Church Ladies in the Kitchen

The title says it all - as the minister admitted yesterday during our church's UMW (United Methodist Women) recognition Sunday - this is where much work of the church gets done. Even though our church's men meet for coffee on Wednesday mornings, and claim to solve many of the world's problems, I'm think the discussions in the kitchen may bring about more change!
Besides being recognized for  mission work which happens around the world as well as out the kitchen serving window, our UMW was busy last week with a funeral lunch, planning a dinner meeting for 100 local cattlemen and cattle women, collecting for the World Thankoffering, and reading selected books which encourage members to think about critical issues.
So it seemed appropriate to see the stage production of the musical "Church Basement Ladies: A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement" with several other women from our church yesterday. This musical comedy is based on a book "Growing Up Lutheran", but seemed very Methodist (as well as Christian, Baptist, Catholic, etc) in many of it's story lines. As three women plus the daughter of one struggle with the changes happening in their church and community in a 1966 world, they find that friendship and food make it all seem better. My friends and I laughed through the show as we recognized ourselves and others in the characters. I remembered going to the church basement of my childhood hometown with my mom and seeing the same pyrex dishes come with jello salads and chicken noodle casseroles.
Here's one of my Mom's church salad recipes, it makes a lot - she noted "dessert - big" on the card! I'm not sure you can still buy Dream Whip, but Cool Whip is available and quicker.
Orange Supreme Salad
ingredients:
2 packages orange jello
1 1/2 cup boiling water
1 can (15 oz) crushed pineapple (drain & save juice)
8-oz. can mandarin oranges (drain & save juice)
1 can frozen orange juice (undiluted, thawed)
3-oz package lemon pie filling (can use instant or cooked)
1 cup Cool Whip or package Dream Whip
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
Directions:
Dissolve jello in water and cool. Add 1 1/2 cup juice from the pineapple and mandarin oranges and 1 can thawed orange juice. Chill until partly set.
Fold in pineapple and mandarine oranges. Put into a 9-in x 13-in pan  chill until firm. Prepare pie filling as directed on package, then fold the Cool Whip into it. Spread this mixture over the jello layer. Sprinkle with grated cheese.

Whatever the year,  whatever the church or community - I believe that friendship and food does make it all seem better.