Mt. Pleasant church serves Thanksgiving meals for 23 years

No one has to celebrate Thanksgiving alone in Mt. Pleasant.

For 23 years, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has hosted a holiday dinner in its basement. About 25 people volunteered to serve others on Thanksgiving this year.

Church member and meal organizer Wanda Permuka called it a “wonderful ministry.”

“I just think it’s important that people not be by themselves,” Permuka said. “That’s one of the main reasons we started this.”

Each year, about 130 to 150 people attend. The church plans for 200 meals. Though many attendees are from the Mt. Pleasant area, people from across the county show up, Permuka said.

This year, one man rode his bike from Ruffs Dale to come to the meal, which began at 11 a.m. and concluded at 3 p.m.

The majority of the food is prepared by Kings Pointe Catering. The free dinner includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pies and more.

The basement was decorated with pilgrims and turkeys, and each seat featured a place mat with prayers and blessings written on it.

Good Shepherd receives support from other churches, businesses and organizations to make the meal a success every year.

Pastor Peter Nordby, who began serving as the church’s leader two years ago, said the meal offers food, fellowship and a ministry opportunity.

Nordby considers it a “joy” to be part of a congregation of servants, as Christians are called to serve others.

“It’s part of our calling to have a presence in the community,” he said. “…To Good Shepherd and other churches, the community and the people within it are important. The church is not just about us taking care of ourselves. It goes far beyond that. No matter who you are, anyone can come (to the meal), and the church needs to be that kind of witness.”