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Secular and sacred mix for Brookfield Christmas event
By LINDA M. LINONIS
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 the 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.
About 110 children had photos taken with Santa and participated in the telling of the Christmas story, craft activities and more. “Our fellowship hall was packed,” he said.
Pastor Smith said when workshop participants arrive at the church this year, they will receive a card with five colors representing different activities including hearing the Christmas story of Jesus Christ’s birth, visiting with Santa and making holiday crafts.
About 20 church members will staff activities in the church. Pastor Smith said township trustees have donated food. Free hot dogs, chips, cookies, soft drinks and cocoa will be served. “This has morphed into a wonderful community event,” Pastor Smith said.
“Our church wanted to get beyond the walls and be more integrated into the community,” Pastor Smith said. Recently, the church distributed some 100 free hats and gloves and 50 coats to Brookfield students. “We are building a good relationship with the schools.”
Anne Smith, the pastor’s wife, will narrate the story of the birth of Jesus as her husband does a Power Point of appropriate drawings relating to the event. Each child will receive the book, “The Beginner’s Bible, The Very First Christmas.” Other treats also are in store for participants.
“Last year, we had seven or eight presentations with 15 to 25 children at each one, and some came back a second time,” Anne Smith said. “You just feel so happy to do this. ... It is a blessing.”
The Smiths said they appreciate how the community and businesses have pitched in to make the event a success. “We’re the hands and feet of Jesus,” Anne Smith said.
Randy Viconovic said he and his wife became acquainted with Brookfield UMC when their son, Evin, 6, attended Brookfield Methodist Preschool at the church. “This is about making kids happy,” said Viconovic, who said last year’s response was overwhelming.