Come Friday, the Family Life Center and gym at First United Methodist Church will be hopping as parishioners open the doors for the annual Parish Bazaar.

Three charges in the parish representing 11 active churches will come together for the event, which features a day of food and crafts. All proceeds go to help seminary students with school, to pay for lay speakers at the smaller churches, and to pay on the upkeep of the Family Life Center, which is used by all the churches in the parish as well as various community groups.

The day will begin at 6:30 a.m. with breakfast, featuring everything from a plate of bacon, eggs and grits to a simple sausage biscuit. Donations are accepted for breakfast.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the ladies will be serving a spaghetti lunch for $7. WTVA’s Kay Bain will perform during lunch.

But the main attraction lasts all day: the sale of frozen meat and vegetable casseroles, freshly baked cakes, pies and cookies, breads, jams and jellies, pickles, sweet potatoes, smoked Boston butts and boiled peanuts.

Large meat casseroles will sell for $20 with small ones going for $12; large vegetable casseroles will be $12 with small ones selling for $5; soups will be about $7; homemade spaghetti sauce is $20 a gallon; and most cakes will be about $20.

On the bazaar side, there will be handmade crosses, pottery, wreaths, decorative pillows, casserole carriers, hand-knitted dish cloths, scarves, aprons, fall decor and Christmas items.

There will also be a budget boutique featuring gently worn stylish clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry.

The event is always held the Friday before Thanksgiving so people can stock up on food for the holidays and do a little Christmas shopping.

“People kind of expect it,” said Glenda Nadeau, one of the organizers. “They tell us they look forward to it.”

Last year, the parish raised $12,000, which included proceeds from a rummage sale in October.

“This year, we’re not so sure,” Nadeau said. “We only raised $1,600 at the rummage sale and usually we get $2,500 or $2,600. It seems a little slower this year. But we’re hopeful.”

ginna.parsons@journalinc.com

Fast Facts

WHAT: Houston Parish Bazaar.

WHEN: Friday.

OFFERINGS: Breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.; spaghetti lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also frozen casseroles, fresh baked goods, jams and jellies, crafts, clothing, home decor, holiday decorations and hobby items for sale until 4 p.m.

WHERE: First United Methodist Church, 230 N. Jackson St., Houston; meals are served in the Family Life Center and the bazaar is held in the gym

INFO: Call (662) 456-2203 or write fumchouston@live.com.