May 26, 2026 //
If you’ve ever stared into an open fridge at 4:00 PM and breathed a quick prayer for inspiration, you are not alone. In fact, that exact, universal feeling is how the upcoming church cookbook was born!
From “Lent Madness” (Kind of) to the Dinner Table
“During Lent this year, the Moms’ Group gathered to explore the topic of ‘Lent as a Mother: What Does Sacrifice Mean Now?’,” say Emily Reichenbach and Jessica Thomas, the cookbook’s co-editors. “To spark discussion, we ran our very own Lent Madness bracket, pitting the everyday sacrifices moms make against one another to explore why we choose Lenten sacrifices.”
The undisputed champion of the bracket? Always figuring out what’s for dinner.
A visiting mom of one of the members perfectly captured the universal mood of generations of parents: “Even after all these years, every night, I think to myself, ‘Dear God, what’s for dinner?’”
There was one collective thought: That is the name of a cookbook!
A Delicious Tradition
Parish cookbooks are about much more than recipes—they are collections of memories, traditions, and community life. For generations, churches have created cookbooks to raise funds, preserve family favorites, and bring people together around the table.
From potlucks and holiday dinners to funeral lunches and bake sales, the recipes in parish cookbooks tell the story of a community and the people who shaped it. They preserve not only treasured dishes, but also the warmth, hospitality, names, and care that define parish life.
Celebrating Our 90th Anniversary
Forty years ago a church cookbook called Down Apple Road created a snapshot of this parish family. This new cookbook continues that tradition, gathering old favorites and new creations alike as a celebration of faith, friendship, and the joy of sharing a meal together.
“As our church celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2027, this book feels like the perfect way to honor our milestones,” say Emily and Jessica. “Food has always been at the heart of how this community gathers, comforts, and celebrates. This project allows us to reflect back on the traditions and flavors that sustained the generations before us, while looking forward to the
future by sharing the meals fueling our families today.”
This isn’t just a collection of ingredients; it’s a living time capsule of who our church community is right now. The editors hope this cookbook will serve as a shared resource—a helping hand from one kitchen to another.
Whether you have a foolproof five-ingredient weeknight savior, a cherished holiday tradition, or a recipe passed down through generations, we want it in these pages!
Together, let’s answer that age-old question: “Dear God, what’s for dinner?”
Help Us Fill the Pages!
We hope you’ll help us create a cookbook filled with favorite dishes, family traditions, and memories from our community.
Visit the 90th Anniversary Cookbook page to learn more about the recipes we are seeking and find links to share YOUR recipe!
