ROCHESTER — Kids wore hats brought from Brazil, Lebanon and Albania and heard the rings of a pair of bells from Egypt during a harvest festival Saturday, Oct. 5 at the First Congregational Church of Rochester.

The far-flung items were brought to the outdoor fair by Linda Summer, operator of Agape Puppets, an international ministry aimed at children. Summer flew from Georgia to do the show in Rochester, she said.

“I fly all over the world telling kids about Jesus,” Summer told the watching crowd as she wielded various props and drew chalk art depicting biblical stories.

Church volunteer Nicole Roberge said the harvest festival opened up the church in a “fun” and “low-pressure” way, whereas some can be “intimidated by church.”

“If you just say, ‘Hey, come to my church,’ some people may be put off by that,” Roberge said. “But I feel like bouncy houses and face painting and crafts and animals are things that a lot of people like, and if you can also give them information about Jesus or God and the church and encourage them to come back, they don’t necessarily feel so worried about it.”

Donations were also sought at the festival for baskets of Thanksgiving food to be assembled and given to families in the community, according to Roberge.