Christmas Joy

Due to the final Friday in Ramadan, our group opted to stay out of Jerusalem. Because of the Muslim holiday, many streets and checkpoints were closed, making it challenging to navigate the Old City. 

Instead, we made our way along backroads through Wadi Nar to the ancient city of Bethany, now called al-Azariya, the home of Mary, Mary, and Lazarus. We went to the church over the tomb where Lazarus was resurrected. Light pours into the church from every direction, reminding us of the eternal life and light of Christ. However, the tomb is much darker and smaller. 

We then returned to Bethlehem for a visit to one of Shepherd's fields, one at the local Greek Orthodox Church. We navigated through the ruins to an ancient cave adorned with icons. Up the stairs was a beautiful church, every inch covered with icons depicting the biblical world.


Lunch featured another feast followed by us dressing up as Palestinians and dancing with joy. Perhaps we felt something akin to the joy the shepherds felt when they received the good news of Christ's birth. 


After lunch, we saw another set of caves where the local shepherds hung out in Jesus' day.  We sang in the small chapel and imagined our alleluias echoing the "angels we have heard on high."

Like the shepherds, we headed to Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus.  The Church of the Nativity welcomed us just as it has welcomed pilgrims for thousands of years.  Although some of us were not all that impressed with the star that marks the "spot" where Jesus was born, we could all feel the joy of Christ's birth.  

After a brief break back at the hotel, we headed over to the Ghareeb family home for a lovely bbq, where we met many local Palestinians from all walks of life. More dancing and music - this time without costumes. 











Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Pilgrimage Begins - Listen

Image
“This spiritual journey also involves leaving something behind.  It involves letting go,  trusting that what we love will somehow be okay without our being there.  Pilgrimage from the very beginning, and of its very nature, involves surrender—surrender to a power beyond ourselves,  a power we trust in,  a power we are both leaving behind to care for those we love  and that at the same time is drawing us away from them  to another place that will help us better relate and love.” Father Murray Bodo, the Road to Mount Subasio Tonight the pilgrimage began. Before our first dinner together, we met our guide, Iyad, and John, our driver -  Palestinian Christians who will shepherd us on the pilgrimage journey. We gave them gifts from Cincinnati and San Francisco, bourbon and wine, respectively, along with Cincinnati Bengals t-shirts and Golden State Warriors drinking glasses.   Our beloved Diana Aldrich cross-stitched bookmarks for all of us, in...
Read more

Conversions, Shepherds, Prophets and Kings

Image
All Together in Tel Aviv  "For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15 The pilgrim journey is often an awakening to ancient connections we didn't even realize we had. The microscopic thread to the past is magnified and the past feels immediate and present. Which story or place connects is different for each pilgrim. St. Peter's Church - Jaffa St. Peter's Church - Jaffa The day began with a trip to Jaffa, the ancient port city, where Jonah tried to take an about-face when God called him to proclaim the grace of God to pagan Ninevah. It is also the city where Peter initially resisted God's call to associate with the unclean Gentiles.   The next stop reminded us of the power and ego of the Roman-installed leader, Herod the Great. His pride and excess were on full display at Caesarea Maritima. When his newly created port city proved too shabby, he st...
Read more

Stand at the Crossroads

Image
Stand at the crossroads, and look,  and ask for the ancient paths,  where the good way lies;  and walk in it,  and find rest for your souls.  Jeremiah 6:16   Members of the Pilgrimage group are beginning to arrive in Tel Aviv. Pastor Debbie arrived first and was promptly whisked away to her beloved Bethlehem for a birthday celebration for her 8-year-old friend, Cece. Being around 10+ kids second graders is enough to get you over a lack of sleep!  For Pastor Debbie, this is a return to a sacred place she loves and a reunion with many friends. But for the rest of the group, part of the pilgrimage experience is meeting new people and deepening established friendships. The group represents people from California who attend three different churches along with those from Mt. Washington Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati.  A few have been on pilgrimage with me before, but for most folks, this is their first trip to the Holy Land. All of us are eager ...
Read more