Holistic and Spiritual Fair raises money for church
From crafts to fortune telling, the Holistic and Psychic Fair held by the First Spiritualist Church of Onset featured a diverse range of offerings for young and old alike.
“This is interesting and emotional,” resident Ann Swartz said. “The guy over there, Tom, was able to tell me so much about my life from just looking.”
“I came out a couple years ago, hearing about it through word of mouth,” Swartz added.
The biannual event has taken place for several years, and the next fair is already scheduled for April 12, 2014.
“It’s a small church. It’s been here since 1903. It’s not new, but it’s not a large membership,” church treasurer Larry Becker explained. “We try to basically break even every year, and move on to the next."
“It’s not like we’re a large church with a big cash flow,” Becker added. “We have to watch our pennies, or with me, dollars.”
The fair is the church's main fundraiser. while he wouln;t say exactly how much money was raised, Becker joked it was “not enough”.
“We make enough to survive,” Becker stated.
Beverly Sylvia, the church’s secretary, managed one of the craft tables - which sold jewelry, necklaces and more - donated to the church.
Sylvia says she was moved by the energy at the fair.
“We have people from all over the country to do their workshops in healing, and medium-ship, and spiritualism,” Sylvia explained.
Becker noted that despite the church's struggle to raise money, the fair is always a good experience.
“It’s always a positive energy with the church, whatever it does,” Becker said. “I got caught up in the boat, and started rowing with everyone else.”
Becker said he first came to the church during a Sunday evening service by himself. For some reason, he felt the need to visit.
“After the service, I was driving home, and I was smiling,” Becker described. “Since then, I have been coming back steadily.”
He's been there for three years now.
Sylvia says she experienced similar emotion when she joined.
“I had a stroke years ago, so I did know there was more to life than everyday living,” Sylvia said. “I’m Catholic, and this is a spiritual church, so it’s nondenominational. When I walked into the church, it was such an intense feeling, walking in on an emotional high.”
The First Spiritualist Church of Onset is non-denominational, though the religion does believe in a God. The religion does not believe in death, and communication with the deceased can be done through mediumship. The church's services, a healing service, is done on Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
The church's pastor, Kathleen Hoffman, said the fair was a success.
“Everyone here is working together for a higher cause,” Hoffman explained. "This is a great time. It looks busy."
Beside Hoffman, there was a persistent line of people waiting to take part in the aura camera ran by Carolyn Miller of Provincetown.
“I take people’s aura photos, and each photo has different colors that appear,” Miller demonstrated with an example. “These different colors tell me about your past, future and what’s important to you right now.”
The First Spiritualist Church is located at 17 Highland Ave., in Onset. Click here to visit its website, or call 774-454-3985 for more information.