Read: Luke 2:8-20 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/luke/2.html)
Sing: Angels We Have Heard on High, UMH 238 On the night that Jesus was born there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks in fields all around Bethlehem. The fields of Bethlehem were a major source of animals which were sacrificed in the temple in Jerusalem. Sheep, goats, calves, bulls, and a messiah were all needed in the sacrificial system of the Jewish Temple. The area around Bethlehem, because of its rocky soil, was particularly suitable for raising sheep and goats. Which field or fields did the angels appear in? That is a question that has been asked in Bethlehem for almost two thousand years. Tradition says that it was one of the fields east of the village. Today there are three sites that compete for pilgrims’ attention: a Protestant field; a Greek Orthodox field; and, a Roman Catholic field (Do you think the sheep know what denomination they are?). On this still cold and drizzly day we went to the Protestant Shepherds’ Field. As with the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic Shepherds’ Fields our site included not only a field but also a cave which the shepherds would have used for shelter for themselves or if it was large enough also for their sheep. This was a lovely site and we could easily imagine shepherds and their sheep on a dark and quiet night enjoying the peace of this place. Like the shepherds we used the cave to get out of the rain and the wind. We listened as one of our group members read the story of the shepherds from the Gospel of Luke. Then suddenly . . .
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Read: Romans 7:1-13 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/romans/7.html)
Sing: Thy Word Is a Lamp Unto My Feet, UMH 601 This site was not on our itinerary. A docent saw us standing around the roped-off stairwell down to the caves and told us we would have to wait a few more minutes while another group finished their worship service below. We did not know what we were going to see – sometimes it pays off to look like you are lost! Saint Jerome’s Cave Saint Jerome was born in Dalmatia which lies on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea north of Greece. As a young man he became secretary to Pope Damasus I. The Pope encouraged Jerome to use his gift with languages to translate the Bible into Latin. Jerome moved from Rome to Bethlehem and took residence in this two room cavern near the Grotto of the Nativity. Jerome spent 30 years working on his translation which is now known as the Vulgate. This remained the authoritative version of the Bible for the Roman Catholic Church into the 20th century. One of my favorite quotes I learned on this trip to the Holy Land came from Saint Jerome. Jerome was asked the value of living in the Holy Land while he was translating the Bible and he responded, “The land is the fifth Gospel.” At his death in 420 Jerome was interred in one of the adjacent caves until his remains were removed to Constantinople and then to Rome. In adjoining caves: Chapel of Saint Joseph: This chapel was consecrated in memory of Joseph’s dream which warned him to flee with his family to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-15) Chapel of the Holy Innocents: This chapel commemorates the children of Bethlehem who were murdered by Herod in his rage to retain his throne. (Matthew 2:16-18) Read: 2 Timothy 1:8-14 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/2-timothy)
Sing: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, UMH 196 As we came up out of the Grotto of the Nativity we left the church and entered a walkway which leads to the Courtyard and Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. This is the parish church for the Roman Catholics of Bethlehem. Saint Catherine was a 4th century Christian living in the city of Alexandria on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. She is said to have been the daughter of a prominent family and well known for her intellect. At the age of 14, she saw a vision of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus and converted to Christianity. Turning her whole life, including her formidable mind, to Jesus Catherine began bringing many others to faith in Christ. When emperor Maxentius began persecuting Christians in 306 AD Catherine confronted him in person. The emperor’s wisest sages could not refute her logic. Scourging and imprisonment could not break her spirit. Starvation could not kill her body. Finally the emperor ordered her to be tortured to death on a spiked breaking wheel. When her body first touched the wheel it fell to pieces. Maxentius ordered her to be beheaded. As soon as she was beheaded Catherine’s entire body disappeared. It was found over five hundred years later (850 AD) on a mountain-top in the Sinai Peninsula. Monks from the monastery at Mount Sinai found her incorrupt body and carried it to their monastery, which now bears her name. Many scholars believe that Catherine’s story is a composite of several martyrs killed in last decades before Constantine legalized Christianity. As we entered the church we thought a worship service might be in progress but it turned out to be the organist practicing – which we enjoyed. This is the site from which broadcasts of “Christmas in Bethlehem” originate. As the organist finished a few of us were standing around a stairwell at the back of the sanctuary. The stairwell was roped off and we did not know where it led and we weren’t very curious. We had about thirty minutes until we were supposed to leave and we were enjoying getting to know each other better and just being in Bethlehem. Read: Luke 2:1-7 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/luke/2.html)
