The ‘all-you-can-eat’ meal is served 4-7 at the Methodist Church in Chester
By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – It’s that time of year again. The weather has gotten cooler. The time has changed. People are hungry for a heavier meal. That can only mean one thing! It’s time for the annual Chester Methodist Men’s Ham and Bean Dinner.
Methodist Men (left to right) Kenny Stout, Roy Wunderlich, Pastor Jim Oppedal, and Larry Baldwin proudly display a 2022 UMM Ham and Bean Dinner poster following their November meeting Tuesday November 1st. The men are excited to advertise their upcoming Ham and Beam fundraiser which takes place THIS FRIDAY November 11 from 4-7 at the First United Methodist Church in Chester Fellowship Hall. The menu features all-you-can-eat Ham and Beans, Vegetable Soup, hot corn bread, cole slaw, fresh baked pies and cakes, iced tea, hot coffee, lemonade and cherry drink. Tickets can be purchased from any Methodist man or at the door. Carry Outs are available. Jim Beers Photo
After being put on hold the past two years due to COVID-19 concerns, the yearly event has returned after being ongoing for many decades. The ham and bean dinner always draws a big crowd to 871 State Street in Chester to the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall where great food and fellowship is available.
This year the Methodist Men are once again being assisted by the Methodist Women. “The ladies of the church are great cooks and with the departure of several of our men’s group for various reasons, the women have volunteered to step up and help us out this year”, said Bob Koenegstein, UMM Treasurer.
The menu for this year’s dinner will be the same as in the past and includes the traditional ham and beans, cole slaw, fresh baked corn bread, delicious homemade pies, cakes and other baked treats, iced tea, lemonade, cherry drink, hot fresh brewed coffee and ice cold water. For those who do not like ham and beans, there will also be homemade vegetable soup available.
The cost for this all-you-can-eat meal is only $10.00 for adults. Children ages 5-12 can eat for only $7.00 each. Children under the age of five can eat FREE of charge. Tickets are available from any United Methodist Man or customers can simply pay at the door.
Dining enthusiasts who prefer to take their food home can get carry-outs at no extra costs. Carry-outs can be “called in” using the church phone at (618) 826-2549 or by letting the cashier at the door know that a carry-out is preferred and workers will prepare the necessary containers. There is no extra cost for carry-outs.
The Methodist Men use profits from this annual fundraiser to help to support several projects on a regular basis including the Wesley Foundation on the campus of Southern Illinois University. This ministry offers religious support and guidance throughout the year to college students who are away from their normal churches while at college.
The men also just recently assisted the United Methodist Women with their annual Christmas Shoebox Ministry at which time they send shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts for children overseas. The men have once again volunteered to cover the cost of shipping the gift boxes this year at the cost of $340.00.
The United Methodist Men recently received a certificate for being a regular sponsor and supporter of the annual Cancer Relay for Life Campaign. This has been an annual project for the men for many years.
The men also made donations to support the Henderson Settlement in Kentucky, the Chaddock Children’s Foundation in Quincy, Illinois and the Society of St. Andrew to help feed hungry people.
This year, as in the past many years, the Methodist Men will help support the Chester High School Band and Swing Choir Trip Account to help send students to Disney World. In exchange for the UMM sponsorship donation, Steve Colonel, CHS Band and Chorus Director, recruits several students each year to assist the men with their ham and bean dinner and the spring pancake breakfast.
In addition the UMM regularly support various missions. Recently the men made a donation to the local Hospitality House. They also support the General Commission on United Methodist Men which reaches other church groups via webinars to help stop domestic violence. The Commission also supports overseas training in countries like the Philippines and Africa.
The Methodist Men will use proceeds from the ham and bean dinner to further support college scholarships for local students and to help support various projects right here in the community of Chester and at the First United Methodist Church in Chester. In the past year, Ethan Stumpe and Tyler Holm were recipients of the UMM Scholarships.
The annual United Men’s Ham and Bean Dinner has become a tradition among many patrons in the community, and there are continued hopes that it will remain a staple event among those who appreciate a great meal at a low price, topped with good Christian fellowship at no extra cost.