These photos are so beautiful, they remind me of a glossy food magazine.
Concord United Methodist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, took advantage of some resources in their congregation to create a Farmhouse Supper Mission Fundraiser on July 20.
The house belongs to Jodi and Terry Savage, members at Concord who built a new home that looks like an old farmhouse on 70 acres in Townsend, Tennessee. When the Savages offered to help Concord raise funds for national and international missions, the good church folks put their heads together and came up with an outdoor supper.
“It turned out even better than expected,” says Jane Currin, Concord missions director (who I happened to catch on a missions trip to Elk Garden School Community Ministry in Rosedale, Virginia).
It stormed in the afternoon — which probably scared the organizing team but cooled the air and left behind clouds to frame the view.
Dinner was served with a mixture of china and silverware patterns. At each seat was an old-time fan (with a photo of the farmhouse and a missions poem written by Debbie Pea) to chase away the humidity and save as a memento. Music was provided by Brandywine, bluegrass musicians who are Concord members.
And the food! The menu was planned and prepared by church volunteers, numbering 21 in all. Preceded by appetizers and mocktails, the menu included:
- Blackberry Ginger Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Summer Squash Ribbon Salad with Grilled Sweet Corn and Garden Tomatoes Dressed with an Apple-Cider Vinaigrette
- Farmhouse Mac and Cheese with Benton’s Bacon
- Garden Green Beans
- Homemade Breads: Sourdough, Rolls, and Corn Muffins
- Homemade Desserts: Montgomery Caramel Cake, Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Pound Cake, Lemon-Lime Tarts, Sugar Cookie Pizza with Fresh Fruit, Fudgy Flourless Brownies
- Tea, Water, and Coffee
Each plate was $100 each. Fifty-five attended. The total raised was about $5,000 to use for missions at UMCOR Sager Brown Depot, in Guatemala, and an upcoming trip to do hurricane recovery work at Port St. Joe in Florida during the fall school break.
“It was pretty sweet,” Jane said.
It sure looks like it. Here are more photos:
You may follow this blog or subscribe by email through the blocks provided below. You may contact me directly at annettespence@holston.org.
The Call to Cook 
Leave a Reply