Gail Ruhl knows it can be intimidating for people to walk into a new church. That's one of the reasons Ruhl's Church hosts an annual Manheim Holiday Craft Show.

"We try to get people in the door however they feel comfortable," said Gail, who is organizing the show with Michelle Eakman. "Coming into a church for a craft show might be where they feel comfortable, and then you get to have a conversation with them, and it could turn into something. That's our hope."

The Manheim Holiday Craft Show will be held at Ruhl's Church, 4810 Elizabethtown Road, Manheim, on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will feature vendors and food.

"We have over 30 vendors," said Eakman, who is coordinating the craft side of the event and who will be selling her handmade infinity T-shirt scarves. "It will be a wide variety - baked goods to clothing and embroidered items. We'll have some direct sales like Pampered Chef and Norwex."

Gail, who is in charge of the food, noted that the menu will feature tried-and-true items that people come back for every year.

"I'm making my chicken corn noodle soup, and we always have barbecue sandwiches and hot dogs," she said. "We also offer some baked goods and a variety of beverages."

The soup will be available to eat in or to go. "People can bring their own containers to take soup, but it's not necessary," Gail shared. "We'll dish it up in quart containers."

Gail and her husband, Chuck, have been making the soup for many years. "It's a combination of a couple of recipes, and it's been tweaked over the years," Gail commented.

Proceeds from the Manheim Holiday Craft Show are used to support the mission outreach fund of the church.

"We do local, national and global missions," Gail said, adding that a group from the church takes a stateside mission trip annually in June. This coming year's trip is still being determined, but Gail thinks it's possible the volunteers will return to Montpelier, Vt., where they served five individuals and helped a local church last year. Just weeks after they returned home, heavy rains and flooding hit the area, destroying one of the homes they worked on and causing major damage at the church.

Gail encourages anyone who wants to shop, eat good food or enjoy some fellowship to come to the craft show.

"We as a church are benefiting from having the craft show, but it's also allowing local crafters and people who do direct sales a place for them to come and showcase their talents and sell their wares," she said. "We try to be welcoming as a church. We want everybody to come through our doors and check us out."

For more information, search for "Manheim Holiday Craft Show" on Facebook.