Worship at 8:15 and 11:00 AM -

Musical Offerings at 8:15 – Voices of Praise: Go into the World by Natalie Sleeth; Bells of Praise: Morning Prayer by Tammy Waldrop;  at 11:00 – Children’s Choir: Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands arr. by Sue Ellen Page; Gloria Dei Choir with Tracey Bulau, flute: They Shall Soar Like Eagles by Laura Manzo

— 9:30 Children’s & Adult Christian Education (click here for details)

—- Sandwich Sunday – The first Sunday of every month, a ministry which provides sandwiches and lunch items to Star of Hope to feed the homeless in Houston.  We delivered over 275 lunches on January 8!  Click here for more info or contact Melissa or Christy.

— Worship, Word, Witness on Wednesdays -  This is a time for every member of the family to have music, bible study, fellowship & service.  Dinner and Devotions @ 6pm.  Music, Study, Fellowship & Service from 6:30-7:30pm. WOW is for everyone!!! Click here for schedule & details. Click here to register online!!!

— 6:30 “Faith Formation—A Conversation with Parents and Grandparents” is in session on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm.  It is not too late to join in these sessions.  Please contact Chris Ray if you would like to participate.

Friday, Feb. 3rd - Gathering Place - This ministry is free of charge and is available to the entire Kingwood/Humble area.  Interfaith CarePartners works in partnership with Holy Comforter to provide The Gathering Place which meets the first Friday of each month to provide fun, fellowship, food, etc. for our care partners who have mild to moderate disabilities such as dementia, stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.  Contact Pam orBeth for more info.

Friday, Feb. 10th

—- 5:30, 6:15 and 7pm - Night in Italy – Our annual Italian Dinner Pre-School Fundraiser is almost here! Don’t forget to donate items for the silent auction and raffle. Proceeds will go toward upgrading the fire alarm system.

—- The Lutheran Men in Mission Annual Gathering - All men of the ELCA and their friends 14 years to 104— at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kenner, LA.  More info to follow.

Sunday, Feb. 12th

—- HCLC Annual Meeting, Part II, immediately following the 11:00am service.  Make your plans now to be here.
—- Humble Area Assistance Ministries (HAAM) - H.A.A.M. Day is the second Sunday of each month.  Everyone is encouraged to share from your bounty by offering non-perishable food items. Click here for more information.

February 26^th through April 1st - Small Group Ministry Campaign - Discover the joy of serving others.  In our ‘me-first’ culture, servanthood is the earmark of men and women who have discovered the joy of giving. But the secret to servanthood isn’t running ourselves ragged, trying to be everything to everyone.  It is pouring freely out of a full cup the things you were designed to give. More details coming soon.

February 27,  Registration for HCLC 2012-13 School year will begin for existing families and church member and March 5 Open to public.

Friday, March 23, 2012 - 3rd – 6th Grade Lutherhill Retreat - What a great time to discover how God’s light can be applied to everyday living. You want to know more; more about God, more about your life with God, and more about the light God put in you. Lutherhill is ready to explore God’s light with you and how you can be a laser show for Christ! Arrive Friday at 8pm. Depart Sunday at 11am. Activities include: Worship, Fellowship, High Ropes Course, Campfire & S’mores, Arts & Crafts, Canoeing, Cost: $70 per person (sponsors receive a 20% discount). Contact Chris Ray for details.

Sunday, April 1st – Children’s Choir Sings – Palm/Passion Sunday at BOTH services at the beginning. Save the Date!

• 2012-13 marks the 40th ANNIVERSARY of Holy Comforter Preschool!!!!!!!

• In January, the Sandwich Sunday team delivered 275 sandwiches to Houston’s Homeless. Keep up the momentum folks!!!

• Our bulbs are growing!  Jeanne Street has been helping the preschool students learn about flowers and the bulbs we planted in December are up!  Go see the horseshoe  flower bed in back of the Education building.

• What a glorious celebration we had on Christmas Eve!  A meaningful worship service, inspirational music and a memorable gathering of family and friends.  At the Christmas Eve Worship services there were 463 people at Holy Comforter offering their praises to God.  We were all blessed by these services.  Special thank you to all the musicians for their beautiful music that added so much to all these  services .

