Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers wants to share its mission with us. Salem Hellers also wants to share its lasagna with us.

Located at 2555 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster, Salem Hellers is conducting its 12th annual lasagna supper this week. Not only is it delicious, but it's also good food for all the right reasons.

"We're all like-minded individuals and we have Jesus in us," said Maggie Sensenig, Salem Hellers' missions chairperson, of the up to 24 volunteers who help serve the dinner. "We're growing by opening ourselves to the community. Hopefully people will see us, and it will help the community grow. We're passing on the profits. When people come here, they have a feeling of joyfulness and happiness. They know we have Jesus Christ in our lives. They can see how we work together. But the biggest thing is that they get that feeling."

Salem Hellers' lasagna supper will be served on Saturday, Feb. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church. The meal, which consists of a generous portion of lasagna, a piece of garlic bread, a salad and a drink, can be eaten on-site or picked up as takeout.

The dinners can be paid for at the door the day of the event. Tickets will not be sold prior to the lasagna supper.

The lasagna dinner features three types of lasagna - hamburger, a mixture of Italian sausage and hamburger or veggie with red sauce. Desserts will also be available for purchase.

"People do love it," said Sensenig of the Italian delicacy. "It's not a complicated thing to make and you can make a whole bunch of it. Some people are really impressed. ... A lot of community people come back year after year. A lot of us have family who come and support it too."

Salem Hellers enhances its in-house lasagna dining experience by creating an ambiance that includes mood lighting, romantic music, decorations and candles on the tables.

"I think the atmosphere is the thing people like," said Sensenig.

All proceeds from the supper will go to Align Life Ministries. Salem Hellers is hoping to serve 155 to 175 lasagna dinners, a total that would raise between $1,500 and $2,000 for the cause.

"We probably support 24 different ministries, locally and overseas," said Sensenig. "This year we thought Align would be a good one because it's in the forefront of people's minds, because it's so much in the news."

Known locally as "The Church on the Hill," Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers has roots in Germany and Switzerland and was founded in 1729, a year before the city of Lancaster was established. The church characterizes its mission with three G's - "Glorify God, Grow in the Spirit and Go into the World with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

"We used to go on adult mission trips," said Sensenig. "We always had a bazaar in the fall and the lasagna dinners to pay for them. Most of us are older now and we don't go anywhere. We started to give the money we raised to the ministries we support."

For additional information about Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, Hellers, go to http://www.salemhellers.com.