When a scantily-clad man is standing next to me talking about pie, I tend to listen.

Now that I have your attention (was it the scantily-clad man or the pie?), I want to tell you a tale of three churches. Three churches so overflowing with good talent and even better pie that they share it each year with the community.

The annual tri-church Talent Show & Pie Social, involving St. John's United Church of Christ, Grace United Church of Christ and Emmanuel United Church of Christ, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at Emmanuel UCC, 6210 S. Highway 94 in Weldon Spring. Admission to the approximately one-hour show is free, but you pay for the pie.

That's a lot of talented UCC'ers in one place. With their proceeds going to different causes and charities each year, I'm beginning to believe "UCC" stands for Unbelievable Community Compassion in addition to United Church of Christ.

It all started back in 2004, when St. John's UCC on Wolfrum Road in Weldon Spring wanted to raise money for a mission/youth group project. Jean Hoskins, the church's coordinator for the event since 2007, explained, "The planning committee combined entertainment and dessert as a way to guarantee a good turnout to raise money for each year's designated charities."

In 2009, the other two churches got on board. The coordinator for Emmanuel is Laura Eaton, and Grace's is Jerry Watson. The churches divide the proceeds by three, and 100 percent of each church's share goes to a charity of that church's choice. Past causes have included the Heifer Project, Haitian Relief, First Step Back Home (a local organization that works to find jobs and housing for the homeless), Kids Against Hunger, a native-American reservation school, Hope Food Pantry and the Joplin relief fund.

The talent acts are as varied as the causes — and the pie.

"We have had jugglers, a mime, singers, dancers, guitar players, dramatic readings, magicians, gymnasts, stand-up comedy, violinists, a bassoonist, pianists, bands and an accordion player," Hoskins said.

As for the caliber of talent, Hoskins said diplomatically, "Our efforts each year have been to share performances of some really talented people along with performances of others who have mostly enthusiasm and humor to bring to the evening."

While the pie is fresh each year, the performers might be a little more seasoned. Or not.

"Our performers have ranged in age from a 4-year-old little girl who belted out 'Jesus Take the Wheel,' to an 88-years-young gal dressed as a cheerleader who sang 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,'" Hoskins said.

There was also an 11-year-old boy who wrote and performed his own stand-up comedy routine, and a group of singing nuns who performed music from "Sister Act." One of the nuns had a beard. I hope it was a comedy act.

The pie is available for $3 a slice or $10 for the whole pie.

Now, back to the scantily-clad man. (You've been wondering about that, haven't you, dear reader?)

Jerry Watson, Grace UCC's coordinator for the event, and his wife Bernice, are friends of mine from the St. Charles YMCA's aquatics class. You meet the nicest people when you're waist-deep in a pool doing leg lifts.

Jerry also has participated as a performer the last three years, rendering such popular songs as "Always on My Mind" and "Can't Help Falling in Love." Typically humble, he told me no rotten tomatoes have been thrown at him yet, but he wonders if this could be the year.

"Being part of this event is fun, and I believe this brings the three churches closer together," said Jerry, who admits he's a people person and a "bit of a ham at heart."

You can't keep a good ham down, as Jerry proved in 2010, when he had arm surgery a few weeks before the event. He had to have some nerve damage repaired in his right arm and elbow, and he performed in a sling.

"For a right-handed person, holding a microphone in the left hand is quite awkward — for me, anyway. I probably looked like an old gray-haired, one-armed gunslinger singing a Willie Nelson song," he said.

The volunteers at the three churches may all be as humble as Jerry, but they should be proud that they serve a heaping helping of community outreach along with their pie, although at least one of the performers has high hopes of reaching ... Hollywood?

"The three coordinators have not decided to take the show on the road yet," Jerry said. "But who knows? Perhaps a scout for 'American Idol' will be lurking in the audience."

For more information about this year's Talent Show and Pie Social, visit Emmanuelucc1866.org or call the church office at 636-441-1406.

Karen Diekamp Hitchcock of St. Charles is a medical secretary who writes a semimonthly column for the Journal. She can be reached at kdhitch1@hotmail.com