GALT, CA (MPG) - In one of Galt’s oldest congregations, a centuries-long tradition continues each holiday season as St. Luke’s Episcopal Church opens its doors for its annual Christmas bazaar.

Held for the 112th consecutive year on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7, the event reflects the church’s history of commitment to fellowship, craftsmanship and community connection.

St. Luke’s remains one of the oldest buildings in the area, preserving Galt’s history both in its infrastructure and through traditions that have been passed down for generations.

Each year, tables inside the church’s community space fill with one-of-a-kind handmade goods created by parishioners and friends. Knitted beanies, scarves, quilts, baby blankets and pillows add color throughout the room, alongside baked and preserved goods such as jams, honey, cookies and cakes.

Among the most recognizable items are hand-embroidered tea towels, a longtime favorite that has been sold since the bazaar’s earliest days.

 

Each year, tables inside the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s community space fill with handmade goods such as knitted beanies, scarves, quilts and baby blankets created by parishioners and friends. 

The event is the church’s primary fundraiser, with proceeds supporting the St. Mary’s Guild of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which provides scholarships to local high school students, among other charitable efforts.

Amanda Jackson, a congregation member, said the bazaar has always been about more than shopping. She explained that visitors are welcome to sit, enjoy a cup of coffee or snacks without any expectation to make a purchase, a tradition rooted in hospitality.

“We’re doing refreshments because it gives people a place to sit and have holiday cheer,” Jackson said. “With fellowship being a really big part of Episcopal culture, it’s very important for us to keep that tradition alive.”

President of the St. Mary’s Guild Hannah Flaherty said most of the crafts and baked goods are made by parishioners themselves, with some donated by friends and local nonprofit L’Chayim.

 

The annual Christmas Bazaar serves as St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s primary fundraiser for its charitable outreach, with proceeds going directly toward scholarships for local students, food bank donations, foster youth and regional disaster aid.

She added that the personal connection behind each item is part of what makes the bazaar special, noting that both she and her grandmother contributed handmade crafts to the event.

More recent additions include novelty items such as hand-painted earrings designed to resemble miniature brand-name products, including Jell-O earrings and a Tabasco necklace. With the growing variety of items, Flaherty said, preparation for the bazaar is a yearlong effort.

“It has expanded greatly over the last 10, 15 years,” she said. “…the baby blankets we make in the summertime. Like we work all year long to get ready for this because it funds all of our charity for the year.”

Funds also support the church’s other initiatives such as Project (Re)Start, which assists with disaster resilience in Northern California, and Shepherd’s Love, a children’s home in Uganda. Locally, St. Luke’s donates to the Sunshine Food Pantry and aids foster youth through Stanford Sierra Youth and Families.

Flaherty encouraged those who have never attended the bazaar to experience it firsthand and explore gifts that are made with care.

“You will find something that you never thought you needed and something unique that you really enjoy,” Flaherty said.

Senior Warden Mark McMillen told The Galt Herald that the longevity of the bazaar speaks to the heart of St. Luke’s mission in the community.

“It’s really a core part of our identity; I think it really speaks to who we are as a congregation, which is a group of people who really want to give back to our community and do it in a joyful way,” McMillen said.

He added that the annual event serves as a time to reconvene with longtime attendees as well as an opportunity to meet new ones.

“There are some people that have been coming to this bazaar for decades now,” McMillen said. “It’s wonderful seeing new faces every year, of course, but it’s just a delight to see old friends, people that have been coming in every year… it’s a great community connection.”

Beyond the holiday season, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hosts events throughout the year that welcome the broader community, including an Easter celebration with an egg hunt during spring, a blessing of the animals’ service around fall, a community rummage sale in the summer and a weekly Sunday coffee hour open to all.

To learn more about its upcoming events and services, visit stlukesgalt.org.

 

Here are some of the baked goods sold at the annual Christmas Bazaar, which includes homemade cakes, jams and cookies.