By CATHERINE LEGG / Community Columnist

There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to spend the morning visiting with friends and shopping at the annual Spring Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church Christmas Bazaar. Mark your calendar now for this Saturday, Nov. 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The air will be filled with the wonderful aroma of Christmas as each visitor is greeted with a cup of hot cider or coffee and sweet treats. Later, shoppers can enjoy a bowl of the comfort-giving homemade soup or chili for lunch; or they can take some home as a carry-out.

For 44 years the ladies of the church have spent a major part of each year preparing wonderful hand-made items for this special sale. There are always lots of holiday decorations, baby items, needlecrafts, baked goods and gifts ready for those friends and relatives on your list.

Pauline Ingram’s delicious peanut brittle is a best-seller, as are Joanne Alexander’s mouth-watering cookies. And this year you’ll want to get there early for a chance to buy one of Beverly Stamps’ original paintings.

SCCPC is one of the area’s older churches. Mary Arledge, the secretary, is proud of her church; she said, “We enjoy the families who have grown with the church; they and newcomers alike have found a welcome home here.

“Our pastor, Scott Fowler, his wife, Linda, and their family, have been with us since 1996. Through those years many of our events have become traditions. In addition to the bazaar and the regular services there is the Easter sunrise service, homecoming, vacation Bible school, the fall picnic, fall festival and the Christmas cantata. Occasionally there are birthday parties, picnics, and the happy event of baptisms in our own Spring Creek located between the church and the cemetery,” she said.

Arledge explained the Christmas Bazaar helps the church and the community as proceeds benefit the missions of the church such as helping needy families in the community and the Save-A-Life Shelby and Shelby Emergency Assistance organizations.

“Don’t forget,” said Arledge. “Come early Saturday morning so you can be there when the doors open.”

 

Catherine Legg can be reached at clegg2@bellsouth.net.