• On December 11, we received with joy the following new members:  Scott and Susan Muellner, Christopher; Dan and Kim Snyder, Collin & Cody.  We are so happy to have you as members with us as we minister to God’s kingdom in this place. Please extend your handshake of welcome to our newest members.

• Music Ministry always has room for more singers and ringers!  Please see the calendar, or the blue schedule in the narthex for the rehearsal schedule.  Join us!

• Registration is currently underway for the Fall 2011-12 school year.  We offer Mother’sDay Out, Preschool, and Extended Care for children ages 2—5.  Contact Colleen Engel, Director, at 281-358-9337 or email her for more info.

• Click the link below for other opportunities and information.

• Thank you! Thank You! to those folks who responded to our Wartburg Renovation Fund.  $1,765 was donated recently, so we are getting close to our remaining goal of $2,500.
• We are so happy to announce that Roy and Missy Schmidt have volunteered to be the new Blood Drive Coordinators.  Thanks so much for assuming this leadership role in this very important ministry.

• Welcome to  these new members to Holy Comforter: Cathy Cawelti, Steven & Marianne Moore, Adriane Neves and Lilian, Kelly & Linda Rinnan, Ryan & Carmon St. Clair, Skyler Smith and Adelynn St. Clair, Laurie St. Clair, Peggy V. Bear Vespia, Jonathan & Sarah Vigorito and Anthony. 
• Use your Kroger and Randall’s cards designated to Holy Comforter when you shop.  We just received $1,022.34 from Kroger for HCLC’s percentage of your purchases.
• Kids Hope USA is a national organization that believes one person can change another’s life with a friendship relationship.  Their motto is “One child, one hour, one church, one school.”  We have a great opportunity again this year to volunteer at Bear Branch Elementary School as mentors to children who need a friend, or as a Prayer Partner to those mentors.  Applications are available  in the narthex.
• It’s the 6th anniversary of Holy Comforter’s Gathering Place!!!

• We are pleased to install the leaders of the Women of the ELCA.  We thank these ladies for their service to God’s ministries:  Gayle Morgan, Joanna Hammond, Linda Petterson, Marlene Kopta, Jane Post, Beth Moseman, Dawna Kaleda, Joan Dekan, and Cathie Tanner.

• August 27th Macy’s partnered with Holy Comforter Lutheran Church to invite customers to participate in Macy’s sixth annual “Shop for a Cause” charity shopping event and raised $600 for the Youth room renovations.  Click here to the see the press release.
• Worship Sacks -12 NEW Worship Sacks are available in the church lobby for our younger church goers.  These bags are full of quiet distractions and our sacks have never looked better! This ministry is currently funded with personal funds from a member of the congregation. If you would like to to assist with this worthwhile ministry, please click here for more info.
• Thanks to everyone who gave their “Gift of Life” during our recent Blood Drive.  You have made such a difference in the lives of so many people.
• When  you are in Luther Hall be sure to take a walk through our two new rooms in the old Wartburg area.  Also, have you been up to the Loft to see the improvements there. Now we have more rooms for ministry, fresh paint, waxed floors, and a beautiful space.  Take a look!  Oh, and we are taking contributions to cover the cost of the build-out.  Can you help?  Just mark your check “Wartburg Build-out.”
• WELCA’s  (Women of the ELCA) “Back to School” drive resulted in $230 and a large basket of school supplies donated to HAAM (Humble Area Assistance Ministries)  during their current “Back to School Supplies Drive.”  Thanks to everyone who contributed.
• The profits from the Media Sale have enabled us to purchase two air conditioning units for the Loft upstairs.  Lowe’s gave us a $200 discount per unit.  A big thank you to all who participated in donations and purchases and to Lowe’s for their generosity!
• Your support of our school resulted in a check for $232.18 from Skeeter’s Restaurant from all of you who had dinner there on May 16.  These funds will be used towards improving the school playground.  Thanks to all!
• The Media Sale is over and it was very successful.  We raised almost $600 and your support made it happen.  Thanks to Michele Dykstra for coordinating this annual event.
• We congratulate and welcome the following persons who became full members of Holy Comforter as they affirmed their baptism through the rite of Confirmation on May 15: Cameron Barrett •Corinne Fahner • Ryan Findley • Rachel Heffelfinger • Alex Kaleda • Samantha Wiedrich
• Pastor Barb, Duane Utecht, Peter Kaleda, and Stephen Wagner were Holy Comforter’s delegates to the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod meeting in Galveston in May.
• The Voices of Praise women’s choir recently sang for the residents and staff at Oakmont Healthcare, as well as at Sarah Care adult day care center and at a private residence in Kingwood, taking their ministry into the community.
• 40 Days of Lent was a great success. We are sending $2,607.50 to the Lutheran World Relief Water Projects as a result of your pledges and donations.  Thanks again for your participation.
• What a great time we had on Sunday May 1.  Thanks to everyone who made the day a success.  A big “tip of the hat” to our 44 graduates from our Preschool program; to their teachers and their parents.  A special thank you to the Fellowship Committee for a delicious lunch and all the trimmings.  What fun we all had!  Let’s do it again soon.

