Christmas Posadas in Juarez and El Paso

Las Posadas are a beloved Christmas tradition in the Hispanic community. “Posada” is literally an archaic Spanish word meaning “inn,” but today it is used to describe the ceremonial reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging in Bethlehem, which can be found in Luke 2:1-7.  The custom is believed to have originated in Spain but is no longer common there.  Today Las Posadas is celebrated primarily in Mexico but may be found in many other Latin American countries as well.

A posada is essentially a procession through the streets stopping at various houses (or “inns”) while singing a song of responsive verses in which Mary and Joseph ask for lodging but are repeatedly turned away.  At the final “inn”  Mary and Joseph are finally welcomed in and a celebration ensues.  YLM mission churches are blessed to have musicians from Mariachi San Pablo to accompany the traditional Posada song and sing other Christmas carols as the group walks from “inn” to “inn” looking for lodging.  Often the traditional Posada song is sung acapella and prayers or other songs are said as the group travels from “inn” to “inn”.

The procession in search of lodging is led by children dressed as Mary and Joseph.  It is also common to have an angel carrying a star.  The rest of the crowd divides into 2 sections to sing the parts of the innkeeper and the expectant couple.  Finally at the last stop, the innkeepers welcome the weary travelers in and everyone is enters the “inn”.   After a brief message about how Jesus continues His posada daily for a place to stay in each of our hearts and lives, the party commences!

There is generally a piñata or 2, and ALWAYS a feast of traditional Christmas fare: bunuelos (fried pillows of dough seasoned with cinnamon and sugar), champurrado (a chocolaty beverage thickened with masa (corn flour)), and tamales (corn dough with either a sweet or savory filling steamed in a corn husk).

Here at YLM, there is a posada at each of the Mexico mission sites as well as one here in El Paso. Typically, posadas take place in the nine-day period from December 16th until Christmas Eve; ours started earlier with one on Monday the 14^th followed by a day off on Tuesday and then 2 each day for the rest of the week.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you from all the staff and volunteers at Ysleta Lutheran Mission.

Mary and Joseph from Cristo Rey

Looking for a room at Cristo Rey

From the inside group at Cristo Rey

View from the outside at Cristo Rey

Cristo Rey actors

Cristo Rey actors with some of Mariachi San Pablo

San Pedro y San Pablo

Starting the posada at San Pedro y San Pablo

Walking at San Pedro y San Pablo

The procession at San Pedro y San Pablo

Dancing El Sapo at San Pedro y San Pablo

San Pablo posada at the Mission

San Pablo actors

San Pablo Posada

San Pablo at YLM

YES, you can stay here, open the doors

Mission San Francisco

Mission San Francisco

Mission San Francisco

Mission San Francisco

Santisima Trinidad

starting out at Sin Paredes

Watching the show at Sin Paredes

Good crown at Sin Paredes

Kids at the Sin Paredes posada

Walking up the hill towards Sin Paredes

Enjoying the Posada at Sin Paredes

Posada at Sin Paredes

Santa pinata at Sin Paredes

Pinata at Sin Paredes

Pinata at Sin Paredes

Multitudes of angels at San Lucas

Kids singing with the Mariachi at San Lucas

Leaving San Lucas

Preparing for Maximum Impact this Christmas

Elvira and volunteers are working every day to sort donations to give to the poor this Christmas.  YLM is preparing to provide 1,500 Christmas gifts to children  and to distribute 1,470 food baskets, 836 jackets, 600 hygiene kits and 1,200 blankets.  Also, our Mariachi group will be adding their joy filled music to community gatherings in 6  sites throughout Juarez and 7 in El Paso and Las Cruces.  Later this month a servant event team from Mayer Lutheran High School in Mayer, MN, will arrive to build three houses for families in Juarez, lead a basketball camp, and make repairs to a mission church.

“Who else is going to be God’s voice in Juarez?  Not the military, police, or government officials…  As they work to bring order, we work to bring mercy and grace to all,”  commented Stephen Heimer, COO of YLM and vicar at San Pablo Lutheran Church.  ”What we do in response to the suffering and sorrow that exists in our valley will make a lasting difference in the lives we touch this Christmas and throughout the year.”

If you would like to join us on the front lines of hope this Christmas, please consider sending items or making a financial gift today.

Give a Gift to Change a Life

The 2009 Christmas Giving Catalog is now available online and in printed form.  Those of you who wish to reach out with God’s love to the poor this Christmas will find 17 ways to do so here.  With your help, YLM will be blessing 1,500 children with Christmas presents this month.  Also we plan to build three homes in Juarez and distribute 1,470 food baskets, 836 jackets, 600 hygiene kits and 1,200 blankets.  Reach out to the people of El Paso and Mexico by giving a gift today:

Choose from 17 ways to

help others this Christmas

Mariachi San Pablo to Perform in Alamogordo

Come experience the music and message of Mariachi San Pablo as they perform in concert at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alamogordo, NM.  The concert will be held on Saturday, October 10th begining at 6:30pm.

For up to date concert information, contact Trinity Lutheran Church at 505-437-1482.

