St. Michael's Church, Litchfield, CT

Come in the red door . . .

 And browse a wondrous collection of professionally framed original artwork and prints, designer clothing for women and children, household items, collectibles including German beer steins and Gargoyles, antiques and accessories, books, candles, children’s books/toys/games, vintage linens, holiday decorations, large collection of vintage records, etcetera.

 St. Michael’s Community House

23 South Street (Route 63)   Just off the Litchfield Green

SATURDAY, JUNE 23          

8AM – 3PM

St. Michael’s is doing it again . . .

But this time it’s Something Completely Different.

If you’ve got items you’ve been wanting to recycle, but didn’t want to hold your own tag sale . . .join us in the community house on Saturday, June 23. (Set-up will be on Friday, June 22)

We do the advertising, provide tables (and protection from the weather!) You bring your items, donate a portion of the proceeds to St. Michael’s, and take home what does not sell.

What could be simpler??? Call Jo Ann at 860.567.4456 for details and to participate. All are Welcome!

This year's exciting new performance by the Tanglewood Marionettes will be "Perseus and Medusa."

September 29th will be here before you know it. And St. Michael’s 11th Annual Fete & Craft Faire will be bigger and better than ever. A new marionnette show – that’s always exciting. New artists & crafters – who will show up this year? What delicious new items for the food booth and bake sale? What fun activities for children will there be? What lovely items offered at the silent auction? How many pets will show up to be blessed?

And most importantly . . .how can you get involved? Don’t miss out on St. Michael’s largest Outreach event and fundraiser of the year. Contact Jo Ann at events@stmichaels-litchfield.org .

And artists & crafters . . .check us out on www.festivalnet.com  or www.eastcoastartisan.com .  

Join us on September 29th!

Have you always wanted to be a Costumed Character? Would you love to teach crafts to children? Are you good at painting faces or polishing fingernails? Does setting up an obstacle course sound like a really fun endeavor? Do you enjoy blowing really big bubbles and twisting really big hula hoops? Would you like to oversee marshmallow bobbing or water balloon tossing or games of chance?

St. Michael’s 10th Annual Fete & Faire will have more children’s entertainment than ever this October 1st and there are plenty of opportunities to join the fun. You do not need to be a member of St. Michael’s to participate in the Faire children’s activities – All are Welcome. Spend some of your second childhood with us!  Faire proceeds benefit the Torrington Volunteer Fire Company, Torrington Soup Kitchen and Animal Rescue Foundation.

Contact Jo Ann @ 860.567.4456 or events@stmichaels-litchfield.org  for details.

Chris Clarke has been sewing beautiful items for her family, and now for St. Michael's Youth Group, for many decades.

Chris Clarke has been sewing since her late teens; first for herself only, then for herself and her children. She sewed slipcovers, curtains, you name it.

People always gave her beautiful fabric pieces and in recent years she has been “drowning” in a lovely collection of fabrics. Her first pillow-making adventure, other than for friends and family, was about nine years ago when she entered an art show in Milton. She sold almost every pillow and made more than $150. Her next project was making pillows on consignment for the Historical Society when her husband Henri volunteered there. After Henri died, she lost some of her motivation. But the beautiful fabrics were always lurking in drawers and then she had a brainstorm – make some pillows to benefit St. Michael’s Youth Group and hope for the best.

She ultimately created about 30 pillows, using mostly donated materials and Walmart sale items, and gave them to Dana to sell at coffee hour. Since they are such a diversity of colors and patterns, everyone could find one that was just perfect for their décor. So far, pillow sales have earned several hundred dollars for the Youth Group.

Chris says, “To me this has been a blessing. It felt creative and purposeful and filled many an hour that might have been empty otherwise.”

She plans to continue sewing since she has material left for little bags, the kind teenagers like, and some bigger totes. Of course, she will also continue with the popular pillows, possibly for a Christmastime sale.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011 beginning at 1pm, St. Michael’s presents a Teddy Bear Party for boys and girls that promises more fun than formality. The event will be held in St. Michael’s community house adjacent to the church at 23 South Street.

For Ten Dollars, partiers of all ages will be treated to a delectable array of homemade goodies. Well-behaved teddy bears, dollies, or action figures are free companions. Games, music, puppeteering, interactive storytelling, a Legos contest and a treasure hunt will add to the afternoon’s enjoyment. Children wishing to participate in the Legos contest should bring their completed Legos creation.

