It isn't gold, frankincense or myrrh, but it is still valuable. For the 41st year, First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., will serve up a big gift to the community: its Christmas Day Fellowship Dinner.

From noon to 2 p.m., guests will dine on turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green beans, rolls and a wide variety of desserts. There is no charge for the meal.

The church dining room will be festive with tables for eight decorated with red tablecloths and wreath-and-candle centerpieces.

Diners also will take home a bag of fruit, candy and an ornament related to Christ's birth.

For the fourth year, Daphne Spohn of Herman is leading the effort to prepare and serve or deliver the Christmas Day meals.

“All in all, we have anywhere between 200 and 300 volunteers,” said Spohn.

Vicky Mazzanti, Spohn's mother, became involved when her daughter did.

“I'm more an Indian than a chief,” said Mazzanti of West Sunbury. “Tell me what to do and I'll get it done.”

“We had no idea how much was involved,” said Mazzanti. Although Spohn worked in restaurants, many of the other volunteers advise them how things have been done in the past.

Volunteers will serve about 175 dinners at the church and deliver another 250 to 300 meals to homebound individuals and firemen, police officers and others serving the community on the holiday.

The work will be divided into teams and shifts of volunteers. Fifteen to 20 people will work on each part of the event.

One piece is especially popular. About 50 to 60 people, including children, want to deliver individual meals to the tables and pour drinks.

On Sunday, volunteers will take 24 to 30 turkeys and oven cooking bags from the church.

“We have a whole little instruction list that tells them about properly cooking and cooling and remembering to remove the bag of yummies,” said Spohn.

The birds will come back to the church Tuesday after being roasted in people's homes.

“On Christmas Eve, we carve them up and put them into reheat pans,” said Spohn. “The gravy is started. The stuffing is prepped and in the pans.”

An assembly line prepares the take-home bags.

On Christmas morning, another preparation team will go to work.

By 10:30 or 11 a.m., a delivery group led by Cindy and Bryan Cipoletti of Butler will start delivering meals.

“We coordinate all the Christmas Day deliveries for those who cannot get out of the house,” said Cindy Cipoletti.

People of all ages, including families with young children and couples in their senior years, will go to homes within a 20-minute drive of the church.

Each delivery team will take about five meals. At some homes, the team may stay for a short time to visit.

“When you go to someone's house on Christmas Day to deliver a meal it means so much to them,” said Cipoletti.

“You can see it in their eyes. It's such a small sacrifice for us,” said Cipoletti. “We feel like we're so blessed to share Christmas Day with someone who might not have anyone.”

If the weather is bad on Wednesday, the food will still go out. Cipoletti said, “Our delivery people never complain. They are troopers.”

After the delivery group leaves the church, Spohn said volunteers will rearrange the kitchen to serve the meal in the dining room.

“The meal itself happens so fast,” Spohn said.

A cleanup crew probably will finish by 3:30 p.m.

With so many very well- organized volunteers, Spohn said, “The dinner could run itself.”

First United Methodist will cover the largest part of the meal cost.

“We always appreciate financial donations, but we don't depend on them,” said Spohn. “It's amazing how it works out.”

The turkeys and the desserts will be donated by many individuals. Giant Eagle will donate some turkeys too.

Henry McNutt of Fenelton started donating turkeys for the dinner a few years ago. Last year he bought 10 frozen turkeys from Jones Turkey Farm in Jefferson Township. Today he will pick up turkeys there again.

“When everyone else is wrapping and unwrapping presents, we're doing the fellowship,” said McNutt. “It's my way of contributing and I'm making sure the food is there for them.”

People come to the dinner individually and in groups.

“It is open to everybody,” said Spohn. “It's not about being well-off or struggling in the economy. It is about being with other people and having a nice holiday meal.”

Despite a new baby, Spohn said, “I'll be there. It's an amazing thing to watch. People come together, and it's the perfect time of year to be a part of that fellowship and putting someone above you.”

“My spiritual life has increased tenfold since being with the church. My wife as well,” said McNutt. “This is my way of giving back to the church and back to God.”

“I just do it because it comes out of my heart,” said McNutt. “We're supposed to be there to help.”

<B>WHAT: </B>Annual Christmas Day Fellowship Dinner<B>WHEN:</B> noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday<B>WHERE: </B>First United Methodist Church, Epworth Center, 200 E. North St., Butler.<B>ADMISSION: </B>There is no charge to participate in the meal. Reservations are preferred but walk-ins are welcome too. Deliveries and takeout are available. To make reservations, volunteer or donate, call 724-256-9111.An informal Christmas service will be at 11 a.m. in the church sanctuary.The church's Second Grace Shop will be open during the dinner hour Christmas Day. The shop offers free, gently-used clothing.