Sing: What Child Is This?, UMH 219 The most popular tourist attraction in Bethlehem is, of course, the birthplace of Jesus Christ - The Church of the Nativity. We left our bus in a parking garage about four blocks from the church and walked up to Bethlehem Square. Though our walk was all sidewalks or streets and surrounded by buildings we did see a few patches of snow left from last night. We also noticed that there were still quite a few Christmas decorations still displayed, including a very large Christmas tree in Bethlehem Square, even though today is the 10th of January. Because of differing traditions and different calendars most Christians in the Holy Land leave their Christmas decorations up until the middle of February. If there were no signs a first-time visitor would not be able to pick out the entrance to the Church of the Nativity except by watching where people are going. The very modest entry-way was created around 1,500 to prevent looters from driving carts into the church. Most folks need to duck to enter through the short doorway but once you are inside you realize that it really is a church. It may take a moment for your eyes to adjust to the darkness but you can soon see the two rows of columns, the highly decorated altar, and the glass panels in the floor. Through these panels you can look down to see the ancient mosaic floor of the original sanctuary from the time of Emperor Constantine and his mother Queen Helena (339 AD). This is the oldest complete church in the world and it sits above a site which had been venerated by Christians for centuries before this building was constructed. Below the altar there is a cave which the Romans tried to desecrate by planting a grove dedicated to Adonis and using the cave as his temple. Our guide led us down the right side of the sanctuary to a place where others were gathering to move down a few steps and through a doorway down into the lower level of the church. As our group shuffled along with the crowd we made our way down the steps and to our right we could see the Star of Bethlehem – the place where Jesus was born. It has now been covered with marble and embellished with religious decorations but we could kneel and pray and touch the place where God entered our world. After we each had a chance to kneel at the Star our group gathered at the back of the grotto. We read out loud the Christmas story from Luke 2 and the prolog to the Gospel of John. This is a special place, it is the place where the Word became flesh and lived among us! The reality of this brought a song to our lips and we sang together: Joy to the world . . . Read: John 7:40-42 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/john/7.html)
Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem, UMH 230 Honestly, I never even thought of it as a possibility. Yes, I knew that I was going to be in Israel in January and I had thought well enough ahead to pack a coat, a stocking cap, and gloves. But I had not thought about the possibility of snow. And even if I had I probably would have imagined snow in Northern Israel; at Nazareth or Megiddo. Yet, here it is: a good two to four inches of snow blanketing Jerusalem. I know what our itinerary for today says but I’m not really thinking about that either until we are boarding our bus. We are headed to Bethlehem. Bethlehem is about six miles southwest of Jerusalem in the Judean hill country on the road toward Hebron. The name of this place has been pronounced the same way for about 3,500 years by three dominant cultures. First as Beyt Lehem or “House of Lehem” by the Canaanites as a place for their temple to their fertility God, Lehem. Then as Bet Lehem or “House of Bread” by the Jewish people. And now as Bayt Lahm or “House of Meat” in Arabic. Bethlehem is part of the West Bank and is controlled by the Palestinian Authority. We did transit through the Israeli West Bank Barrier on our short trip from Jerusalem. Our bus stopped at the check point and we were told to have our passports ready but when the guard boarded our bus he gave us a quick look and then the ok to go through. As we passed through the 25 feet high wall and entered Bethlehem it finally dawned on me – we are going to get to see Bethlehem in the snow! What a wonderful gift. Thank you, Lord! Read: Luke 13:34-35 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/luke/13.html)
Sing: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee, UMH 89 We left Megiddo headed to our hotel in Jerusalem where we will stay the rest of our time in Israel. If you were to divide Israel into five parts of equal widths north to south, Megiddo would be at about the one fifth line from the north. Jerusalem is about another fifth of the country south and twice as far inland from the Mediterranean as Megiddo. The only highway in Israel equivalent to our Interstate system runs along the western edge of Israel’s central hill country, so between getting to that highway from Megiddo and then from that highway to Jerusalem we had a ride of about two hours ahead of us. We were tired but too excited to sleep. As we headed west on Highway 1 toward Jerusalem we began to slowly gain elevation. As we reached the western suburbs of Jerusalem the light drizzle turned into a light snowfall. Our guide, Nader, made a change in our plans and had our driver, Mahmoud, take us to the campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Mount Scopus. It had already been a long day for all of us, but especially for Nader and Mahmoud and it would have been so easy for them to stick to the original plan and take us directly to our hotel – there would have been no way for us to know what we had missed! The Latin name “Scopus” comes from the Roman Army’s use of this mountain as a vantage point to plan and execute their attack of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Binyamin Mazar Street offered ample parking for our bus and terraced walkways with marvelous views of the Temple Mount and Old Jerusalem to the southwest across the Kidron Valley. As we took and posed for photographs with the old city in the background and snow falling all around us it began to snow harder and harder until finally the Dome of the Rock and Old Jerusalem faded out of view. We boarded our warm bus and headed for the Olive Tree Hotel – our home for next seven nights. The misery of the cold, blowing rain at Megiddo turned into the blessing of snowfall in Jerusalem. What a way to end our second day! God does work in mysterious ways. Read: Revelation 16:12-16 & 19:11-21 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/revelation/16.html)
