Ryan Wisniewski
Downtown's sacred spaces observe a variety of holiday traditions, some of them unique to Madison. They include acts of charity, pageants, mariachi music, feasts, grilled cheese sandwiches and socks. Here are just a few.
Bethel Lutheran Church
312 Wisconsin Ave.
At 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Dec. 16 through 20, Bethel observes Las Posadas, a traditional Hispanic celebration, with food, songs and games from Mexico and Central and South America. At noon Friday, Dec. 20, the church will provide a luncheon for the homeless. A traditional Sunday school pageant will be presented at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22. Christmas Eve worship is at 3, 4:30, 6 (in Spanish), 9 and 11 p.m. Christmas Day worship is at 10 a.m.
First United Methodist Church
203 Wisconsin Ave.
More than 100 volunteers come together to serve community meals featuring traditional foods from noon to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. "We serve many of our homeless neighbors and people who may otherwise have no place to go," says Mary Hasheider, director of connecting ministries. Advance donations of dollars or food are appreciated. To give, contact Karen Andro, director of outreach ministries, kandro@fumc.org.
The church presents a Christmas pageant during the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 15. It also has an "Alternative Market" from 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Sundays during December, featuring gifts that support organizations such as Madison's Porchlight emergency shelter
"First Church has a long tradition of extraordinary music on Christmas Eve," adds Hasheider. The 7 and 9 p.m. services will include Derek Powell, of the New World Symphony; Victoria Powell, of the New York Philharmonic; Kitt Reuter Foss, of the Metropolitan Opera; and Broadway singer-dancers Alli and Erika Foss.
Grace Episcopal Church
116 W. Washington Ave.
Volunteers serve First Monday meals to homeless year-round, and to anyone else needing a meal. But the dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 will have added significance. St. Nicholas will visit and pass out warm socks and chocolate coins.
During First Mondays, the church invites its homeless guests "up to our Guild Hall, where they are seated at round tables and waited on by servers," says Jody Kapp, Grace's communications coordinator. "We also bring in musical groups of a variety of genres to perform for the men during dinner. This has become very meaningful for them, as their opportunity to hear live music is limited." Some groups encourage the audience to join in, which is also meaningful.
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
The parish's Hispanic community prepares for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Wednesday, Dec. 11. During the vigil, at 7 p.m., there is a presentation of the story and rosary, says Nicole Garcia, director of cathedral parish life and mission. The principal Mass begins at 10 p.m. At midnight, "Mariachis will play for the Mass and serenade the Virgin with the mañanitas [traditional song] until 1 a.m., after which food is shared," Garcia says. "The festivities are held in Spanish."
Holy Redeemer also observes Las Posadas, "this year on Dec. 21 after the 6:30 p.m. Mass and on Dec. 22 after the 6:45 p.m. Mass," Garcia says. Traditional Mexican food will be served, and at least one pinata will be broken.
Luther Memorial Church
1021 University Ave.
"We offer Christmas services at 5 and 11 p.m.," says Pastor Brad Pohlman. "We are one of the few that use incense during worship. We also hold a Christmas morning service at 10:30 and, unique to Madison, we offer a 'Third Day of Christmas Sing' on Dec. 27 each year at 7 p.m. We get large numbers of people at this community event.
"We are also one of only a few churches that offer some sort of worship service marking the end of the 12 days of Christmas. This year we are offering an Epiphany Eve vespers at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 5."
Pres House
731 State St.
"On the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend we have a meal of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup following our 4:30 p.m. worship service," says the Rev. Mark Elsdon, executive director and pastor with his wife, Erica Liu. "We eat together every Sunday after worship, and a tradition has evolved to make that Sunday a lighter meal, after people have spent a long weekend eating."
"Christmas at Pres House" will be held at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8, before students depart campus. "This service includes a special Christmas choir made up of students," says Elsdon.
St. Patrick Catholic Church
404 E. Main St.
Bishop Robert Morlino will celebrate Mass at midnight on Christmas Eve.
Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel
220 W. Gilman St.
At 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, "we present 'The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,' which started at King's College in Cambridge, England, in 1918 and is still performed there every Christmas," says Tom Trapp, campus pastor. Featured are "a variety of musical styles from classical to contemporary." The event is open to the public, with free parking on Sundays.
"Every year we also collect canned or boxed food for local food pantries," Trapp notes.
Wisconsin state Capitol
2 E. Main St.
Finally, since the first Capitol in Madison served as white settlers' earliest worship center, it's fair to note that the official state Christmas tree will be unveiled in the Rotunda of the current statehouse on Friday, Dec. 6. For 25 years it was the official "holiday tree," until Gov. Scott Walker renamed it in 2011. Depending on its freshness, it's usually displayed through the end of the year. The theme of 2013's ornaments, made by schoolchildren, will be "Wisconsin traditions."
Also in the Rotunda will be a winter solstice sign, a seasonal tradition of the Madison-based Freedom from Religion Foundation. "We also put up an anti-Nativity display," says foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor.
