Lessons, Carols & Las Posadas

On Sunday, December 18 at 4pm, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Davis will present an Advent Lessons and Carols service, “The Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Meditation on Las Posadas.” This short service will be followed at 5pm by a “Posada,” or re-enactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for a place to stay.

Advent Lessons and Carols is a beloved Episcopalian tradition, in which scripture readings are interspersed with festive music and carol singing. “Las Posadas” is a venerable Mexican custom, celebrating the journey of the Holy Family to Bethlehem.

The Lessons and Carols meditation will feature music of Spain and the Colonial era in America, sung in Spanish, Quechua, Nahuatl, and Mono Paiute. Songs include:
• “Hanac Pachap Cussicuinin” —first published in Peru in 1631, this anonymous hymn in Quechua praises the Virgin Mary using metaphors of nature drawn from the Quechua culture.
• “Xicochi conetzintle” —a Christmas lullaby to the Christ child, composed in Nahuatl by Gaspar Fernandes in the early 17th century. Fernandes was well-known as a singer and organist in Guatemala and Mexico.
• “Riu Riu Chiu” —a Christmas villancico in the Catalonian tradition by Mateo Flecha el Viejo, who died in 1553.

The St. Martin’s choir will be joined by instrumentalists playing recorders, shawms, percussion, and guitar. The 4pm service will be offered in person and online.

Those who wish to remain may stay for the 5pm “Posada,” following “Mary” and “Joseph” as they sing and stroll an illuminated path, re-enacting their search for hospitality. This tradition is widely celebrated in Latin America and involves a procession throughout our grounds singing a short song in Spanish. In this song we, representing the Holy Family, ask for lodgings before the birth of Christ. After being turned away at several stops we will find our way to the the hospitable “barn,” AKA the Parish Hall, where we will find refreshments and snacks. We will also have a piñata for the kids! When they are finally welcomed inside, all the travelers will be met with a party featuring a piñata, candy, pan dulce, hot chocolate, and an old-fashioned carol-sing.

SERVICE DETAILS
Please note that the 4pm service will be recorded and posted online, though the recordings are mostly of the worship leaders. The 5pm service will be in person online.

In person worship details:
Bulletins will be available before the service begins. Please check our bulletin page for those resources.

Online worship details:
Bulletins will be available before the service begins. Please check our bulletin page for those resources.
TO JOIN
via Zoom, computer or iPad:
https://zoom.us/j/94932107255?pwd=eVpWTjl0cDFzb1h2cks1czQvdytldz09
Meeting ID: 949 3210 7255
Passcode: 291639
via Zoom on a phone: call 1 669 900 9128 and add the Meeting ID and Passcode (above) when prompted
Facebook Live: Click the link and scroll down until you see our live broadcast.
Youtube Channel: Click the link (the video will be posted after the event).