Sing: Let There Be Peace On Earth, UMH 431 “The Crossroads of History” has become a cliché but it can be truly said of Megiddo. A site of human occupation dating back to a least 6000 BC, the Tel of Megiddo (a Tel is an archeological term for a mound or hill containing the remains of successive layers of human settlement) rises 200 feet above the surrounding countryside. Archeologists have found the remains of at least 20 cities in the layers of this 15-acre site. Megiddo is best known as a battleground. The Apostle John’s apocalyptic vision in the Book of Revelation names Megiddo (Armageddon from the Greek Harmagedon or Mountain of Megiddo) as the site of the next-to-last battle on Earth. It is also the site of the first recorded battle on Earth; the 15th century BC battle between Thutmose III and the resident Canaanites. Egyptians, Canaanites, Ancient Israelites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantine, Muslims, Crusaders, Mamlukes, Mongols, Persians, French, Ottomans, British, Germans, Arabs, and Israelis all fought on this blood-stained battlefield in the Holy Land. As we left the visitor’s center it was cold and raining and windy but we were determined to see one of the most important archeological sites in Israel. We entered near a stairway that is about 2,700 years old and went up a ramp built into the hillside. Once on top we crossed through the Canaanite city gates that are about 3,500 years old and moved through the site to the side of a trench that was dug in the early twentieth century AD. After digging through many layers the archeologists stopped when they exposed a worship area that appears to have been used for about 2,000 years beginning in 3000 BC. From our spot above this trench we could also look out over the Jezreel Valley to the East. As we moved back across the tel we saw a 12th century BC palace, 9th century BC stables, and a 7th century BC grain silo. Then we made our way to check out the city’s water supply. A city surrounded and under siege needs to have a water source that is not vulnerable to their enemies. The residents of Megiddo from the time of King Ahab (9th century BC) used a reliable spring just outside their walls and at the bottom of their hill (tel). They dug a shaft straight down from inside the city and at the same time dug a downward sloping tunnel from the spring toward the base of the shaft. The entrance to the spring was then sealed up and covered and their water source was secured. We walked down a modern steel staircase to the bottom of the shaft – we were glad to get out of the cold, blowing rain – and then through the upward sloping tunnel to the spring. We climbed up out of the spring and then walked out to our warm and dry bus. This is another site which I had wanted to visit – Armageddon! I wish the weather had been a little better so that we might have taken a bit more time on top of the tel and been able to see a bit more of the countryside around us. But this is God’s time and God may have something better in store for us Read: John 2:1-12 & 4:46-54 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/john/2.html)
Sing: Fill My Cup, Lord, UMH 641 Jesus’ first two miracles, according to the Gospel of John, were performed in the village of Cana in the region of Galilee. Because we had gotten such an early start today it was only mid-morning when we finished touring the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of Saint Joseph. We boarded our bus and took a short ride three miles back up the ridge we had driven to get to Nazareth to the city of Kfar Kanna, an Arab town of the Northern District of Isarael. We made our way through the winding streets to the Franciscan Church of Cana. The Franciscans have been at this site since mid-17th century and excavations here have revealed buildings dating to the 1st century AD and the remains of an ancient church. This site commemorates the first miracle of Jesus: turning water into wine at a wedding feast. Jesus had six large stone jars filled with water and when the steward of the feast was called he found that they were filled with wine. Many people view this miracle as Jesus giving his blessing to the institution of marriage, even though he never got married himself. They also see his blessing extending to the observation of celebrations for special occasions. And, perhaps lastly, they see this miracle as Jesus giving his blessing to the drinking of alcoholic beverages for purposes other than the purification of water. Within sight of the Franciscan church is the Greek Orthodox Church of the Marriage Feast. The Orthodox site claims to have two of the original six stone jars. As with many other sites in the Holy Land there is more than one location with a legitimate claim. Many archeologists consider that these two sites in Kfar Kanna have less of a claim than the ruins at Khirbet Qana, about nine miles northwest of Kfar Kanna, as the site of Biblical Cana. The second miracle of Jesus in Cana was the remote healing of the son of an official who lived in Capernaum and had come to Cana looking for Jesus. This miracle establishes the efficacy of Jesus’ healing powers at a distance. This is good news for those of us who so often feel like we are all alone and that no one, including Jesus, is near to us. This is also a sign of hope for us in our time of social distancing. The power of our faith is not limited by the proximity of our fellowship. In other words, we can effectively pray