Garage sales will help pay for church roof repairs

Members of the Congregational Church of Batavia have been worshipping in their fellowship hall for a year while extensive repairs were made to the roof of the church's 162-year-old sanctuary.

Damage to the trusses that hold up the roof made the sanctuary unsafe, and the church took the opportunity to make other renovations while the heavy duty ceiling and roof work was being done.

The church hopes to worship in the sanctuary this Sunday and there will be an open house Sunday, Sept. 14 at the church at 21 S. Batavia Ave., across from the library.

In the meantime, the bills have to be paid.

Pam Russell of North Aurora, who has been a member for less than a year, got the idea to hold a garage sale to raise funds to help pay for raising the new roof.

"I heard about a garage sale to help pay medical bills for a child," Russell said. "That's how I got the idea. But people at our church said there was no room to have a sale at the church, or to store things. Since we weren't using the sanctuary and because of the renovations, all the other space was being used. Then I woke up one day and thought, 'Why can't we have a bunch of garage sales in our own homes?'"

Garage sales will be held at eight locations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Sept. 5, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Five of the sites are in Batavia, including 1316 Spencer Lane, 621 Tuggles Court, 1125 Morton St., 1216 Danforth Drive, and 515 Roberts Lane, which is Saturday, Sept. 6, only. Sales will also be held at 601 South St. in Geneva, 522 Bede Circle in North Aurora and 613 Birch St. in Sugar Grove.

According to Russell, the community and members of the congregation have been generous with donations, and garages are overflowing with household items and children's clothing up to size 8. There are also a number of appliances, lawn mowers, barbecue grills, sewing machines, amours and wing chairs.

"Prices are very low," Russell said. "I'd rather get 50 cents or a dollar than nothing.

"It's a beautiful church," she said. "We were also able to get new pews and the stained glass windows have been redone. We're excited about being back in the sanctuary."

For details on the Sept. 14 open house, call the church at (630) 879-1999.

Down by the Riverside: Logan Street Baptist Church is hosting "Down by the Riverside," a carnival and gospel choir this weekend. Events take place outside the church at 908 N. River St. in Batavia.

Six choirs will present a gospel concert from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6. Carnival hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. today, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6, and from 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. Unlimited rides are available from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, for a $15 pass.

There will be drawings for products and gift cards from merchants in downtown Batavia. Guests can try for other prizes by buying $1 raffle tickets.

Proceeds go the church youth department and toward the creation of a senior nutrition program.