twenty-three

At about 9:10 last night, just before Late Tuesday got on stage to play their musical set, I looked across the Viking Union Multipurpose room and surveyed the crowded Fa La La La La La La La INN.  Something like 300 students bustled about, filling cups with hot cocoa and coffee, pasting together graham cracker (gingerbread?) houses, clipped and cut paper for Christmas cards, and played games of 4-square, Christmas trivia, and even bowling. What I saw was community, friendship, and that ’something’ about each INN gathering that makes this group of students so unique.

So, I think that might be a good way to say that we had a great night. Late Tuesday played some beautiful music to end the evening for us and the students and staff seemed to enjoy the activities and refreshments. For me, with every program, there’s always a bit of preparation stress, wondering whether students will be interested in what’s going on, whether it will all fall apart or not. But, faithfully, it seems to pull together into something wonderful every time. I have to say that although we all put in tons of work, I know it’s nothing we do to make these things happen. By God’s grace we are blessed with a community where he is completely active, completely present, and takes care of the final stitches that pull together a unique, special time together.

Some highlights from the evening:

• Santa Clause (Jim) pictures - see below
• The overwhelming number of students wearing ugly Christmas sweaters
• The overwhelming number of students wearing ugly mustaches (with their sweaters)
• Students wandering in from campus who had never even heard of the INN
• A final INN performance by Late Tuesday

And now, as I look back, it’s good that it’s over. We close the year with this event as a way to say thanks to students for a great quarter, welcome people from the campus community to find out more about who we are, and most importantly, celebrate our savior’s birth together as a community. Now we move on into the holidays with a sense of completion, moving forward into what the rest of the year holds and continuing to look expectingly towards the arrival of Christ.

Here’s a couple pictures from Santa last night. Enjoy.

Check out that tie!	Interns w/o Mike
INN Staff	Senior Staff

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