The roots of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church Craft Bazaar go back to about 2013 when Sister Dottie Almoney, director of education and outreach for St. Peter's, suggested to Kim Sterner that Sterner and her mother, Movita Groff, should oversee a craft show at the church. Almoney knew that the pair made crafts, including jewelry, cards, and scarves adorned with pins.

The timing was not right, but by 2017, Sterner's children had completed their education, and she was ready to give the undertaking a go. In 2018, the church held its first bazaar, and the positive response led the mother and daughter to schedule another for 2019. Last year, the bazaar was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

For 2021, both Sterner and Groff are happy to be back at work organizing an event that will feature more than 40 crafters and food. The bazaar is scheduled to be held in the Family Life Center of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10 Delp Road, Lancaster, on Saturday, Nov. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no admission charge to attend, but attendees will be required to wear masks in the building.

"Our craft show is all handmade items," said Groff. Among the items that are lined up for the 2021 event are pillows, crayons, doll clothing, burping cloths, table runners, soaps, braided rugs, knitted items, ribbon angels, oil lamps, and handbags. Additional vendors will offer crocheted towels, wooden ornaments and other woodcrafts, surprise balls made of paper with treats inside, floral arrangements, wreaths, signs, pottery, and tissue holders. An author will have her book on display.

The church youth group will make refreshments to sell to help raise funds to attend a youth conference. The Manheim Township Lions Club will be selling individually wrapped desserts.

Groff explained that the charge to vendors is kept low, and rental funds are used only to cover bazaar expenses.

"It's a community outreach," explained Sterner.

Readers who would like more information may visit http://www.stpeterslutheran.org/announcements.