When you consider an event that has spanned more than 50 years, friendships that in some cases equal that same amount of time, a small church with a congregation of an estimated 45 in an equally small community, the sense of warmth and well being is overwhelming.
If you were fortunate enough to visit this small church on a sunny Saturday afternoon in November, when 16 of these friends had gathered to make 50 wreaths for the church’s annual craft/food fair and upon entering the fellowship area you were instantly taken back to childhood days by the smell of freshly cut pine boughs, you would understand this sense of comfort and well-being.
“In our younger days we used to sit on the floor to make these wreaths,” said Evangelical Covenant Church member Shirley Cote with a laugh. Cote and other church members were in the process of assembling 50 wreaths, which will be decorated by Cote, then be available for purchase on Saturday, Nov. 19, at the New Sweden School, along with an amazingly vast amount of homemade breads and sweets; handmade craft items and even an array of antiques.
The annual event also features the Covenant Cafe, (operated solely by Arlene Plourde) in the school cafeteria where shoppers can enjoy a lunch of homemade soup and other treats. The entire event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and rumor has it, if you aren’t there when the doors open, don’t count on getting a wreath or being able to take advantage of the cookie cupboard, because everything that is on sale disappears very, very rapidly.
Originally the Friendly Women’s Guild, (as the first group was known held the annual fundraiser, at least 50 years ago, in the New Sweden Town Hall, due to an unfortunate fire, the group moved the event to the basement of the church.
Over the years, due to the popularity of the project, the group began using the New Sweden School as the site for the annual craft fair and when the new school was constructed in 1994,they moved along to that location. “It’s a very large area to fill and we always worry that we won’t have enough items, but somehow we manage and every year within the two hours, everything is gone,” said Cote, “people line up outside at least a half-an-hour before we open the doors.”
The wreath project started in 1990 and it has become a favorite part of the occasion. “Last weekend 16 of us along with six dogs spent two or three hours in the woods tipping branches,” said Cote, “we gather enough to make the wreaths and also for the greening of the church.”
Ireland, who operates her own Wreaths by Natalie, in Caribou, said that it is the result of her participating with this church group and the annual craft fair that she became interested in creating wreaths and other arrangements.
“Just before we open the doors every year, after rushing around for all those days, baking, crafting, collecting and making the wreaths plus getting everything to the school and displayed,” said Cote with a warm smile, “we all gather around in a circle, hold hands and just take a minute for a quiet prayer, — then we open the doors and the rush begins.”
“We’re a tiny church with a tiny budget,” said Cote, “Eighty percent of what we achieve through this sale goes to our Evangelical Covenant Church and the remaining 20 percent goes to our mission fund which benefits local and international efforts.”
So mark your calendar, write it on your hand, post it on the windshield of your vehicle — what ever works best, just don’t miss out on the chance to do some holiday shopping (and some for yourself). Be there early to taste the famous Krumkake, a Swedish waffle cookie that Helen Espling will be making on the spot. “If you are looking to buy baked goods just keep in mind, if you snooze you loose,” cautioned Cote.
To make things even more enticing, if you’re there early enough, you may be able to purchase Saturday’s dinner before you leave, which includes, homemade beans, bread, rolls, coleslaw and potato salad.
“Every time we consider the possibility of not holding this event,” said Ireland, “we remind ourselves that it is a community event — and we just keep on planning the next one.”
The Evangelical Covenant Church is located just off U.S. Route 161 in New Sweden. Traveling north from Caribou, turn left at the NorthStar Variety Store and the church is just down the road on the left-hand side.