Thank you!:

• Martha Circle has delivered 83 quilts to Lutheran World Relief to be sent throughout the world to those in need.
• The Women of the ELCA had a delightful lunch on Saturday and the discussion by Rabbi Dan Gordon was enlightening.  Thank you Rabbi Gordon for being with us.
• On Thursday, May 5, the preschool  4 year old students hosted a Mother’s Day Tea for their mothers.  What great fun for them to celebrate their mothers in song and make refreshments for them.

• What a great synod-wide Junior High School retreat was held here on Friday and Saturday.  Thanks to Chris Ray and all who helped make this possible.
• We welcome to the Lord’s table:  Pierce Dietrich and Michael Greco recently received their First Communion.
• Thanks to everyone who helped make our church grounds beautiful for Spring and Easter.

• We are very pleased to announce that the “Night in Italy”  Early Childhood fundraiser dinner resulted in  $3,295.00 in receipts; from that we will have to cover approximately $600 in expenses.  Thanks again to everyone who made this successful event possible and to everyone who enjoyed dinner last Friday evening.

• Your generosity made it possible for us to send $480 to Humble Area Assistance Ministries as a result of our “Souper Bowl Sunday” last Sunday.  Thanks to all the youth who “banged the pots.”

HCLC BBQ Photos – Now available! Click here to review/download.

• SECOND FAMILY CARE TEAM NEEDS YOUR HELP - The purpose of the SFCT is to provide help to families who have a loved one living at home that needs  care so that they can continue to keep that person at home as long as possible.  A SFCT care partner is  the person that needs care.  The family member(s) that provides care for that person is called the caregiver(s).   If you know of someone that needs our help please let us know.  We need people willing to do any or all of the following – make regular phone calls, make home visits, provide transportation either locally or to Houston, run errands, and/or other miscellaneous means of support.  If you are interested in joining our team, or if you know of someone who needs our “care,” please contact Beth Moseman or Bill Brant.

Merry Christmas. Feliz Navidad. God Jul. Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova. Mele Kalikimaka. Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok. There are many ways to say Merry Christmas around our world. But we are really all one family. One community. Especially on a day like Christmas, that is celebrated by Christians around the globe. Join us December 11th for a new way to celebrate the holidays and “Go Deeper” in our faith. We will celebrate the holidays and explore ways to give of ourselves and give back to our family–Our Global Family.

A Christmas Feast From South Of The Border

What a better way to celebrate the holidays than a fiesta. Our journey of being a “Global Family” starts in Mexico with a holiday meal from “South of the Border.” Join us at Noon after the 11:00 a.m. service for an Enchilada dinner complete with tamales, rice beans and a wonderful dessert.

There is no charge for this catered meal. There will be a free will basket and suggested donations are $8.00 per person/$20.00 dollars per family. Your generosity is appreciated.

Celebrating God’s Gifts & Giving to One Another

As we eat as a “Global Family” we will also be learning about God’s gifts to us and how we can give to one another. During this intergenerational event will celebrate and learn about the giving spirit of Christmas.

