Salem Hellers plans holiday bazaar

Deb Burns, one of the organizers of the annual Salem Hellers Evangelical Reformed Church bazaar, has a room set aside for visiting authors this year. Last year, George Cooper, author of the recently published book "Joseph of Nazareth: A Story of Uncommon Love and Faith," joined in the event to autograph copies of his book. This year, four more authors have signed on, along with more than 20 crafters and home-based business representatives to enhance the offerings of the event.

The 2023 holiday bazaar will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church, 2555 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster.

According to Burns, among the many crafters will be those who sell jewelry, dog scarves, crocheted items, wood crafts, handmade note cards and greeting cards, wreaths, candles, repurposed wine bottles, and handcrafted bags. Home-based business vendors will sell Avon products, items from Pampered Chef, baskets, Discovery Toys, Tupperware, and Thirty-One Gifts. Each of the vendors will donate an item for the Chinese auction. Winners of the Chinese auction will be announced at 2 p.m.

In addition to Cooper, authors will include Shelleen Weaver, known for her Fruit Fables series, which explore the Fruits of the Spirit using animal characters to teach lessons to children and adults. C.S. Wachter, fantasy writer and author of "The Light Arises," will be present, as will World War II survivor Eleanor Isaacson, author of "Dancing From Darkness," which tells her story of being abandoned as a toddler in Nazi Germany. Author of "The Compass of the Beatitudes" and educator Terry Webb, who has written both historical fiction and nonfiction books, will also take part.

Organizers plan to offer both breakfast and lunch foods for purchase. Individual breakfast casseroles made with potatoes, eggs, ham or bacon, and cheese, along with coffee, will be sold for breakfast. Hot dogs and chicken corn soup will be offered for lunch. Chicken corn soup will be sold by the bowl to eat at the bazaar or by the quart to take out. A variety of baked goods will be available as well.

Burns reported that the mission committee members hope the sale will raise $2,000 for local organizations such as Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services as well as international ones such as JAARS Inc., a ministry associated with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Readers who have questions about the event may call 717-951-9717 for additional information.