Published: November 25, 2009 08:56 pm      

ROYALTON: In the holiday spirit, church serves Thanksgiving dinner

ROYALTON CENTER — A small church with big-hearted members is serving Thanksgiving dinner to anyone who wants it today.

Royalton United Methodist Church’s first-ever free, public Thanksgiving dinner will be served at noon, at the church across the street from Royalton Town Hall.

The dinner is organized by church member Theresa Kibbe. The unassuming 48-year-old homemaker decided that, despite the material needs they face, the Kibbe family has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and should show its gratitude by sharing their blessings with others.

The church is prepared to feed up to 200 people today. Whatever Mrs. Kibbe didn’t raise as donations from area businesses and individuals, she paid for out-of-pocket.

“I was sitting in church one day, and I could feel the Lord say to me, ‘Theresa, you can do this,’ ” she said. “I went home and I told my husband, Guy, our budget is going to take a hit this year. The Lord told me to do this. ... (Guy) agreed.”

The home-style dinner, cooked in a handful of church members’ private kitchens, will consist of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, squash, gravy, cranberry sauce, tossed salad, cake, punch, coffee and tea.

Mrs. Kibbe said repeatedly she does not want attention or thanks for organizing the spread.

“Please credit Royalton United Methodist Church. It’s from all of us,” she said. “I’m just working.”

About 12 of the church’s 20 active members will participate in the dinner, according to Royalton UMC Pastor Bob Franke.

Current membership of the 181-year-old church is quite small but diligent about doing God’s work year-round, he said. The church routinely aids a Niagara Falls mission for young mothers and helps stock the Middleport food pantry.

Franke said Mrs. Kibbe’s proposal for an even more “local” mission — outreach to community members who don’t have family to share Thanksgiving with, or money to put on their own spreads — was embraced by church members readily. Alongside community service, they saw an opportunity to show Royalton UMC’s doors are open to all.

“It’s not selfish, but we’d like people to know there is a church here,” Franke said. “There are no strings attached (to dinner); but if we love and serve, perhaps some people will want to come to fellowship with us.”