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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Columnist

Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel is set to host the 10th annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 2 from 8:00 a.m-noon.

Various handmade gift items will be available for purchase including quilted items such as lap and baby quilts, tables, stools, birdhouses made from repurposed wood, greeting cards, decorative items for the home and assorted handmade ornaments including “Woodland Creatures” featuring various animals such as owls and opossums. All items are priced from $1-$200.

“This is our main, sometimes only fundraiser, so we must set aside money from it for insurance and utilities,” said event organizer Ola Taylor. “Our hope is to finish raising the money needed to clean and repaint the exterior of the concrete block part of the building.”

Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel family and friends work throughout the year making items and collecting donations. The bazaar is a time in which everyone comes together to decorate the sanctuary, display bazaar items and welcome people to the place that holds memories for so many.

“When my sisters and I were children, the Christmas play was a big deal in this church,” said Taylor. “Looking back now, I marvel at the fact that the wise men always wore lavish bathrobes as their costumes. I can’t imagine which three men in this little farming community owned those elaborate robes. Following the play, the presents under the tree were handed out. Everyone had drawn names, so there were presents for all. I’m pretty sure some of the kind, generous adults had stashed extra presents under that big tree to make sure no one was left out.”

Two children activity stations will be available. At a “Make and Take” station for a small donation, children can make an ornament. At the other station, there will be Christmas cookie decorating.

“All of us enjoy visiting with the shoppers and meeting new people who’ve never been with us before,” said Taylor. “We look back to our very first bazaar and remember that because we were just starting out, we didn’t yet have the power turned on. It was a rather cloudy day, but we found enough candles to make the old sanctuary beautiful.”

Community donations for the bazaar are welcome. Christmas collections of Santas, snowmen and angel figurines are popular. Bakers, crafters and artist donations are also greatly appreciated. For more general information or to donate, visit Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel via Facebook or call 205-217-9466.

Chestnut Creek Heritage Chapel is located at 11975 County Road 24 E, Verbena.