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Community invited to live drive-thru Nativity at St. Francis Hospital on Dec. 8

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LITCHFIELD — HSHS St. Francis Hospital invites the community to view a live recreation of the night of our Savior’s birth at a live drive-thru nativity scene on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the circle drive in front of the hospital. Attendees will also receive free hot cocoa kits and Christmas activity bags for children.

St. Francis Hospital’s Director of Operations Aryn Hunter noted the history of the Nativity and the hospital’s connection with St. Francis of Assisi. “In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi began the tradition of commemorating the birth of Christ with a live Nativity near the city of Greccio, Italy,” said Hunter. “He was concerned that the hermitage would be too small for Christmas midnight Mass, so he set up an altar near the town square. He prepared a manger with hay and gathered live animals to illustrate the story of Jesus’ birth and this is how the tradition of the Nativity started and is still portrayed today.”

Volunteers from the hospital will take on the roles of Mary, Joseph and the three wise men in the Nativity scene. Participants must remain in their vehicles at all times.

Hunter said, “We are excited to bring back this visual reminder and celebration of the birth of Jesus to our community and are honored to follow in St. Francis of Assisi’s footsteps.”

In addition to this event, the campus of the hospital will be decorated with Christmas lights and a set of Christmas trees decorated by colleagues at the front of the building. “Our facilities team does a wonderful job with lighting and decorating St. Francis Hospital and it’s a treat every year for our colleagues to see. We welcome the community to come enjoy them this holiday season, too,” Hunter added.

In case of inclement weather, event status updates will be posted on the hospital’s Facebook page, @StFrancisLitchfield. For more information about HSHS St. Francis Hospital, please visit StFrancis-litchfield.org.

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Upcoming Events

Craft fair, flea market, and coffee and cars event set for Oct. 14 in Gillespie

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A huge craft fair, flea market and coffee and cars will be held on Saturday, October 14 at Gillespie United Methodist Church starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m.

It’s not too early to think Christmas. Don’t miss the opportunity to buy those unique gifts and decorations to make your holidays special. The event will be held in the Fellowship Hall at 900 West Broadway, Gillespie, IL, rain or shine.

One-of-a-kind purses by local artist, beautiful woodwork, Primitive decor, fresh Georgia pecans for baking and gifting, local honey, Tastefully Simple, Norwex, and more will be available.

Sandwiches and desserts will also be for sale inside while cool rides will be on display at “Coffee and Cars!” in the parking lot of the church. Owners of the cars will receive a coupon for free coffee and donut upon arrival.

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Community News

Commemoration of Virden Gun Battle set for October 8

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A gun battle took place on October 12, 1898, in Virden, Illinois, and this year is the 125th anniversary of that event; October 8, in Union Miners Cemetery, located at 5585 Mt Olive Rd, Mt Olive, a commemoration of the battle will be held at noon.

John Alexander will be the keynote speaker. Additional speakers include IL AFL-CIO President Tim Drea, Mother Jones, and General Alexander Bradley. Bradley was present at the gun battle and wrote in a telegram asking the Mt. Olive miners not to send more men but to send doctors instead. 

The Macoupin County Illinois Board, on September 11, unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the importance of an October 12, 1898, gun battle in Virden to the county’s history. Eight miners lost their lives that day when gunfire broke out between locked-out UMWA members and company guards as a trainload of replacement workers arrived.  

This incident is why Union Miners’ Cemetery on the outskirts of Mt. Olive was created. Three of the miners killed that day are buried there. It remains the only union-owned cemetery in the USA and is where the legendary Irish firebrand Mother Jones is buried. In 1923, Jones requested to be buried there with “…those brave boys” who died in the gun battle. 

Jones is an international figure and the only labor figure of note who has a festival in her name in the country of her birth, Cork, Ireland, and at her final resting place. 

With the resolution, the board recognized Virden historian John Alexander for his diligent research into this incident and for making it widely available. 

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Community News

Bunker Hill will host Life Chain on October 1

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Bunker Hill will play host to the Life Chain on Sunday, October 1 at 2 pm for the 30th consecutive year. On occasion, over 60 local citizens have participated.  We encourage any ProLife-Minded person to attend. 

It involves 1 hour of sitting or standing along Washington Street with a Prolife sign.  Silence is required during that time.  You need to bring a lawn chair if you want to sit.  Children are welcome and encouraged to participate.

The prolife signs from which you can select say:  “Abortion hurts Women”, “ Abortion Kills,” “ Lord Forgive Our Nation “, “Jesus Saves and Forgives”, and others.  Please come by 1:45 to have time to select your sign.  Prayer is said before the event and after. 

Any questions or concerns call 618-973-2666.

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