December 8, 2002

Bethlehem Curfew Day 17

[Bethlehem, West Bank] Last week on the International Center's website I read that 30 people made it to the Christmas Lutheran Church under curfew. Since it's harder for a Palestinian to get there than it is for an international, I knew I didn't have much of an excuse for not going this morning. So I wandered first to the Nativity Church and then up to the Lutheran Church. The streets were pretty empty -- not unusual for another day of curfew. But one way or another about 40 people arrived. Bishop Munib A. Younan preached this morning -- first in Arabic and then in English. His message was on being prepared for the second coming of Jesus. Bishop Younan brought a group of five internationals with him. They broke curfew as well to worship with the Palestinian congregation. And since the regular organ-player was stuck, JZ broke curfew to play the keyboard.

This guy looks pretty dressed up. Maybe he was heading to church.

I was hanging around Nativity Church from 9:15 - 9:45, but I didn't see much activity.
My landlord Z was there at 10:30, and he told me that Israeli soldiers tear-gassed Manger Square.

When curfew was lifted a few days ago, the souq was packed.

But today it was sadly empty.

These boys were going to pick up their mother. More people are using donkeys in the last couple of years.
Donkeys negotiate roadblocks better than cars do.

Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem

The "trinity" or the" big-three."
Rev. Sandra Olewine, Bishop Munib Younan, and Rev. Mitri Raheb.
Sandra was lighting the second candle of Advent when Israeli soldiers announced over a loudspeaker beside the church, "Anyone breaking curfew will be punished! Anyone breaking curfew will be punished!"