Address:  1505 College Avenue, Alamogordo, NM 88310

YLM Staff, Presenters at Evangelism Conference

Vicar Stephen Heimer, COO/Music Minsitry Director

Rev. Jesus Astorga, Ministry Faciliator/Educator

Krysia Heimer, Outreach Director

Mariachi San Pablo, Directed by Miguel Muñoz

YLM is pleased to have two of its staff and Mariachi San Pablo participating as presenters at the 2009 Conversations of Grace evangelism conference.  This annual conference of the Rocky Mountain District, LCMS, will be held this year on Nov.6 & 7th in Albuquerque.

Pastor Jesus Astorga, YLM’s ministry facilitator & educator, will lead the “Leadership Development and Church Planting” workshop and another called, “Speaking the Truth in Love to Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

Vicar Stephen Heimer, YLM’s COO and Music Minsitry Director, will lead the workshop, “Outreach Through Music Ministry.”

Mariachi San Pablo, directed by Miguel Muñoz, will perform several times throughout the conference.

Krysia Heimer, YLM’s outreach director who recently completed her MA in Christian Outreach, has also been asked to assist Albuquerque planners in the preparation of the conference’s Spanish Track.

Hundreds Hear Good News, Mariachi Style

by Vicar Stephen

Evangelism at the park in Bakersfield

Beto and Mia

First concert in Vail (near Tucson), Arizona

When in California, you HAVE to visit a beach.

Concert in the Field in Lodi, CA

Downtown, streetside farmers market concert

in Bakersfield, CA

It was beautiful.  Mariachi San Pablo performed in a variety of settings:  in front of an old winery, in a field, in a market, in a back yard, in a park, in a parking lot, and… yes, in a few churches too.  From July 25 to August 3rd, Mariachi San Pablo traveled throughout Arizona and California assisting churches in outreach and proclaiming the gospel to all who would listen.  The largest turn out at a single event was in Lodi California where 565 people came to the outdoor performance held in the field behind St. Peter Lutheran Church and School.  We were told that over 70% of the people who came were not members of their church.

On this tour, seven of the nine performers got sick.  This isn’t normal for tours, so even as we honed our skills and delivery, it was with complete reliance on the Lord that we dealt with the unknown effect of weakened bodies and stood up to witness to God’s grace.   The tour was excellent!   …though it was tough dealing with illness.  Every concert went beautifully!   …and we relied on God’s strength when sickness sapped our strength.  God is  faithful.

Mechanics of a Mariachi Tour

On July 27th, the teens and young adults of Mariachi San Pablo will be hitting the road with the hope of changing lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are partnering with churches throughout Arizona and California to provide concerts that celebrate the culture of Mexico while addressing topics common to every person such as Respect, Love, Joy, Hard Times, Hope, and Faith.

To get ready they have been:  rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing…taking photos, creating a written concert program, buying sound equipment, learning how to use the sound equipment, figuring out how to best pack the sound equipment, cleaning their suits, purchasing extra strings, and praying, praying, praying over each and every aspect of the tour

Krysia has been confirming van and U-Haul rentals while working out the endless details of the concert plans at each site.  Host churches have been meeting as committees to prepare and advertise the performances, find host families and raise funds to help cover the costs of the tour.

This week before departure there will be a lot of packing, a lot more prayer, a final dress rehearsal, and more prayer.

On Saturday morning, the group will gather, load the vans, say a prayer with Pastor Karl Heimer and head out to Vail, Arizona.  Only God knows what will happen next, but we pray many people will be comforted during these difficult times in the U.S. and be assured of life in Jesus Christ.

view Mariachi San Pablo Tour Schedule

Mariachi San Pablo Summer Tour

Tour Group for Summer 2009

Here are the plans for this summer’s Mariachi San Pablo tour to Arizona and California.  Check back for updates: 

details last updated July 16, 2009

Vail, Arizona – Saturday, July 25

• 7 PM – Outdoor Concert with free meal,  at Christ Lutheran Vail Church (13605 E. Benson Hwy, Vail, AZ 85641)  For more information or to RSVP for meal visit www.christlutheranvail.org or call 520-349-8630

Phoenix, Arizona – Sunday, July 26

• 12pm  Spanish worship service at Cristo Redentor Lutheran Church (8801 N. 43rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ)

Lodi, California – Wednesday, July 29

• AM – Chapel service at St. Peters Lutheran School
• 5:30 PM – “Mariachi Festival,” Outdoor concert at St. Peters Lutheran Church (2400 Oxford Way, Lodi, CA 95242) For more information, call:  209-333-2223

Lodi, California – Thursday, July 30

• 6 PM – Streetside performance at Lodi Farmers Market, downtown on the Main Stage

Bakersfield, California – Friday, July 31

• 6 PM – Concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church (4500 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311) for more information call: (661) 665-7815

Bakersfield, California – Saturday, August 1

• 1 PM – Concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church (4500 Buena Vista Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93311) for more information call: (661) 665-7815
• PM – Private Performance for wedding reception

Santa Ana & Montebello, California – Sunday, August 2

• 9am – English worship at Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, Santa Ana, CA (903 Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701) for more information call (714) 542-0784.
• 10:30am – Spanish worship at Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, Santa Ana, CA
• 2pm – Concert at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Montebello, CA (433 N. 18th St., Montebello, CA 90640)

Phoenix, Arizona – Monday, August 3

• 7 PM – Concert at St. Paul Lutheran Church (6301 W. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85033) for more information, call: (623) 444-7164.

Home in El Paso, TX – Tuesday, August 4