frederick is in charge of potatoes and vegetables.

They’re even blessed to have Minnesota State Representative Chris Swedzinski serving the punch. He’s a member of the congregation. “We have 120 pounds of potatoes and they need to be cut up and prepared,” Pastor Nomeland mentioned.

“We call it a party,” he says, because, “We enjoy it.” What it all amounts to is good food, a good time and, “We feel like were all family,” said the pastor.

The church kids are a big part of the event, serving and helping those who need it to get their food by going through the line with them.

“We looking forward to having even more than ever,” said Pastor Nomeland. “We’re even having people come from Watertown, SD this year,” he said.

Everyone is invited. For rides, call Dave at 872-6604 or 507-828-7433.