for and be with each other from a distance. Keep the faith, my friends! Read: Matthew 1:18-25 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/matthew/1.html) Sing: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, UMH 211 Less than a hundred yards south of the Church of the Annunciation is the Church of Saint Joseph. This chapel was built over the site of an ancient system of caves, one of which might have been used by the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, and their children). Whether Joseph and Mary used this cave as living space for their family or as a workshop for Joseph we do know that this whole system of caverns were used in the first century AD. We also know from Matthew’s Gospel that the Holy Family came to Nazareth when they returned to Israel from Egypt. In addition to living or work space, these caves also have special places carved into their soft limestone where water could be stored (a cistern) and where grain could be stored (a silo). There is another specially carved space here, a 2-meter square basin with a black-and-white mosaic floor. This is most likely a Christian baptism pool which some scholars believe may have been built as early as the late 1st century. This site is very inspiring when you think about what a good father Joseph must have been. Joseph raised a son who, when he wanted to describe a loving God to the people he was teaching, called God “Abba – Daddy!” What made Joseph so special? There are three short stories in the first two chapters of Matthew that tell us a lot about Joseph: 1) the story you read in Matthew 1:18-25; 2) the story of the escape to Egypt, Matthew 2:13-15; and 3) the story of the return from Egypt, Matthew 2:19-22. In each of these stories there is a repeating pattern: an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and gives him instructions; and, when Joseph wakes up he does what he was told to do. So, Joseph knew how to listen to God. And, Joseph knew how to obey God. Joseph was most likely still in his twenties when these three stories happened. I’m almost 60 and I don’t think I can go three-for-three. How about you? The best book I know about listening to God is Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God by Dallas Willard. It is the first book of a trilogy that I highly recommend. The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives is the second book. And, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God is the third book. If you want more help with obedience try Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ, also by Dallas Willard. Hear and do. Hear and do. Read: Luke 1:26-38 (www.biblestudytools.com/nrs/luke/1.html)
Sing: To a Maid Engaged to Joseph, UMH 215 The limestone caves in and around Nazareth have been used by humans for thousands of years. People have used the caves as a place of shelter for themselves, their families, and their domesticated animals. People used the caves as storage space for their belongings, their crops, and the water they collected. People have used the caves of Nazareth as places to do work and business. A cave attached to your home allowed you have additional space you did not have to pay for or build. Caves were also a form of security: when everything you built could be knocked down, burned down, or swept away the caves remained. So it is not surprising to discover that the home of Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary, was joined to a cave and that Mary was in that cave when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she would give birth to the Son of God. The Church of the Annunciation is built over that cave. Located in the downtown area of Nazareth this large church is surrounded by a beautiful courtyard decorated by artwork from around the world and is topped by a large cupola and revolving lantern which functions much like a lighthouse (Jesus is the light of the world who will draw all people to himself). The main worship area, used by the local Catholic community, is above the cave/grotto and has an octagonal opening in its floor in front of the altar which exposes the grotto below with the cupola above. On the grotto level a worship area is built in front of the cave which is surrounded by the remains of earlier churches. The first church was built on this site around 427. This was followed by a Crusader church that was destroyed in 1187. The Franciscans built a church in 1740, which was razed to build the present Basilica. Prior to the modern construction extensive excavations were carried out. These excavations revealed remains of the ancient village of Nazareth with its silos, cisterns, and other cave-dwellings. The most sensational discovery was of a shrine or synagogue-church dating back to before the first church was built. Scratched on the base of a column appeared the Greek characters XE-MAPIA, translated as “Hail Mary” – the Archangel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary. This is a special place. The architecture and the artwork are extremely complimentary to the main feature – Mary’s cave. Mary was probably only 14 years old when she was confronted with this startling revelation. And yet she had the maturity to respond in a way that we too often refuse to do: “I will do whatever God wants me to do.” God help us! |
AuthorIn matters of faith, we at First United Methodist Church, Sealy put primary reliance on the Bible. In scripture, we understand that we are all God’s children; therefore, we will be a church that cares for the needs of our church and local community through prayer, deeds, inspiration, and love in the spirit of Christ. Archives
July 2020
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Sunday Worship: 10 am Adult & Children & Youth Sunday School 9 am First Kids Mother's Day Out (Tuesday & Thursday; 8am to 2pm; Ages 1-3) Rev Pat Bell, Pastor First United Methodist Church Sealy
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