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Flavoring the summer with CHRISTMAS

Yes, it's hot. Yes, it's July. But one Zephyrhills church figures it's a swell time for a Christmas-themed sale.

By MICHELLE JONES
Published July 15, 2006

ZEPHYRHILLS - Don't get out your Christmas tree yet - the holiday season is still several months away. However, members at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church are celebrating early with a Christmas in July sale next week.

If next Saturday's sale is successful, the Zephyrhills' church leaders plan to make it an annual event.

Parish priest Martha Vaguener said the event should spice up July.

"The ladies of the church have been working very hard, making things for the sale," she said. "The money earned will refurbish the kitchen."

Half of the money earned from a raffle will help with the kitchen work, and the other half will be divided among several charities: Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, the CARE Program in Zephyrhills, Sunrise, the ABC School Program and First Baptist Church of Zephyrhills' food and clothing ministry.

"The handmade queen-size quilt is an unbelievable piece of art created by Christine Grady, the brains behind the sale," said Vaguener. "It is a yo-yo pattern and most magnificent."

Grady, who spent eight months creating the colorful quilt, said the people who buy the raffle tickets will mark on the ticket which charity they want the money to benefit. The winner of the quilt will be announced Sept. 3.

Handcrafted Christmas items will be for sale, including toys, tree decorations, gifts, books, hand-knitted sweaters and hand-painted items.

During a silent auction, people can bid on various items, including stained glass, a plant cart, a giant stuffed snowman, a stuffed University of Florida fighting gator, bird feeders, bird houses, oil paintings and a sculpture of the Nativity. The auction will be decided by 1 p.m. the day of the event.

"We also have a pressed glass pitcher and glasses, circa 1950s, for sale," said Grady, who is also the church's administrator.

The church broke ground in 1964, and Grady has been a member since 1979. Vaguener has been the parish priest for almost three years. During the winter there are approximately 200 members, with half of them heading north for the summer.

Each fall, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the church has a bazaar where homemade baked goods, fruit preserves and pastries are among the offerings.

"We used to have a rummage sale this time of the year, but decided on a Christmas in July sale instead," Grady said.

If people want to see some of Grady's work, they can visit the Historic Train Station in Zephyrhills. She was commissioned by the city years ago to make quilts to display at the depot, Vaguener said.

At the sale, visitors can buy coffee and doughnuts for $1 from 8 to 10 a.m., sloppy joe sandwiches, potato chips and drinks from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $3. Door prizes will be given away every hour.

For information, call (813) 782-1202 from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday.

[Last modified July 14, 2006, 22:10:21]