Breaking News
Life

Crafty Christmas

Area churches prep for today’s holiday bazaars

By Darby Hinkley 5 min read

ALPENA -- With flurries flying already this week, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and area churches are ready to get you in the holiday mood with craft shows and bazaars.

First Presbyterian Church and St. Paul Evangelical Church, both of Alpena, welcome the community to their holiday events starting at 10 a.m. today.

A Holiday Jump Start craft show and bake sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian on the corner of Chisholm Street and Long Rapids Road.

St. Paul will hold its annual bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the gym upstairs. The luncheon will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall at 727 S. 2nd Ave. Luncheon tickets are $12 each. Children younger than age 5 eat for free. The bazaar will feature a cookie walk, needlework nook, country store, and a multi-item raffle. The bazaar and luncheon are dedicated to the loving memory of Lori Ludwig, longtime chair of the bazaar committee and lifetime member of St. Paul.

Bazaars and craft shows take a lot of planning, volunteers, and generous donors and community members who offer their time and talents to make the events successful each year. The churches depend on these events to help pay for much-needed facility updates and items not typically covered by the church general fund. A portion of the proceeds from each event go to help local nonprofit agencies, as well.

"Months and months and months of preparation, planning and planning, just for that one day," said St. Paul Pastor John Shipman. "It's a celebration of people and how we make a difference in the community."

While preparing for the St. Paul bazaar is a lot of work, organizers Esther Kindt and Andrea Dutcher said it's worth every second, especially this year, since it is being held in memory of their dear friend, Lori Ludwig, who passed away in April.

"Lori did it for 17 years, and I did it for 13 before her," Kindt said. "So we dedicated the bazaar to her."

They recalled fondly that Ludwig used to say "Your hair looks really nice today," if she wanted you to do something for her, and you usually just did it.

"We start planning about February," Dutcher said.

Kindt and Dutcher explained why they work on the bazaar, which will include over 1,200 home-canned items, 80 homemade pies, handcrafted wooden and glass items, raffle baskets, and much more.

"We enjoy the camaraderie," Dutcher said, which Kindt echoed. "It's fun to get together."

"It really is fun," Kindt said.

She added that it's an opportunity to invite visitors to church, as well.

"Hopefully, we spark something in somebody," she said.

The Alpena community supports each other during the holiday season.

"Here's the beautiful thing," Kindt said. "This quilt was given to us by Grace Lutheran. Their quilters made this quilt to donate to our bazaar. That's what this is all about. It is amazing."

She added that people from other churches come and volunteer and donate other items, too.

Over at First Presbyterian, Holiday Jump Start craft show and bake sale co-chairs Char Keune and Vi Pashley said they'll have a variety of craft vendors, concessions, a 50/50 raffle, and great items for all ages.

This year's event will be a little different than prior years at First Presbyterian, as it will be focused on craft vendors selling their own items rather than a bazaar-style sale. But rest assured, it will still be a great spot to get your holiday shopping done. There will also be concessions in place of the traditional luncheon, and a wide variety of delicious baked goods made by members of the church.

"We have some really talented people that are dedicated to making these projects that take a long time," Pashley said of the lovely craft items, including knit and crocheted hats, blankets, toys, quilted bags, wreaths, handmade cards, epoxy items, jewelry, home decor, signs, and much more.

"Our congregation is probably 80% retired, and so they use these things to fill their day, to a degree," Keune added. "Which is really good for us."

They pared the event down a bit this year, but they are hoping the new format will be well-received.

Proceeds go toward repairs and upgrades the general fund doesn't cover.

"The Women's Association has bought things like electric door openers, they've replaced faucets in the bathroom, they've bought windows," Pashley said.

When asked why they organize the craft show and bake sale, Pashley said "because we're crazy" at the same time Keune said "because we can't say 'no,'" then they both laughed.

"It's an endeavor," Keune said.

At St. Paul, proceeds from the bazaar help fund building upgrades and the like.

"The proceeds help support the church, and 10% is being tithed to Sunday Supper and the Friendship Room," Dutcher noted.

"We always tithe 10 percent," Kindt added.

Heading out to bazaars and craft shows is a great way to start or finish your holiday shopping, and enjoy spending time with friends and community members.

"You can do your Christmas shopping here," Kindt said. "Plus, the camaraderie."

"It really brings people together," Dutcher said.

CORRECTION: Sam Krey made a birdhouse for the St. Paul bazaar and Rick Kindt made handcrafted bowls for the bazaar. That information was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.

Starting at /week.