There is also a Lenten service.
Volunteer Marylin Campagnari sets up the pies for the first 2013 Lenten lunch on Feb. 15 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Springfield.
Christians who celebrate Lent, the 40-day season prior to Easter, of fast, abstinence from meat on Fridays and repentance, might enjoy dropping in on a Friday to an area church providing an inviting Friday lunch with both meat and meatless options.
At Trinity United Methodist Church in Springfield, a dedicated group of volunteers spends their Fridays serving lobster rolls, mainly meatless sandwiches and a huge variety of homemade pies, as part of the parish's well-established “Lenten Lunches.”
“It’s a long-held tradition at the church,” said Kristin Goold, chair of the lunches. “I’ve been there 30 years and it’s been going as long as I can remember.”
Volunteers at Trinity United Methodist Church, in Springfield, prepare the lobster rolls and sandwiches for the first 2013 Lenten lunch on Feb. 15.
The lunches are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday at the church, located at 361 Sumner Avenue, until Good Friday, which this year is on March 29.
“We do the same menu every week,” Goold said. “The star of our lunches is a lobster roll.”
The lobster roll costs $7.50, which Goold called "money well spent."
“It’s a good-sized lobster roll,” she said. “It’s fresh-frozen lobster meat from Canada, so it’s really good.”
The Friday lunches during Lent began on Feb. 15 with the popular lobster roll, sandwiches and a baker's selection of pies.
Also popular on the menu is the clam chowder, which costs $3.50. Each week, a second soup will be offered. In the past, those soups have included selections such as lentil, corn chowder and chicken and rice.
There are also sandwiches, including, tuna, egg salad and cream cheese and olive.
There’s ham salad for those who eat meat on Fridays during Lent. Sandwiches sell for $3. Each sandwich comes with macaroni salad, potato chips and a beverage.
The highlight of the menu seems to be the vast selection of pies, which typically covers three full tables.
“We start off with 18 pies, and we’ll build up to probably 25 or 26 by the time we get to Good Friday,” Goold said.
Volunteer Marilyn Campagnari is responsible for recruiting the pie bakers – mostly women– and making sure they offer a good variety of pies.
“The majority of our customers love standard American pies,” Goold said. “And they’re all topped with real whipped cream.”
Patrons can expect to see traditional favorites such as apple, blueberry, cherry and pecan, with occasional surprises such as pineapple chiffon.
“They get so excited when they see the pies,” Goold said.
“We give them a list of all the flavors, and they’ll pick one up and walk down the line. They’ll pick up a slice, then they’ll see one they like better.”
Often, they can’t decide, and they’ll end up taking a slice of pie home. Take-out orders are available, but there is no delivery.
About two dozen people work on Fridays, and about eight come in on Thursdays to help prepare the food.
“As we get closer to the end of Lent, and on Good Friday, we’re really busy,” Goold said. “Other folks who have the day off (for Good Friday) will come in and volunteer. On that day, we need about three dozen people helping.”
Every Friday during Lent, the church offers a half-hour chapel service at 12:30 p.m. Music Director Becky Isaacsson plays piano, accompanying a soloist from the church choir.
“It gives us the opportunity to provide nourishment for not only the body but the soul,” Goold said.
The lunches serve as a fund-raiser for the church’s missions group. The group supports various causes, such as Crop Walk, Angel Tree Project, Open Pantry, Justice for Our Neighbors and Trinity Nursery School.
Each Friday, volunteers open the doors at 11:30, and they’re usually greeted by a line.
“It’s a wonderful source of fellowship for all of us that do the work,” Goold said.
“We love being together, we love serving the Lord and serving the community. We do it in the name of Jesus Christ, and we have the best lobster rolls in town.”
For take-out orders call, (413) 231-4892.