Greetings in Christ
Christian Greeting Cards

Greetings Benefit Missions of Mercy in Natural Disaster Recovery

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2006 Nativity Christmas Card Story

Inspiration and Design
2006 Katrina Christmas Card

St. John's Lutheran Church in La Grange, Illinois had a very special nativity for Christmas 2005. The figures were created with upholstery fabric brought back from Ocean Springs, Mississippi where St. John's member Marion was helping Germania clean out her hurricane-ravaged home. The fabric would no longer be needed; it survived the waters but her furniture did not. Marion planned to sew pillows for Germania and for herself, which would remind her to pray for Germania. Meanwhile, St. John's Pastor David Smith, and son-in-law, Andy Chizzo, had a better idea that would remind hundreds to pray. They would craft a nativity for St. John's sanctuary with the fabric and incorporate the scene into the congregation's Baptismal font. The resulting nativity was stunning, deeply impacting worshipers throughout the Christmas season.

The Sunday before the dismantling of the nativity, St. John's member Mary was waiting for worship to begin when a friend, Dalyne, mentioned to her that someone should take a picture of the nativity. Having made her family's Christmas cards for several years, Mary's next thought was to use such a photo to design a Christmas card to sell, benefiting St. John's HOPE Teams' missions to aid Hurricanes Katrina and Rita survivors. She returned that week and shot a few pictures, with just enough available light catching the fabric's folds and reflecting the figures in the floor's tiles. A couple of friends who happened to be at church influenced her work. Judy set the processional cross to cast its shadow over baby Jesus. Ginny was practicing the organ, leading her to the balcony where it occurred to her to shoot an overview of the chancel.

Viewing the pictures on her computer, Mary was once again struck by the eerie beauty of the nativity, especially with its floor reflection giving an appearance of flood waters. The tall columns of brick in the chancel image suggested the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast while taking on a textile look for the inside of the card. The concept and design of the nativity, photograph and card came easily for all involved, so much so that Mary could only say that the work was simply put before them to do.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.   Ephesians 5:1

Contact

Greetings in Christ
St. John's Lutheran Church
505 S. Park Rd
La Grange, IL 60525

708-354-1690 Church Office
708-354-4910 fax

greetingsinchrist@sjlagrange.com
www.GreetingsinChrist.org

© 2009 St. John's Lutheran Church, La Grange, Illinois 60525