AS OLD COUNTRY BROTHERS belted out popular songs from The Eagles, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton and many others, volunteers across the backyard of Christ Lutheran Church created, baked and delivered homemade wood-fired pizzas to an appreciative crowd. Randy and I were among those attending the last of the summer Holy Smoke concert series and pizza nights Wednesday at the church on the hill on Faribault’s east side.
In its sixth year, Holy Smoke is about more than excellent thin crust pizza and music. This is also about a coming together of community on a perfect August evening in southeastern Minnesota. This is also about giving back. Proceeds from the three summer gatherings benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity and HOPE Center.
A message printed on some volunteers’ t-shirts and on a bench dedicated to Pastor Craig and Carol Breimhorst (the pastor died of COVID-19; the first death in our county) references Isaiah 55:12, fitting Scripture for this hilltop church edged by trees and a sweeping lawn descending to Minnesota State Highway 60.
There’s joy in that biblical reference just as there’s joy among those who make Holy Smoke happen. A ticket taker, whom I thanked, tapped her hand to her heart, showing me from whence her joy rises.
I found the same enthusiasm among the crew tending the wood-fired pizza oven. The heat flaming inside to 700-plus degrees made the work station at times uncomfortably hot. But they forged on, baking pizzas.
Inside the fellowship hall, other volunteers layered sliced tomatoes, meat toppings, cheese and more onto rounds of dough.
In the kitchen, three women worked, two doing dishes, the third snipping chives.
Still others rolled pizza cutters across pizzas hot from the oven, pizzas ready for more volunteers to carry to hungry customers. The wait time is short, especially if you order a quarter of a pie.
From my observations, the entire pizza-making and delivery process runs smoothly. Everywhere I saw smiles. Smiles on the faces of volunteers, beginning with the greeter who met us at the door. And smiles among those eating pizza and enjoying the music of Gregg and Jeff Sartor. I felt the joy.
Holy Smoke is an event for all ages, from kids blowing bubbles, rolling down the hillside, running across the lawn and climbing on rocks ringing a tree to older folks relaxing in lawn chairs.
This is a mostly bring-your-own chairs, own napkins (I’d also advise paper plates, wet wipes and a portable side table) event, although limited picnic table space is available.
Mostly, Holy Smoke seems about community. About connecting. About conversations. About supportive businesses. About joy.
In the loveliness of the summer evening, I heard the hills sing. I heard the trees clap. And I tasted some “holy smoke, this is good” smoked brisket pizza.
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
what a wonderful community event for so many reasons, they really get it. I love the t-shirt!
Yes, Holy Smoke is a wonderful community event in every way.
Sounds like a joyful and delicious evening, Audrey. Bringing people together while supporting those worthwhile endeavors is joyful.
Indeed it is. Joyful.
Looks like a good time! 🙂
You would have enjoyed this event, Penny.
Sounds wonderful! The pizza pictures had my mouth watering and stomach growling.😳 Almost dinner time here.😂
The pizza is delicious. And everything about this event is simply wonderful. Your would love Holy Smoke, Paula.
It is almost county fair time (mid August) and I always get a bit homesick around this time of the year. It was always a time to reconnect with people you hadn’t seen in a while. Listen to some good music, eat some great food, and work with my dear friend in the milkshake stand. Holy Smoke sounds like one of those type of events.😊
It is one of those types of events, Paula. What wonderful memories you have of a Minnesota fair. I’m sorry you’re missing home so much right now.
Sounds wonderful. I assume they are done for the season?
Yes, this is a three-month (June-August) event. We’ll have to get together there next summer.
Wonderful post; I can taste the pizza and sense the fellowship this evening created. How joyful!
Thank you, Bernadette. You would have enjoyed Holy Smoke.
I would try that smoked brisket pizza! Looks good!
If you lived in Minnesota, Randy and I would enjoy wood-fired pizza with you, Nicole and Ethan. 🙂
LOVE everything about this event 🙂 We love making homemade pizzas and mister dreams of a brick oven to have one day. In the last year and some months if I have been taught anything is to live fully and celebrate more. The one food blogger I follow just made a corn and peach pizza – it had me thinking – I think thinly sliced potatoes on a pizza sounds good. I have had carrots and broccoli on a veggie pizza – the broccoli needed to be smaller. Okay – now I am hungry for pie and craving a good tune to move my body and soul to! Happy Day – Enjoy
Oh, yes, I hope the mister gets his brick oven some day. My nephew just sent me a recipe for a chicken strawberry pizza he makes. Thanks for appreciating Holy Smoke.
I like both so may have to give a chicken strawberry pizza a whirl. There are many ways you could make it too. Like a dessert pie with a twist of savory with cold chicken – think chicken salad meets strawberry cream cheese. You could also do like a strawberry jam marinara with BBQ chicken. The possibilities are endless with pie!
The recipe Jason shared has a bit of strawberry jam and fresh strawberries. I agree that the options are endless. Long gone are the days of simple pepperoni pizza.
That brisket pizza looks so good. What a fun and well named event. I absolutely love everything about this – from pizza to the community time to the whole giving back. Perfect combination. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you commented on the name. Holy Smoke is not only meaningful and fitting, but it’s genius marketing.
I wonder if Audrey is the lady who wanted my shirt – it has “The Trees will clap their hands” verse on it 👏🏻🎶❤️. Thanks for sharing this story.
Michelle, I’m happy to share this story about Holy Smoke. I may have said to someone, “I would like that shirt.” I don’t specifically recall as I talked to many people that evening.