The story on Madison.com includes photos and a description of what went on last Saturday night. Las Posadas, emphasizes the fact that Joseph and Mary were themselves in a sense refugees, forced from their home by an imperial power, and forced to seek shelter wherever they could find it. And their journey didn’t end in Bethlehem, but they went on to Egypt, when Herod sought to kill the child who was the Savior of the world.

The publicity for our Hispanic congregation is somewhat bittersweet, because while celebrating Christmas in this way, our Spanish-speaking congregation, indeed all of Grace, is saddened by the fact that the Rev. Pat Size is retiring at the end of 2010. She has provided leadership and vision to our noon service, and pastoral care for many of us at Grace over the years.

But the congregation will continue to thrive, relying on the gifts of its members and the support of the whole congregation.