Tuesday was a stormy day coming, with tornado watches on the horizon. Perhaps it was just the kind of day to snuggle up at home – or head out to get some soup for later on. Either way, Central United Methodist Church of Meridian had locals covered.

 

The church offered the community a way to celebrate “Fat (Shrove) Tuesday” with a traditional Mardi Gras meal of shrimp and crab gumbo, rice, French bread and even King Cake for dessert. The $12 ticket price supported the church’s missions.

 

“Central has a long tradition of mission projects for area schools, a backpack ministry, supporting local nonprofits such as the Free Clinic of Meridian and Wesley House Community Center, as well as UMC missions, especially disaster relief projects,” said Pastor Scott Wright in a press release. “In fact, church members recently prepared 50 flood buckets for victims of floods in Tennessee and North Carolina.”

 

The latest project saw Central UMC hosting a highly successful Tim Tebow Foundation “Night to Shine” event for special needs adults throughout the area.

 

Shrove or Fat Tuesday has been celebrated for generations as the final day of Mardi Gras. It is followed by Ash Wednesday, which ushers in the 40 days of Lent before Easter Sunday.

 

“Sharing a meal with the community and supporting mission projects at the same time seems like a perfect way to begin the Lenten period,” Wright added.

 

This inaugural fundraising event may become an annual one, church officials said. “We hope it does,” said one church helper who hurried by those dropping off their empty trays after eating at the church. Diners had been able to eat in the fellowship hall or pickup from a side door off 11th Street during both the lunch or supper offering.

 

Jerry Neyman of Clarke County was pleased with the meal, which he said he saw advertised on social media. He was positive he and his wife would enjoy it, so tornado or no, off they went.

 

“Everywhere we travel, we try the gumbo,” he said, adding that they had found that gumbo is particular to the region in which it is made. “Sometimes it’s thin, sometimes you can stand a spoon in it,” he said. “And this here is what I’d call medium. It’s good.”

 

He lowered his voice in a conspiratory tone: “You know, some people put boiled eggs in theirs.” He nodded sincerely at this revelation, which brought a smile to his wife.

 

“We try the gumbo, and the bread pudding,” she added to his comments as they nodded in solidarity at this fact.

 

The two didn’t have to think twice when asked if they’d come back next year if a new tradition sprang from the event.

 

“We sure will,” Jerry said, his wife Norma nodding along as she sipped her crab-dotted gumbo, pulling out large juicy shrimp.

 

“I’m always a sucker for gumbo,” Jerry said with a laugh. Norma smiled, too, and off they went, headed home.