Though the church began the event as a recognition of a national program of the same name, the event is no longer affiliated with that movement, program director Mike Henson said.
Last year, this event raised $3,700, and all the funds went to the Caring Kitchen, the only homeless shelter in Champaign County, Henson said.
“We’re hoping to increase that this year,” said Henson of the event, scheduled for 2-5 p.m. “The church basically takes in no money for this at all. It’s all donation, and everything goes to the Caring Kitchen and the homeless of Champaign County.”
Messiah Lutheran started hosting the event about eight years ago with just a display of nativity scenes and some music throughout the day, Henson said.
Four years ago, “No Room at the Inn” changed from not only having nativities displayed to an event that spreads across the church and includes a dinner, concert and silent auction.
Dale Fitch, assistant director for the Caring Kitchen, said the money helps in many ways.
“Sometimes it helps with our utility bill, sometimes it helps with providing food that we need,” Fitch said. “It just depends on where the need is greatest. And they’re supporters of our backpack program as well.”
When Messiah Lutheran started the event, mostly just church members attended, Henson said. But now the event draws more people from the community, including some from Clark and Logan counties.
There’s a lot for attendees to see during the event.
A variety of nativities are combined for a large display, which has included over 250 in previous years.
“It’s almost overwhelming, and we put them all over the church,” Henson said. “They’re not just in one little location, but we use the sanctuary, we use the narthex, we use the hallways, we put some all over.”
There’s also a dinner that is $5 for adults and $3 for children. In previous years, the church has served homemade chicken and noodles. This year, it’s an Italian dinner, complete with breadsticks donated from the Olive Garden in Springfield and salad from Dole.
“We’re doing an old recipe that one of our members had that her mother, who was Italian and basically off the boat, brought this recipe with her from Italy,” Henson said. “And it still requires homemade noodles, so members of our church came together and made the noodles.”
Henson said Messiah Lutheran is very community-oriented.
“We’re very much into taking care of the community and being God’s hands and feet in the community,” Henson said. “Everyone in our church is somehow involved. It unifies us in servicing the community, which is part of the commission — it’s what God asks us to do. And that’s why we do it.”
The silent auction and homemade Italian dinner is from 2-4:30 p.m., with the concert running from 3-4 p.m. The display of nativities is open during the entire event.
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