STARKVILLE — Starkville First United Methodist Church will feature more than 30 artists and crafters at its 15th Christmas Holiday Bazaar on Nov. 15.

Held for the first time since 2019, the free event will offer hand-crafted items such as jewelry, paintings, hand-sewn textiles, pottery, woodwork, specialty food items and home decor. Frozen casseroles and baked goods will be sold from the church’s booths.

The event will be held in the church’s Christian Life Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be available from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will include chicken salad and pimento cheese sandwich plates, white bean chicken chili, and cookies.

“We are excited about the variety of vendors participating,” Frances McDavid, a steering committee member, said. “Our vendors’ items will appeal to all tastes and ages. We are glad to have some previous vendors returning and will enjoy seeing the work of our first-time participants.”

“As a church member and vendor, I am happy for the return of our annual bazaar,” Jacque Tisdale, another committee member, said. “It’s always been a favorite way to kick off the holiday season while supporting worthwhile mission projects.”

“The casseroles are available just in time to help with Thanksgiving lunch and finding a handmade, unique gift will be a big plus,” she added. “Visiting with friends while enjoying lunch and shopping will be a fun way to spend a few hours, all the while supporting several outreach projects.”

Proceeds will go to the church’s local outreach missions such as Backpack Meals, which serves school children who would otherwise not have meals available on weekends. Other beneficiaries include the community food pantry and Bedz for Kidz, which builds beds for children without beds.

Another church ministry, The Love Projects, builds connections with and support for residents in the low-income Brookville Gardens area.

The church’s missions program also supports UMCOR, the international United Methodist Committee on Relief that provides disaster relief after events such as the recent Hurricane Helene. Support also goes to Starkville Strong to assist people in critical circumstances.