After being closed during January and February, March is here and time for the planners, cooks and servers at the John Street United Methodist Church, 98 John Street, Camden, to return to the kitchen and dining room to prepare for their popular public supper.  Diners will be welcomed for the “Season Opener” supper to be served at 5:30, Saturday, March 4.

These suppers were first served in both the Camden and the Rockport Methodist Churches at least 60 years ago. Since 1991, when the Camden and Rockport churches joined their congregations to build the present church, the Saturday suppers continue to be a popular tradition.  The basics of the menu remain the same: New England style beans baked using a treasured recipe, accompanied by coleslaw, ham, casseroles, salad, hot rolls and pies.  Over time, those providing items for the meal have changed along with eating habits, so we offer an ever-changing selection of home-prepared foods. 

The host starts with a little humor and a blessing for the meal, then servers deliver food directly to the family-style tables.  Diners are free to request a specific item if it is not on their table, and it will be whisked from one spot to another for them. Corn and clam casseroles are especially popular, but there will also be American chop suey, scalloped potatoes, beef dishes and meatless casseroles.  The fresh salads include jello-based, crisp garden, spinach, multi bean and Asian slaw, plus others.   Plenty for everyone.  To be certain not to miss out on the tasty home-baked pies, diners are encouraged to select a piece from the pie table and take it to their seat.  It’s not unusual for those slices to be consumed before the meal is served.

The cost for the meal is $9 this year.  Organizers recommend arriving early because the tables fill quickly.