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| SUMMIT PHOTO BY MARY LODEN
Santa Claus listens intently to a child’s wish list during his annual stop at the Summit Friday afternoon. |
Christmas begins!
Host of activities highlight the start of the season
By Bob Fenske
Of The Summit
Say this about Jana Robson: The 8-year-old third-grader doesn't believe in wasting any time.
As soon as the folks gathered around Forest City's big Christmas tree on the Winnebago County Courthouse Square, she flipped the switch and lit up the twilight sky with the lights of Christmas.
“All week she's been so excited,” said her mother, Shelley Robson. “She's told everyone, ‘I get to start Christmas.'”
And start it she did as Forest City residents gathered for a variety of activities - including a free movie at the Forest Theatre, the Summit's annual open house and, of course, the Tree Lighting Ceremony that has become a rite of the day after Thanksgiving.
In many ways, it's a simple ceremony. Jonathan Happel provided the music on his keyboard, the Rev. Rod Hopp prayed a simple yet eloquent prayer and then Robson did the honors. Call it a little taste of Norman Rockwell right here in 21st century Forest City.
Hopp, who is the senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, touched on the diverse color of lights on the tree, reminding residents that the world is a diverse place and the baby Jesus came into this world for all of us.
And he prayed for peace and understanding in a world rocked by war and economic strife.
Before the ceremony, Santa Claus visited with area children, who gave him their wish lists but did so in that best Midwestern tradition.
“I heard a lot of pleases and thank yous,” the jolly old man said before departing for what will be one very busy month of work, “and that warms my heart.”
And the hope here is that the tree and a downtown full of Christmas decorations will do the same for the rest of us, no matter how trying a year it has been.
Story created Dec 03, 2008 - 15:51:28 CST.
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