Annual Events

February

Bethlehem: Sweethearts and singles dinner and program. Held close to Valentine’s Day each year. A special dinner is prepared and entertainment is offered.

Grace: The Annual David Meier Chili Cook Off. The Grace Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO), along with the Orlowski family, sponsors the Chili Cook Off in memory of Terrie Orlowski’s father, David Meier. Contestants enter a crock pot of chili for the honor of winning the Judge’s Favorite or People’s Choice award. Everyone attending gets to sample the chili entered into the contest and cast their vote for the favorite. You will be surprised at how many ways there are to make chili. Fun fellowship for all attending! Here are the winners from February 2013.

June

Grace: Chicken BarBQue. On the first Sunday  you will find members of Grace setting up grills to cook chicken in our parking lot. Besides fellowship, this is a fundraiser for our church. The menu includes half a chicken, homemade potato salad, beans, and a slice of homemade pie. The meal is served stating at 11 am. Tickets will be available at the door.

August

Bethlehem: Ice Cream Social. Held the same weekend as the Manly Railroad-Ag celebration. This is usually the last Sunday in August. We serve loose meat sandwiches, potato salad, baked beans, homemade pie and ice cream. The Ice Cream is made a week or two before the Social - all participants enjoy fellowship and get to sample the finished product.

October

Bethlehem: Breakfast Bazaar. Held on the second Saturday in October serving egg dish, muffins and rolls, orange juice, milk and coffee. They also have baked items including lefse, crafts, garden goodies, quilt raffle, baskets, and attic treasures.

Grace: Norwegian Heritage Bazaar.

Grace Lutheran is ending a long, much loved tradition.  We will not be holding our Norwegian Heritage Bazaar in 2014.    It is with mixed feeling of sadness and relief that the Grace WELCA is not planning a bazaar.  Thanks to all who have supported us over the years.

 

November

Grace: Lutefisk Dinner. Held on the Thursday the week before Thanksgiving, the lutefisk meal at Grace has a reputation for being the best lutefisk meal for miles around. Members begin their preparation in the summer by growing and freezing sweet corn for the meal. The menu includes lutefisk, Swedish meatballs with gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, mashed rutabaga, cranberry salad, lefse, and rolls all served with plenty of melted butter. For dessert, we pass a tray of Norwegian goodies and cookies to eat with a cup of rumegrot. We serve a noon meal and have two seatings in the evening for dinner. Herring and ligonberries are available for purchase.

Tickets for the lutefisk meal go on sale at the Norwegian Heritage Bazaar. For ticket information, contact a member of Grace or call 641-896-3611 to hear a recording with instructions. Money raised by our tickets sales is dedicated to projects to maintain and update our church home. The lutefisk meal takes a lot of hard work. The reason we do this is for the fellowship. As Lutherans, we gather together in His name. The coffee pot is on, and all are welcome! Sign up sheets for help are available in the weeks before the event so you can let the organizers know how you will help.