POSADA! A Christmas Season Tradition in Logan Square in Support of Affordable Housing
Following up on an important public meeting about Lathrop Homes on December 10, on December 21 members of churches in the Logan Square area will join with neighbors from area community organizations such as Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) and Alliance of Local Service Organizations (ALSO) to enjoy a traditional Christmas season Posada and raise awareness of the need for public and affordable housing.
Join us Saturday afternoon, December 21, 2013, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Posada will start at the Cotter Boys and Girls Club at 2915 N Leavitt (Chicago, Illinois 60618), where we will gather at the Boys and Girls Club and be welcomed by Lathrop leaders. There will also be a brief explanation of the posada and a practice of the Posada song. We will also pray for the many people who are homeless and/or do not have secure housing and for the leaders of our city and CHA. We will then walk the perimeter of the Lathrop Homes, stopping on 3-4 occasions to seek shelter, led by a Mary and a Joseph in costume. At each pre-arranged stop, we will sing the Posada song, and we will be turned away. One of the stops will be an empty CHA unit to symbolize CHA’s act of turning away thousands of families city-wide in their Plan For Transformation and Plan Forward. Along the way, residents will be invited to join the Posada. We are looking for musicians to lead in various songs as we walk.
More event photos on the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance blog!
NO MESSAGE SIGNS WILL BE CARRIED ON THE POSADA as we want to respect the tradition and not turn it into a protest rally. The posada will speak for itself.
At the end, we will be welcomed by a neighbor and invited to the Cotter Boys and Girls Club for a party. The party will include food provided by Thrivent, hot beverages and music/caroling. People will be able to enjoy the party until 4:00 pm.
Media will be invited to the event and interviews will be granted at the end of the Posada.
How your church/group can prepare:
1. Announce the Posada in your newsletters, bulletins, church calendars and social media. Post the Posada flyer that will be sent to you in a prominent location.
2. Share the need for public and affordable housing with your congregation using the Fact Sheet that will be sent to you. Distribute the fact sheet to your congregation.
3. Introduce your congregation to the Posada song.
4. Solicit musicians to help with the music.
5. Get a commitment from members to participate in the Posada on December 21.
A project of:
Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance (LSEA)
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
ALSO (Alliance of Local Service Organizations)
LSEA participating congregations include:
First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Logan Square
Kimball Avenue Church
Humboldt Park United Methodist Church
St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square
More Advent and Christmas 2013 events at St. Luke's
Weekly Sunday Worship - Sundays 10:30 a.m.
Weekly Sunday Adult Education (December: Palestine) - Sundays 9:00 a.m.
Holden Evening Prayer - Wednesdays Dec 4, 11, 18 - 6:30 p.m.
Taize Prayer at Ascension Roman Catholic Church - Friday Dec 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Elijah's Pantry Children's Christmas - Saturday Dec 7 - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Young Women's Bible Study Christmas Party and Cookie Exchange - Wednesday Dec 11 - 7:30 p.m.
Christmas Caroling - Thursday Dec 12 - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"Pastrix" Book Discussion - Saturday Dec 14 - a.m.
Bethel New Life Christmas Store - Sunday Dec 15 - 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve Worship - Tuesday Dec 24 - 8:00 p.m.
Christmas Day Worship - Wednesday Dec 25 - 10:30 a.m.
Community Dinner at St. Luke's on Christmas Day - Wednesday Dec 25 - 5:00 p.m.
Twelfth Night Dinners - Sunday Jan 5
Other Related posts
On Palm Sunday, members of congregations from across Logan Square and Humboldt Park processed from their respective houses of worship to the Logan Square monument at the end of services, singing and chanting songs of protest and praise -- and occupying the green space at Kedzie, Milwaukee and Logan Boulevard. They held a series of teach-ins on topics reflecting the real needs of our neighbors in Logan Square and the ministries of our congregations as we work toward the realization of God’s vision for the world. Specifically, we’ll be presenting news, information and opportunities for service and advocacy on matters of healthcare, housing, hunger and immigration.
(See Occupy Palm Sunday)