For the Fergusons, decorating the chapel is a family affair and their gift to the community. For visitors and those who worship in the great Gothic church, the beautiful decorations are part of a memorable experience.

The Fergusons will show up early Tuesday morning to make sure the long ropes of green garland are draped in just the right places and to see that each tall window gets a fresh wreath made in western North Carolina.

For the past nine years, after the last of the church halls have been decked, the chapel has thrown wide its portals and invited campus and community friends, as well as visitors from across the region, to see Duke Chapel by Candlelight. The idea for this quasi-open house came from Mollie Keel, chapel events coordinator and wedding director.

On Thursday, from noon to 2 p.m., all 100-plus candles will be lit, and the chapel organs and carillon will play seasonal music. In past years, folks who work on the campus have walked through during lunch hour or spent a reflective moment sitting in the pews. Other visitors will come to sit peacefully and listen as the magnificent Gothic church speaks its own language, Keel said.

The Advent wreath that hangs above the center aisle and the gigantic wreaths hanging outside on either side of the front doors are made each year during Thanksgiving by the Jerry Rogers family, owners of Plants Unlimited on Hillsborough Road.

As in past years, even the tiny hand-carved mouse that crouches quietly above the chapel hostess' desk will be decked out for the holiday season with its own little Christmas tree or a sprig of holly. And Keel will again decorate a "Lost and Found Christmas tree" to be located on the hostess' desk. For decorations, she uses errant earrings, watches, necklaces and car keys.

"Please join us," Keel said.

Fair trade marketable at this Ninth St. shop

One World Market on Ninth Street is an important shopping venue for many Durham folks, especially those who know that the "fair trade" products sold here help artisans around the world become self-supporting.

Laura Wendell, executive director, did a quick run-through this week and came up with the following list of some of the market's new offerings this season:

* House Blessing Kit from Silence in India: The kit contains flower petals symbolizing life and happiness, incense inviting contemplation, a candle to add the light of knowledge, an owl conveying good fortune and a scroll with a blessing poem. Silence is a self-help project for artisans who are hearing impaired or physically disabled.

* Batik Bags from Ghana: The importer/designer of these bags lives in Raleigh. The batik cloth is made by applying wax using hand-cut stamps. The wax is removed after the cloth is dyed, resulting in a multi-colored pattern. One World Market will be leading a trip to Ghana next summer to work with artisans and their children.

"We will do a literacy project with the kids and we will train farmers and artisans to build hand-cranked peanut shellers," Wendell said.

"The shellers will be an excellent source of income and protein for local communities. Peanuts are abundant in Ghana, but very time-consuming to shell by hand."

* Bacbac Birdhouse ornament and star garland: These are made by Community Crafts Association of The Philippines, a nonprofit group that links artisans with fair-trade organizations. For more than 25 years the organization has helped provide employment for thousands of marginalized artisans in the Philippines.

These products are made from various natural fibers, including arorog, a heavy vine in the rattan family. Bacbac consists of soft strips of bark from the trunk of the abaca tree. Bamboo is also a common material selected for its flexibility, durability and aesthetic qualities.

* Bread Dough Ornaments and Nativities: Bread dough folk art from Ecuador has its origins in Roman Catholic and Indian traditions. For the Day of the Dead in early November, families honor deceased relatives by placing simple masapan (bread dough) figurines by their grave sites. This tradition has given rise to a thriving cottage industry. Ornaments are shaped by hand or pressed into small molds, then painted, varnished and baked.

The group that markets these products is Maquita Cushunchic Comercializando Como Hermandos. The name is based on a Quichua phrase meaning "let us join our hands." More than 120 of these craft groups are scattered around the country.

•"Bad Hair" Angels: These are distributed by Pekerti, a social development agency formed in 1975 and located in Jakarta, Indonesia. The purpose is to supplement the incomes of farmers and rural people by developing and selling traditional crafts.

These angels are part of an ongoing series with new ones added each year. One World Market has three different designs this year. Made of soft wood, they are about four inches tall. Each has an eye hook on top of its head that holds a tuft of bushy straw hair. One with African skin tone has blue wings and body and is holding a star. Another with rosy red cheeks sits on a crescent moon and holds a star and wand.

These can be used as tree decorations, Wendell said, or they can be hung on their own. The same group makes a collection of wooden cats and dog angels that are created in a folk-art style.

"We invite people to explore the gifts from 50 countries at One World Market," Wendell said. "They will delight and surprise the recipients and will give artisans a life with dignity."

One World Market began 14 years ago out of a suitcase and a box in the pastor's office at Watts Street Baptist Church. Since that time, the market has brought in about $3 million for artisans around the world, Wendell said.

Drive-Thru Christmas in Northern Durham

Christian Assembly Church of Durham is holding its 5th annual Drive-Thru Christmas from Wednesday through Saturday, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The public is invited to view the Christmas story from the comfort of their cars.

The event features specially designed sets, costumes, actors, lights and music, along with a narration.

This is a free event especially planned to interest children.

The church is located at 5516 N. Roxboro Road, across from Northern High School. Get more information by calling 471-0220.

DCIA to meet at downtown senior center

Durham Congregations in Action will meet Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. at the new Durham Center for Senior Life, 406 Rigsbee Ave. downtown.

Ann Stock will make a presentation on how congregations can help in an ongoing plan to end poverty among children from birth to 5 years old.

This is a luncheon meeting.