Brookfield church joins community event to merge spirit and joy of Christmas

BROOKFIELD

Cooperation between a church and local government, a meeting of the secular and sacred, has resulted in a community event that’s all about the Christmas spirit.

Santa’s Workshop is planned from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday.

The holiday event will start with a community tree-lighting, caroling by Brookfield High School students and arrival of Santa Claus, courtesy of Brookfield Township Fire Department, at the holiday-bedecked gazebo on the green.

Then, celebrants will walk across the street to Brookfield United Methodist Church, 6951 Grove St., where activities are planned.

Pastor Dick Smith of the church credited Randy and Melissa Viconovic, township residents, with the original idea. When they took their son to see Santa, they observed that sometimes a fee was charged for a photo with the Christmas icon. Randy Viconovic said he realized some families couldn’t afford that expense.

Three years ago, with help from police Chief Dan Faustino, the Viconovics hosted a photo session with Santa at Brookfield administration building. About 25 people attended. In 2014, the Viconovics worked with Brookfield UMC, where the expanded Christmas event attracted some 200 people. The couple take children’s photos with Santa, print them and distribute them for free.

“Pastor Smith liked the idea of involving the church,” Randy Viconovic said. “His only request was that the real reason for the season be part of it.”

Pastor Smith said this kind of Christmas activity was a good fit with the church’s mission – reaching out to people and helping those in need. “We were overwhelmed and overjoyed at the response,” Pastor Smith said.

Read more about the event in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.