All are welcome but reservations are strongly recommended. For more details or to make a reservation, the number to call is at 860.567.9465. Snow date for the Teddy Bear Party will be Sunday, February 27.

Teddy Roosevelt, dressed in his finery, will accompany Mark and Carolyn Poley to the Teddy Bear Party.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011 beginning at 1pm, St. Michael’s presents a Teddy Bear Party for boys and girls that promises more fun than formality. The event will be held in St. Michael’s community house adjacent to the church at 23 South Street.

For Ten Dollars, partiers of all ages will be treated to a delectable array of homemade goodies. Well-behaved teddy bears, or dollies, or Tonka trunks are free companions. Games, music, puppeteering, interactive storytelling, a Legos contest and a treasure hunt will add to the afternoon’s enjoyment.

All are welcome but reservations are strongly recommended. Please call the church office at 860.567.9465.
Teddy Bear Tea Party flyer

Church members have been generous in donating items for Ebay and consignment store fundraising and we are now accumulating items for a special one-time tag sale to be held on Saturday, July 24, in the community house.

Well cared for children and adult clothing (summer season), baby paraphernalia, toys/games/puzzles, DVDs/videos/books, small antiques, small pieces of good condition furniture, lamps, home decor, accessories, household items in good condition are cheerfully accepted. We cannot accept large heavy items unless they are delivered directly to the community house and picked up if not sold.

The tag sale will be held from 8am-3pm in the community house. Early birds can peek at 7am with a $5 premium.

Smaller items can be left in the parish office during office hours. Call Jo Ann for more details or to volunteer your help. We will be setting up on Friday, July 23.

When a little girl dressed in pink and pearls walked up to me and whispered, “Thank you for inviting me to your teddy bear tea party and for letting me go into your church,” I knew we had a successful event.

Jenni artistically decked the halls with large colorful butterflies and welcomed the group with her bear puppet and engrossing tale of butterflies and bears. My grandson Jacob helped me demonstrate exactly HOW the “Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly” actually did it. There were lovely platters of homemade cookies on each table, set with coordinated-color plates and napkins in bold hues, and tea served by young missioners wearing flower crowns and frilly white aprons, lovingly sewn by church members. A collection of more than 30 teddy bears sitting here and there completed the fun décor.

Paper bags were given to each child, along with markers and stickers for personalization. Then. . .the big moment. . .walk across the driveway, enter the church, stand impatiently waiting for brief instructions. . .then, they’re off! No running, but very fast walking, clutching their bags and searching high and low for treasure: small wrapped candies, playdoh cans, balloons, and then a loud HONK! signifying the first blow-horn was found. Soon there were honks all around the sanctuary, and wide-eyed children examining stained glass windows, wood carvings, and a very high ceiling.
Diane Damerau gathered the first group of eager young musicians to get an extremely close-up view of the church organ, then offered each one a chance to “play” the organ while the others created accompaniment on borrowed triangles, cymbals and wood sticks.

In the meantime, Dana Rohn and her assistants introduced another group of budding young puppeteers to St. Michael’s Peaceable Kingdom cast of creatures. Even the littlest children were shown how to stage-manage a fish, bunny, peacock, or woodchuck.

I was reminded of a childhood rhyme: Here’s the church, here’s the steeple; open the doors, and see all the people. To see St. Michael’s full of happy, fascinated children (and their parents/grandparents) was such a joy. We didn’t have a huge crowd, since this was our first time putting on a tea party just for youngsters, and we didn’t make nearly the income as the adult tea party, but I think all the volunteers who worked so diligently last Saturday, and all those who baked and donated teapots and bud vases, would agree this was a very successful event indeed.

It’s just five days away from the Teddy Bear Tea Party! Each beloved pet bear will be welcomed and acknowledged, and will join in the fun. In addition to tea – with or without “hunny” – there will be games, surprises, storytelling and music. Oh, and wonderful homemade munchables, some in the shape of the teddy bears themselves.

Reservations are strongly recommended so please call the office at 860.567.9465 to make your rez now. Youngsters of all ages are encouraged to bring their BFF, both human and bear, to maximize the fun!

All proceeds will benefit St. Michael’s Mission Trip this summer.