Ushering in the Christmas Season
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| Amy reads up on displays |
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| Pam and Frosty |
The first weekend in December is
often our introduction to the Christmas spirit that accompanies the working
together of many members of Peoples UMC in developing and holding the annual
Christmas Fair. On Friday, December 1 many men and women arrived at Ellis Hall
early in the afternoon to set up tables and chairs and to put up many
decorations making the hall very festive and inviting.
Many of the items that would be for
sale on Saturday were brought through the open doors to the parking lots and
deposited in various areas around the hall. Crafts and the like were placed on
the tables to the front of the hall and a fake fireplace that has been in that
location for many years perhaps invites many people into the cozy environs of
the hall. A feature of the craft area was a rather substantial tree that would
display stained glass items that had been made by Ruth. Jeanne and Sally would
be the primary workers in that area on the next morning.
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| Barbara and her smile |
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| Kathy and Kit |
Across the left side of the room Betty
and Barb were busily engaged in toting in and setting up all nature of trash
and treasures with Pam L and Pam B working on the Christmas baubles and
bangles that were being set up just
before the Breezeway doors.
In the breezeway Susan and Becky G
were arranging the books in the Book Nook. Back in the hall,
Marlene and Amy were setting up the
Bakery tables and Janice and Becky S were arranging their tables to sell candy
and other sweets.
Art, Wes and Dan were setting up a
small Christmas tree with a display of hand made items that men of the church
had made. This was near the front door to the right and before the kitchen.
In the middle of the Ellis Hall were
tables and chairs for the selling and display of jewelry as well as a myriad of
items that would include more Christmas objects as well as glassware, ceramics,
games and puzzles. Carol was present as well as Kathy and Kit and later Doreen
and Sharon. Pam D spent time in the craft area and more in the jewelry area
during the afternoon.
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| Ruth Dan and the tree |
The kitchen while not abuzz on this
afternoon would certainly be at the center of activity on Fair Day on the
morrow.
Some of the men of the church could
be seen helping in the set up time and would include John, Dan, Len, Wes and
Art. Pastor Tom was also present during this afternoon.
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| Doreen and Sharon prepare their jewelry display |
Bright and sunny was the weather
report for Saturday, December 2 and most of those who would be working on
Winter Wonderland were arriving by 8 AM for a 9 AM opening. The weather was
just as predicted and many folks were at the door waiting to come in before the
grand opening hour.
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| One person's trash is another's treasure |
On the craft table were Sally and
Jeanne while at the far end of these tables Dick M had set up his electric
piano where he would play Christmas music for nearly the whole of fair time.
Certainly the music did a great job at keeping the spirit that is part of the
fair high.
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| Dick plays for the crowd |
In the trash and treasure area Betty
and Barbara along with Jody (who split her time with other areas too) would
make pleasant conversation with customers and sell many of their goods at great
prices. Pam B took care of the far end where the Christmas baubles and bangles
were available.
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| Carol is ready for the day |
Becky G had set up the Book Nook and
with the help of Susan accommodated many customers in their purchase of books
that might be for children and adults. Several cook books could also be seen
leaving in the hands of happy customers.
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| Aaron the magnificent |
Maria arrived with table and
ornaments that she would personalize by adding names to the decorations. While
her location was not as convenient as some she still provided a very pleasant
response to the people that visited her table.
Many card tables and eight foot
tables had been set up with chairs for those that might stop for a donut and
coffee or later a meal from the kitchen.
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| Crafts with Sally and Jeanne |
Beyond the tables were the areas
reserved for the Bakery and Candy crews. Amy and Marlene held down the Bakery
tables that started out with three tables filled with Cookies and Scones,
Carrot Cakes and Pound Cakes. On the Candy table a variety of candies including
fudge were displayed. Becky S and Janice, as they have been for many years,
prepared and operated this well visited area.
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| Bakery and Candy land |
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| Maria |
The kitchen crew consisted of Brad,
Chris, Dick and Keith with Betsy presiding over the collection of money.
Coffees and donuts were available early
and then as the Fair approached the noon hour it was time for people to order
Chicken Salad Sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Chili, Corn Chowder and Fish Chowder.
During the feeding hours the area of tables from time to time would get rather
crowded and as some of the goods for sale shrank away some of those table would
then be used for those who were partaking of the food.
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| Susan and Becky in the Book Nook |
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| Its lunch time |
Next to the kitchen Wes, Dan Tom N
and Art took turns manning a table that included a cheese wheel, note cards,
wooden products all prepared and made by men of the church. Whatever monies
were made on this table were designated for Mission Shares. In the Middle area
of the room first in the Jewelry area one would find Doreen, Sharon, Pam D and
Judy selling their well prepared and displayed wares. Other areas of the middle
square were overseen by Carol, Kathy and Aaron
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| John lets them in at nine |
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| UMM table |
Many members of families are often in
attendance and are able to sit down together for lunch. One of the special
folks that seems always to make it to the fair is Marita who may even be able
to remember the first fairs that were held at Peoples, even when the church was
located in Ferry Village. A Centenarian plus, Marita loves to stop and talk and
peruse the goods in almost all areas of the room with perhaps the jewelry area
her favorite.
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| Crowds gather |
When the gong of two was sounded it
was time for pickup to occur. By 2:30 PM one would wonder if there had ever
been a fair. Some of the items were carted off to side rooms for later disposal
while others were carted out to waiting trucks to go to Goodwill or someone’s
garage to be saved for another year. A good day’s activity had come to an end
after a taxing but meaningful day before Advent.
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| Waiting for business |
Advent would be ushered in on the
following day with the Hanging of the Greens and the setting of the Nativity scene
on top of the piano. Hymns of the Christmas season and a meaningful message on
the Christmas guest of the week, Zechariah presented by Pastor Tom put us all in the true meaning of Christmas.
Communion completed this day after this meaningful weekend with our church
family.
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| Families gather for a meal together |
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| All ages find something at the fair |
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| Workers take a lunch break |
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| Marieta makes the rounds |
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| Marieta enters Ellis Hall |
A little after 10:30 AM Dick M began
playing Christmas music on his electronic piano. This certainly made the
setting up and early arriving guests more relaxing and entertaining at the same
time. Coffee was ready for those that needed a cup. All was in place long
before the majority of the guests would arrive.
