By Ann Petersen, SBA Columnist | 01/29/26
(SBA) - I despise winter! The cold and the lack of sunlight really do me in. I crave sunlight and when it’s dark and cold, all I want to do is snuggle up in bed and read. Unfortunately, life goes on and so venturing out in the cold is inevitable. Nevertheless, winter is a time of loneliness for many people as none of us is really interested in gathering together when it’s just easier to stay home. The Community United Methodist church congregation is small and even smaller in the cold of winter. I was recently appointed to the Outreach committee at the church with the aim to provide opportunities for not only people within our church to gather, but also others in our community who may not have a church home or may attend larger churches that don’t provide as many opportunities for intimate gatherings. Earlier this month, we held our first communal meal, open to all. Ladies in our church made large pots of beef vegetable soup and attendees were encouraged to bring something to go with the soup. We had a veritable feast and enough leftovers to freeze for another occasion. There were about 50 people in attendance, including community members.
Our second communal event was a “pounding” for newlyweds, Dennis and Cheryl Webner. “Poundings” are an old tradition, going back several centuries to a time when most people lived on farms and there was no concept of what we now know as “wedding gifts” when a couple in the community was married. Instead, the community would hold a time of giving to provide the new couple with items they would need to set up housekeeping. The idea was that a gift was something that could be measured by the pound—sugar, meat, baked goods, etc. Newliweds Dennis and Cheryl Webner did not need another toaster, but a “pounding” allowed the congregation to celebrate the newlyweds in a creative, yet inexpensive way. We held the “pounding” after church one Sunday and we delighted in the creativity of the gifts. We were so surprised that Dennis and Cheryl did not receive two or any one item. My favorite gift for them was a “pound cake” made by Mary Lee Wise, but the couple received enough food gifts so that they did not have to cook for several days. I think the idea of a “pounding” would be an excellent way to celebrate other occasions including the birth of a baby or a birthday for someone who already has more gifts than they would need. (A pound of chocolate would make an excellent gift, I think!) I look forward to finding other opportunities for “pounding” in our community.
The Methodist church hopes to host a communal meal at least once per month. Community United Methodist Church has the best kitchen of any of the churches in our town. Before Dale died, he doubled the size of the kitchen and there is enough prep space to create meals for a crowd. The fellowship hall has enough tables to serve more than 100 people, so there is plenty of room for big events. Twice each year, the church offers large feasts—a turkey dinner in the fall and a ham dinner in the spring. This year’s ham dinner is the first Sunday in March and is always a great success! Prior to that time, the Outreach committee will be offering a Shrove Tuesday pancake feed at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17th, the night before the beginning of Lent. The community is invited to bring something (either sweet or savory) that goes with pancakes. There is no charge to attend, and you don’t need to bring something to share.
Shrove Tuesday is the final day of Shrovetide which is the end of the pre-Lenten season (now marked by the U.S. as Mardi Gras). Lent begins the next day with Ash Wednesday and ends 47 days later with Easter. In many countries Shrove Tuesday is observed by Catholics with confession (shrive) when sins are absolved and the ritual burning of the previous year’s Holy Week palms. The ashes are then used in the Ash Wednesday service. As Lent was a time of sacrifice, Shrove Tuesday was the time for eliminating fats and sweets that would spoil before they could be eaten again at Easter. In Derbyshire, England, one Shrove Tuesday event involves an eighteen-hour football match in which all members of the community engage. The goals are three miles apart and there are no rules. Goals are made by any method of moving the ball down the field and through the goal posts. Another event held in several communities in England is the carrying of a pancake in a hot skillet and flipping the pancake (without dropping it) as the participants run along a 415 yard course. The first person across the finish line with an unburnt pancake (hence the flipping) is the winner. Participants wear traditional housewife costumes consisting of a skirt, an apron and a head covering. I doubt that the Community United Methodist Church will include either of these events in their Shrove Tuesday celebration, but there will be plenty of pancakes. Please put this dinner on your calendar and plan to join in the feast. All are welcome!
