S.S. Morris AME Church’s Bethlehem’s Marketplace Bazaar
The spirit of Christmas
The spirit of Christmas
By Jonathan Gramling
Years ago, S.S. Morris AME Church used to participate in a special craft bazaar at
West Towne Mall when community organizations were allowed to set up tables and
sell arts and crafts during the Christmas season. The concept appealed to them, but
they also wanted people to experience the fellowship of S.S. Morris as well.
So back in 1998, the church started Bethlehem’s Marketplace Bazaar as a unique
fundraiser for the church. On the first weekend of December — this year December 5-6
— the basement of S.S. Morris Church is transformed into the town square of
Bethlehem around the time of Jesus’ birth. But instead of it being the effort of a few
church members, it became a church community event.
As people enter the church, they are met by young church members acting as
greeters and hand out candy canes with the history of candy canes attached. Then the
visitor descends to the basement.
“If you come into Bethlehem, you are looking to meet some people there,” said
Brenda Armstrong who co-chairs the event with Marchel Hill. “So our congregation
began to become the townspeople. We have the Roman soldiers who are marching the
streets and the minstrels who are singing. And of course, we have the vendors at the
Years ago, S.S. Morris AME Church used to participate in a special craft bazaar at
West Towne Mall when community organizations were allowed to set up tables and
sell arts and crafts during the Christmas season. The concept appealed to them, but
they also wanted people to experience the fellowship of S.S. Morris as well.
So back in 1998, the church started Bethlehem’s Marketplace Bazaar as a unique
fundraiser for the church. On the first weekend of December — this year December 5-6
— the basement of S.S. Morris Church is transformed into the town square of
Bethlehem around the time of Jesus’ birth. But instead of it being the effort of a few
church members, it became a church community event.
As people enter the church, they are met by young church members acting as
greeters and hand out candy canes with the history of candy canes attached. Then the
visitor descends to the basement.
“If you come into Bethlehem, you are looking to meet some people there,” said
Brenda Armstrong who co-chairs the event with Marchel Hill. “So our congregation
began to become the townspeople. We have the Roman soldiers who are marching the
streets and the minstrels who are singing. And of course, we have the vendors at the
tables. Then we have King Herod and his queen who are looking for this Jesus who is trying to overthrow the throne. It gives the congregation a
chance to play some different roles. Of course, we have the ladies at the well who are gossiping sisters who are always talking about what is
coming up and what is going on and the news they have heard. We usually try to have census takers. Jesus was born around the census time.
They were taking a census and being accounted for. We have a little boy every year who wants to be the court jester with King Herod. It’s
wonderful that the children enjoy it and look forward to doing it.”
And as the streets of Bethlehem are being reenacted, church members are busy selling arts, crafts and other goods that they have donated to
the church to sell. “They are all donated, hand-crafted items,” Armstrong said. “We have brought on what we call a White Elephant table. There are
things that aren’t actually made by us, but are things that we would like to sell. Terry Jackson sells his pottery and Barbara Thomas makes
beautiful blankets. There are jewelry items. There are Christmas ornaments and an array of bakery goods. So if you are looking for cakes and pies
and all of that stuff, you can find it at the Marketplace.”
It isn’t a hard sell kind of bazaar. People mull around and talk with the townspeople as they peruse the quality goods. Or they can stop by the
Bethlehem Inn for lunch. S.S. Morris wants it to be a meaningful holiday experience. “We wanted to give a person the opportunity to connect with
the spirituality of the season,” Armstrong emphasized. “It’s not all about the shopping. It’s not all about the Christmas trees and all of the lights.
That’s beautiful and makes it festive. But a lot of times, it takes away from the real meaning of the season. So we like to bring in what the
celebration is all about, the birth of Christ and our Savior coming. It’s a fundraiser, yes, but it is also a fellowship and a time that our congregation
comes together. We get excited about the time of Bethlehem. We try to have the festive music going and really try to turn it into the Marketplace so
that the atmosphere is a town.”
So if you are looking for the total Christmas experience when you are looking for quality, inexpensive presents, visit Bethlehem’s
Marketplace Bazaar where the spirit of Christmas resides.
Bethlehem’s Marketplace Bazaar will be held at S.S. Morris AME Community Church, 3511 Milwaukee Street on December 5, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
and Sunday December 6, 1 – 3 p.m. Call 249-4555 for more information.
chance to play some different roles. Of course, we have the ladies at the well who are gossiping sisters who are always talking about what is
coming up and what is going on and the news they have heard. We usually try to have census takers. Jesus was born around the census time.
They were taking a census and being accounted for. We have a little boy every year who wants to be the court jester with King Herod. It’s
wonderful that the children enjoy it and look forward to doing it.”
And as the streets of Bethlehem are being reenacted, church members are busy selling arts, crafts and other goods that they have donated to
the church to sell. “They are all donated, hand-crafted items,” Armstrong said. “We have brought on what we call a White Elephant table. There are
things that aren’t actually made by us, but are things that we would like to sell. Terry Jackson sells his pottery and Barbara Thomas makes
beautiful blankets. There are jewelry items. There are Christmas ornaments and an array of bakery goods. So if you are looking for cakes and pies
and all of that stuff, you can find it at the Marketplace.”
It isn’t a hard sell kind of bazaar. People mull around and talk with the townspeople as they peruse the quality goods. Or they can stop by the
Bethlehem Inn for lunch. S.S. Morris wants it to be a meaningful holiday experience. “We wanted to give a person the opportunity to connect with
the spirituality of the season,” Armstrong emphasized. “It’s not all about the shopping. It’s not all about the Christmas trees and all of the lights.
That’s beautiful and makes it festive. But a lot of times, it takes away from the real meaning of the season. So we like to bring in what the
celebration is all about, the birth of Christ and our Savior coming. It’s a fundraiser, yes, but it is also a fellowship and a time that our congregation
comes together. We get excited about the time of Bethlehem. We try to have the festive music going and really try to turn it into the Marketplace so
that the atmosphere is a town.”
So if you are looking for the total Christmas experience when you are looking for quality, inexpensive presents, visit Bethlehem’s
Marketplace Bazaar where the spirit of Christmas resides.
Bethlehem’s Marketplace Bazaar will be held at S.S. Morris AME Community Church, 3511 Milwaukee Street on December 5, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
and Sunday December 6, 1 – 3 p.m. Call 249-4555 for more information.
Pastor Gregory Armstrong (r) gives support to his wife
Brenda Armstrong (l) and Marchel Hill, the co-chairs of S.S.
Morris’ Bethlehem Marketplace Bazaar.
Brenda Armstrong (l) and Marchel Hill, the co-chairs of S.S.
Morris’ Bethlehem Marketplace Bazaar.
