All aboard the Cookie Express!

For the first time in two years, First Christian Church is bringing back its cookie-selling tradition, which was put on hold after the former church burned down.

It is now back better than ever with a larger space and participation from the whole church.

“When I say this to you, this is not a joke — the whole church,” organizer Gillian Pollock said. “This is our biggest fundraiser.”

Visitors can come to the church on Saturday and browse through many tables of cookies, pies and other homemade goodies on sale. The proceeds of the event will go toward three things: one-third to local charities; one-third to denominational missions; and the last third to global missions.

This is Pollock’s first year heading up the event, but she has plenty of institutional knowledge, with original organizer Nan Hawkins and the “gingerbread lady” Miriam Roberson.

Ninety-four-year-old matriarch Edna Woolard is also selling her pottery at Saturday’s event. Woolard has attended First Christian Church for more than 70 years. Watercolor artwork and peanuts will be for sale in the church’s front lobby.

“There’s just a lot of people that were vested in this from the beginning,” Pollock said. “The plan was in place. We just had to bring it back.”

Pollock said the Cookie Express has also brought together volunteers from multiple generations, and children of some of the longtime organizers have even come back this year to help out.

Although the Cookie Express requires many hours of planning, cooking and decorating, the end goal is to put visitors in the Christmas spirit as soon as they walk in the door, according to Pollock.

As First Christian gets back on its feet again after the fire, this year’s Cookie Express signals a rebirth of tradition and a continuing belief in the importance of mission work.

“That’s huge for a church to be able to be mission-focused,” Pollock said. “It’s what church is supposed to be.”

First Christian Church’s Cookie Express will run Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to come as early as possible. First Christian Church is located at 307 E. Third St., Washington.