Make plans to attend a spaghetti dinner at Saint Luke Episcopal Church and enjoy a homecooked meal while helping to support the church.

The dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, at the church, 209 S. Market St., Mount Joy.

"Let us cook for you and your family!" said Lynn McCleary, senior warden. "You will enjoy a delicious, well-balanced and affordable Italian dinner and a heaping portion of fun and fellowship."

The meal will include spaghetti and sauce, meatballs, a garden salad, garlic bread, dessert and beverages.

The food promises to be delicious, too, McCleary said, noting that it will be homemade but prepared by experts.

"Our main cook, Stephanie Gray, is a professional chef and church member," she said.

McCleary described the setup of the dinner as a hybrid of a buffet and sit-down meal.

"Our guests will be handed a piping hot plate of spaghetti, and once seated, a waitress will take care of salads, drinks and refills," she said. "Desserts will be selected by the guests from a table filled with sweet delicacies."

This is the second year in a row that the church has hosted a community dinner, McCleary noted, adding that the first event was very successful.

"Last year a spaghetti dinner drew a hungry and appreciative crowd," she recalled. "Everyone left satisfied and looking forward to more. Our hospitality committee planned this encore."

In addition to the dinner, the evening will feature another opportunity to raise funds for the church, McCleary said, noting, "There will be five beautifully filled baskets in our silent auction."

Proceeds from the meal will support ongoing work at the church.

"Like many churches, our congregation is dwindling due to age and infirmity," McCleary remarked. "Some of the projects we are working to fund are sidewalk repair as mandated by Mount Joy Borough, slate roof repair, flooring replacement in the fellowship hall, salaries and supplies for a refreshed musical program."

Reservations for the spaghetti dinner are helpful for planning purposes and may be made by calling Gail Fridy at 717-538-0810. There is no deadline for reservations, and walk-ins are welcome. Separate prices will be charged for people age 10 and older and children ages 4 to 9. There is no charge for children under age 4.

Saint Luke Episcopal Church holds worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m. Morning prayer is held on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., and a Taize service takes place on the first Saturday of the month at 5 p.m. For more information on the church, visit https://saintlukemountjoy.org.