This Advent at St.Mary’s, we are going to focus on the journey that Mary and Joseph took from Nazareth to Bethlehem where Jesus was born. This journey has been celebrated for many centuries in Latin American countries with the traditional festival of ‘Las Posadas’ which is Spanish for ‘the inns’.

In Latin American countries, children dress up as Mary and Joseph or carry statues of them as they process through the neighbourhood. They visit three houses singing traditional songs asking for somewhere to stay. Mary and Joseph are refused entry at the first two houses, before being admitted at the third where there is often a celebration feast.

At Creative Church we are going to hear what Jesus said about offering HOSPITALITY – making people welcome – CARING for people’s needs of FOOD, WARMTH, SHELTER and FRIENDSHIP in difficult times. Then we’ll make Posada bags to send Mary and Joseph on their travels around the communities we belong to: that could be a group of families with young children, a group of friends, a local retirement home, members of St.Mary’s church family or classes at Fishponds CE Academy.

On Sunday 5th November in St.Mary’s Fishponds at Creative Church we are making Posada kits. Each bag contains  Mary and Joseph figures made from recycled materials, a mat, a diary to reflect on their stay at your house, and special words for the handing over ceremony, when the next person on your listwelcomes them into their home for a night or two.

If you can’t come along on 5th November but would like to host Mary and Joseph for a night during Advent, then sign up for a night on the sheet in church. To find out how to get involved, speak to Diane, Jan, or Andrew at St.Mary’s.