An announcement inside a recent St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Sunday bulletin read: “The Bazaar is back!”

Ever since that day, excitement and enthusiasm have been building for the Christmas Bazaar which has been a parish tradition for upwards of five decades and will be back bigger and better this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside Schweitzer Hall after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19- Crisis.

That’s because a host of proud parishioners have banned together to produce the 2022 edition that will feature everything from home baked goods, Christmas gifts, religious items, a Penny Social Table, Crafts, White Elephant Table, inspirational items at the Religious Table, chances to win everything from a 43-inch 4K Ultra Smart LED TV that’s part of the main raffle, family memberships for Roger Williams Park Zoo, restaurant gift certificates, gift baskets and fine food inside the Luncheon Café.

“It is a great time – and always special -- coming together as a parish family and opening the door to those people in our community,” said Emily Seddon-McMahon who is chairing the ambitious and well-organized event for the sixth time. “You always hope for each year to be more successful than the last one; but I truly hope the community feels safe and welcomed to join us again as they have for many, many years.”

As the case at many churches and other organizations at this time of year, the Christmas Holiday Bazaar is St. Barnabas’ largest fundraising event and as Seddon-McMahon noted: “we certainly want to deliver success; lots of hard work has been part of the preparation and we are looking forward to a great day.”

She also added: “I am grateful to have such tremendous support from parishioners, family and friends again this year. Our bazar wouldn’t be what it is without each person’s contributions whether it be baking sweet treats, preparing lunch, knitting or crocheting for our handmade gift table, running a concession or working behind the scenes, everyone has such an intricate role. You see clearly the love Christ when a call to serve God is answered and everyone comes together for the greater good of the church.”

Likewise, Rev. Scott R. Lee, pastor at St. Barnabas Church, which is located in Apponaug next to Warwick City Hall, is excited the church is again able to hold its always-special pre-holiday event.

“I’m extremely grateful that we can come together once again,” Father Scott said. “Although it’s our biggest single fundraiser and it’s always nice to make a few bucks, I’m just thankful that our parish can come together and now we look forward to opening our doors to people in the community.”

Thus, Team St. Barnabas will roll out the welcome mat Saturday for the latest chapter of a special storied tradition that will again feature families and friends who have been part of the Christmas Bazaar for many, many years.

Take Seddon-McMahon’s mother Heidi Seddon, former Vestry Chair who once served as bazaar chairlady and her grandmother Jean Suppappola who first worked the unique pre=holiday happening 55 years ago.

“We’ll have the hot coffee on early,” Seddon-McMahon noted. “We’ll have sweet treats and many, many interesting items from a framed and signed New York Yankees photo, handmade wooden American flag and the always-desired wine basket.”