Kinder surprises Langsett

14 Nov 2006

Kinder surprises Langsett with a Mexican inspiration to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas

Last Saturday (11 November), Church Army evangelist Kinder Kalsi brought a Mexican Christmas tradition to Langsett when he enlisted the help of Mary and Joseph and hit the streets to spread some good cheer and encourage local residents to get in the festive mood.

Kinder and others dressed up on the day in Mexican attire and asked local residents to share positive and uplifting news with others. Peter, an evangelist, dressed up as Joseph and Billie from the local youth club was Mary; the nativity couple along with Kinder, walked up and down Langsett Road in costumes, collecting good news in a basket from local residents and giving out tortillas and sweets to passer-bys. The idea, supported by local businesses - Acropolis, Langsett Fish Bar, Faith and Babylon MarketAll, is in aid of POSADA, an initiative of Church Army that shares the good news of the yuletide. POSADA helps people discover the true meaning of Christmas as they give a home to Mary and Joseph during the advent welcome.

"We have to work a bit harder to find good news," says Kinder, "but it is important never the less. St Bart's Church in Langsett is looking to balance the bad news we are bombarded with in society. I initially started visiting schools, residents and businesses to ask for their good news. People struggled to find good news because they think that their news is not big enough to be a big story. The whole idea of this is to remind people that their good news is just as important. I am delighted that so many local businesses have caught our vision for sharing the good news through POSADA and are on board to inspire and encourage others. The POSADA nativity figures will be moving from shop to shop during advent to remind customers and shop workers of the importance of making room for Jesus this Christmas. We will also be asking people to drop their good news stories in the boxes we have left in the shops."

Evangelists in training at Church Army's Wilson Carlile College of Evangelism in the city centre are also backing POSADA and will be using the materials across other Sheffield parishes during advent. Local shop owner Toni from Acropolis the Hairdressers said, "This is something really different, it helps with the Christmas spirit and cheer and is a bit of fun, when there is so much bad news out there." Allah from Babylon Market added, "This is a good way to link the community and the church, and promote what happened at Christmas."

The positive stories collected on the day will go on the website www.piczo.com/goodnewsinlangsett run by Kinder. The site features inspiring and encouraging news from people and the aim is that it will grow to be a good news portal in Langsett.

Church Army has set up a special website for POSADA at www.churcharmy.org.uk/posada where people can send in their photographs of the nativity figures making their journey in unusual setting, and there is even an online diary to record where Mary and Joseph are travelling to - the local pub, gym, post office or school. A prize is offered for the most unusual journey location.

If you'd like to get your own FREE POSADA pack to see how you can make room for Jesus this Christmas check out www.churcharmy.org.uk/posada or phone 020 8309 3519. if you'd like to get involved with the good news at Langsett program, then contact St Bart's Church on 0114 2853075 or write to St Bart's Church, Primrose Hill, Langsett, Sheffield, S6 2UW