A Little Christian Fellowship in O Little Town of Bethlehem

All this week, I am sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the production of my new public television special, “The Holy Land: Israelis and Palestinians Today.” In this clip, I found some fellowship on my first night in Palestine. After dinner with my guides, I came back to my hotel and met a dozen Lutheran pastors in the lobby. They were heading into a 2,000-year-old cave, upon which the hotel was built, for a devotion service and invited me along. I was really tired but followed my current travel ethic: If an opportunity presents itself, say “Yes.”

The pastors were just finishing a multi-year Pastoral Leadership Institute program. Their theme (as taught by English church leader Mike Breen): up, in, and out (“up” is relationship with God, “in” is relationship with community, “out” is outreach beyond their immediate community). I climbed down into the cave with them and enjoyed a wonderful hour of singing, reading, and sharing.

While our image of “no room at the inn” is brick and wood, the “inn” of Bible fame was very likely a series of caves. And “no room” meant a woman about to give birth would not be welcome in the main quarters, as it was an unclean thing. Mary was sent to the manger cave where the animals hung out to give birth to Jesus.

The next day I told my guide about the wonderful evening. He said, “Yes, but if you hear it as much as me, it is annoying.” Nearly all the tourism in Palestine is religious tourism. While I would have enjoyed covering more of the Christian dimension to travel in the Holy Land, my main interest was in introducing Christians to the Muslim and Jewish heritage of the region.

The Holy Land” has already aired to great success on stations in several locations. Many other stations, such as WTTW 11 in Chicago and KCTS 9 in Seattle, are excited to air it soon. Call your local public television station to find out when you can see it too.

Comments

2 Replies to “A Little Christian Fellowship in O Little Town of Bethlehem”

  1. To learn more about Christianity in the Middle East, including Palestine and Israel, I commend the book “Sailing Through Troubled Waters” by Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem (2013, Diyar Publisher,Bethlehem). Mitri is also author of “Faith in the Face of Empire: the Bible through Palestinian Eyes” (2014, Orbis Books, USA.)

  2. I second the recommendation of Mitri Raheb’s writings. I got to meet him in Bethlehem and read his work – he opens my eyes to both the history and the current situation in Palestine.

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