February 2, 2003

Church Services Continue in Bethlehem Despite Curfew

[Bethlehem, West Bank] When I woke this morning, it was unusually quiet. I checked my watch hoping it was incredibly early. It wasn't. Less than two days ago Israel lifted the curfew in Bethlehem "until further notice." I thought further notice might mean more than two days of freedom, but I was wrong. Curfew again -- all day -- today in Bethlehem.

It was a beautiful day. Warm and sunny. Unfortunately, we didn't get to enjoy it much. I dressed, ate breakfast, had my morning devotions, and then decided to walk to church. The streets were empty, but curfew never stops the Christmas Lutheran Church. Maybe Mitri Raheb preaches, maybe Sandra Olewine, or maybe Bishop Munib, but it's always open.

On my way to church I ran into a little kid that I see around town occasionally. His name is Abraheim. He grinned and asked me for a shekel. Instead, I reached down, picked him up and gave him a big hug. (It really made me miss my niece and nephews back home.) He laughed and asked me for a shekel again. OK, here's your shekel.

Sandra had a good sermon, as usual. The gospel lesson was from Matthew 8:5-13. A storm arises on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples get scared. They wake Jesus and asks if he cares about them. Jesus tells everything and everyone to settle down. Then he tells the disciples to have more faith.

So Sandra pointed out that the gospel story is much like our lives today. We're in the middle of an overwhelming storm here in Palestine. And another storm is about to break out in Iraq. We lay awake at night and worry about both of them. We worry about innocent people being harmed. We worry about little kids like Abraheim. (Does anyone pray for them?) We worry about our congregation members, the Nassar family and their farmland confiscation. And we wonder where is Jesus in all this? Jesus is peaceful. Where is the peace in all of this? The storm doesn't distract Jesus. God is with him. So Sandra challenged us to find God in the midst of our storm here. Wherever we find our place of calm, then we will find God. God is with us. God will strengthen us. Even when the storm gets us, God doesn't abandon us. God is ultimately victorious. Don't let the storm in Palestine or the storm in Iraq (or any other place in the world) shake our faith.

Now I've got to find my place of peace. And remember to pray for those who have no one to pray for them.

Sandra Olewine outside the Christmas Lutheran Church