Angel Tree

Please remember to bring gifts to church on or before Sun. Dec. 11, 2011. Gifts will be delivered to El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church, Azleway foster children, Village Learning Center and ELCA World Hunger through the “Good Gifts” program.

Thank you for making the holidays brighter for these families! For more information click here.

We will have several fun activities to help families talk about God’s gifts to us and how we can give to one another. Activities include: making table runners, creating your own Christmas ornaments to give away, and learning a new way to pray “Come, Lord Jesus.”

December nights are often packed with activities. Come assemble a simple minestrone soup recipe to prepare for a simple easy dinner. Dinner comes with table grace and family devotion!

Come here about different ways to honor friends and loved ones with gifts that will go on to make a difference in the world. With more than 50 different giving options–from ten little chicks to helping a family escape poverty to a scholarship to help a young leader attend seminary–there’s something for everyone on your list.

During this time we will also be collecting fleece for our annual blanket ministry. Join us to hear more about how you can help make blankets that will go to help those in need this holiday season.

Pageants, Blessings and a Special Visit

After we all share a meal and learn just how to give as a “Global Family,” come join us in the Sanctuary for a very special and spontaneous celebration. We will bless all of the gifts you have put under our “Angel Tree.” We will also talk about the true meaning of Christmas in a special Christmas Pageant. And don’t be surprised if a special visitor joins us to conclude this special day.

That’s right—St. Nicholas himself will stop by for a visit.

It will be special day and the start of a new tradition at Holy Comforter Lutheran Church. So come by on December 11th starting right after the 11:00 AM worship service for “The Gift of Christmas: Being A Global Family.”

Christmas Outreach Project “The Angel Tree”

In keeping with our congregation’s Christmas theme “Global Community,” the Angel Tree Project will serve four groups: members of El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church, Azleway foster children, the Village Learning Center in Kingwood, and ELCA World Hunger through the “Good Gifts” program.

The Angel Tree will be in the narthex on November 13, 2011. There will be four categories to choose from when you decide to be part of this project:

Angel cutouts will represent families and children from El Buen Pastor Lutheran Church. We will provide a gift for the children of this sister congregation and a grocery store gift card for each family to help ensure that each family from this congregation can share a Christmas meal together.

Hand cutouts will represent items needed for the Village Learning Center in Kingwood. The Village Learning Center is an organization that works to create the support and services needed to affect positive changes in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and our local community.

Child cutouts will represent foster children from Azleway Children’s Services, a foster care agency located in Humble but that serves children from 13 Texas counties surrounding Harris County. This year we will be giving to children who are coming into foster care right before Christmas who would otherwise have no gifts, as this has become a rising need.

Animal cutouts will represent animals that are part of the ELCA Good Gifts program with ELCA World Hunger. Each animal donated will be sent to a family in a needy community overseas.

The tree will be decorated with the Angels, Hands, Children, and Animals. The back of each cutout will give you more information about the group you have chosen and how to proceed. Your gifts will be due back on Sunday, December 11, 2011 for our big Christmas celebration.

Thanks you so much for your participation in this outreach project. If you have any questions, or would like to help with this project, please call Melissa Schiefelbein at 832-247-3683.

Thank you for participating in our annual Christmas outreach project. Please call Melissa Schiefelbein at 832-247-3683 with any questions.

5.28 – I’ll be headed to Israel tomorrow afternoon where we’ll be
studying first century Jesus followers.  We are going to walk where the
man Jesus walked as He battled the enemies of God’s people:  the
empire, the devil, and death.  My hope is to chat with you all while
there via this blog.  (Please keep in mind that: I’ve never kept a blog
and I’m attempting this endeavor for the first time while abroad.
Forgive me if…..but praise be to God if I’m able.)  So keep an eye
out…..and please keep me and my travel companions in your prayers.

6.10
- I finally have limited access to a computer with internet.  All is
good here –  Israel and Palestine toured.  I even did a stint in the
Dead Sea.  In Jordan now headed to Petra in the morning.  Have lots to
share with you when I return.  Blessings. PB

6-11 –  Back where
I have internet access…and guess what…..I’m headed back to Houston
in about 2 hours.  I’m currently in Amman, Jordan (near Mt. Nebo–
Moses…wanderings…Promised Land and the like).  Our journey home
will take about 13 hours flying time and about 8 hours of airport
time.   Pray for our safe journey home. Watch this sight…..I’ll write
about the trip here when I get back……and it will be good. 

Peace, my friends.  PB

Blog Home | Travel Log | Foreword | Arrival Day | Tour Day 1 | Tour Day 2 | Tour Day 3 | Tour Day 4 | Tour Day 5 | Tour Day 6

For the past five years or so, I’ve been begging Pastor Marlin Wogstad (colleague and dear friend) to lead a study trip for pastors to the “Holy Land”.  Marlin has traveled extensively throughout throughout the world, is an incredible scholar, and a great man of faith.  Finally, after five years of nagging, Marlin relented, put together a fine itinerary with a fantastic New Testament Scholar Dr. Ray Pickett of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (formerly of the Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest in Austin), and a fine group of theologians (myself included).

Before any of the Marlin and Ray Study Trips (of which now I’ve been on three–  Rome, Turkey, and Israel/Jordan) an extensive reading list is prepared and expected to be undertaken.  Not wanting to look dumb in front of my colleagues, I mean, always wanting to be prepared, I feverishly devour the list, or at least read enough to appear to be quite scholarly.  Seriously, it is refreshing to be directed by a current seminary professor and a retired seminary professor in academic pursuits again.  I feel I must continue to learn for the faithfulness and success of my ministry at Holy Comforter.

A few books titles for this trip included:  “Prophet and Teacher:  An Introduction to the Historical Jesus,” “Palestine in the Time of Jesus:  Social Structures and Social Conflicts, Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus,” “The Birth of Christianity:  Discovering What Happened in the Years Immediately After the Execution of Jesus,” “The Historical Jesus:  The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant,” “God and Empire:  Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now,” “The Holy Land:  An Oxford Archaeological Guide.”  We also utitlized a couple of journal articles including “The Galilean Fishing Economy and the Jesus Tradition” and “Jesus and the Renewal of Local Community in Galilee:  Challenge to a Communitarian Christology.”  Our primary text for the trip was, of course, the gospel of Mark while also comparing the Q document (from the German Quelle, “source”) a postulated lost textual source for the gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke.

Having said all that, why were we going to the “Holy Land”?  Above I gave you a few of my reasons, and I’m sure my colleagues had a laundry list of their own.  As a study group, our purpose was, in part, to “See!  Walk!  Feel!  Think!”, I”m assuming Jesus (according to Marlin).  We were going there to examine what factors of society, geography, economy, and politics impinged on Jesus–  peasant, “community organizer”–  that color the gospel narratives.  We were going there to see what the walk, the sights, and the feel of the land would contribute to our theology, to our preaching of the gospel, and to our own self-understanding.  Huge endeavor, huh?

So over the next few weeks or so, I’d like to spend some time reflecting with you how this all went.  Keep in mind I’m still processing it all, and probably will be for years, But Jesus did something to me while I was there……and remember……”changed people change churches”.

More tomorrow………Peace, PB

One more thing:  THERE WILL BE PICTURES!! 

Blog Home | Travel Log | Foreword | Arrival Day | Tour Day 1 | Tour Day 2 | Tour Day 3 | Tour Day 4 | Tour Day 5 | Tour Day 6

6-30  The reflections Israel/Jordan continue….As I review the itinerary, I am reminded of the long lines at Bush Intercontinental Airport and the long flight from Houston to Frankfurt.  I wonder, “Why are some people so mean to others?  Pushing, shoving, ugly looks, all because of some self-imposed self-importance and the belief that “I” should be first.  No, I’m not just talking about my colleagues.    Oh wait….the answer to that question is simply SIN–  where “I” am in the middle of it all.  “I, I, I.”  I am the sun and the universe revolves around me.  Me, my, and mine are the most used pronouns in the English language.  Oh, Where is Jesus?  I wish to see Jesus.

Now from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv.  We take a short van ride to Jerusalem.  Here is what I see…

“The trip of my dreams!! and I am actually here, in Jerusalem.  I can’t believe it.”  (Oops…”I, I, I.”)  During our stay in Jerusalem, Christ Church Guest House will be our home away from home.  It is a beautiful complex including an Episcopal church, living areas and gardens just inside the Jappa Gate, inside the Old City Wall of Jerusalem.  My room is tiny

but I have my own bathroom AND, almost as important, we are in the midst of it all in Jerusalem.

First impressions of Jerusalem….hot (over 100 degrees), lots of cars, lots of people, lots of commotion.  Could have been Houston except there was no humidity and there were thousands of Hasidic Jews rushing about everywhere.  Hasidic Judaism (also transliterated as Chasidic etc., from the Hebrew: חסידות , Hasidut, meaning “piety”, from the Hebrew root word חסד chesed meaning “loving kindness”) is a type of Orthodox or Haredi Jewish religious movement.  As compared with other Jewish movements, Hasidic Judaism tends to focus on the role of the Rebbe (or Rabbi) as a spiritual conduit of God.  Hasidic followers join worship groups associated with dynasties of Hasidic spiritual leaders.  Each dynasty follows its own principles; thus Hasidic Judaism is not one movement, but a collection of separate individual groups with some commonality.

The teachings of Hasidism are founded on two theoretical conceptions: (1) religious Panentheism, or the omnipresence of God, and (2) the idea of Devekus, communion between God and man.  ”Man,” says the Besht (Baal Shem Tov), “must always bear in mind that God is omnipresent and is always with him; that God is the most subtle matter everywhere diffused… Let man realize that when he is looking at material things he is in reality gazing at the image of the Deity which is present in all things.  With this in mind man will always serve God even in small matters.”  The tzaddik (righteous person) is in constant communion with God, even in their worldly affairs, since they also feel His presence in daily life.

A special form of communion with God for the Hasidem is prayer.  In order to render this union complete the prayer must be full of fervor, ecstatic, and the soul of the person who prays, must during their devotions, detach itself from its material dwelling.  For the attainment of ecstasy, recourse can be had to mechanical means, to enthusiastic bodily motions, to shouting and singing (hence the rocking that is seen at the Western Wall).   According to the Besht, the path to God is in sicerity and fervour, rather than cold intellectual reasoning.  (For more information about Hasidic Judaism, check out the world wide web.)

Back to Jerusalem….hot, busy, and lots and lots of different peoples from different ethnic backgrounds and differing religious beliefs.  I am amazed.  I am in Jerusalem.  And tomorrow begins the tour……So my friends…..more tomorrow.

PB

Blog Home | Travel Log | Foreword | Arrival Day | Tour Day 1 | Tour Day 2 | Tour Day 3 | Tour Day 4 | Tour Day 5 | Tour Day 6

We try again to enter the tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Once again, after patiently waiting at the door of the tomb, we are turned away.  Took advantage of the time there and snapped a few more photos.

Way up to Golgotha

Tomb of Jesus

(Pictures 268 – 286)

We now head to Masada through the wilderness passing the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth. (Pictures 287 – 318)  On to Qumran, where Essenes lived and where Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Many ritual baths found here and they held all things in common.  Scrolls were hidden after fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  40,000 fragments found.  (Pictures 319 – 327)  Now a dip in the Dead Sea. (Pictures 329 – 334)

We see Tel of Jericho which is the oldest city in the world of 10,000 years and lowest city on earth. (Picture 340)

Blog Home | Travel Log | Foreword | Arrival Day | Tour Day 1 | Tour Day 2 | Tour Day 3 | Tour Day 4 | Tour Day 5 | Tour Day 6

This is an absolutely breath-taking view.  Think of the history this place has seen.  Think of the lives, the deaths, and the new beginnings that have taken place here.  Notice the “pointy” steeple to the left of the Dome of the Rock (golden dome to the right of the center in the picture).  This is the steeple of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (ELCA).  More on the Temple Mount and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer later.

We now visit the Chapel/Mosque of the Ascension which is located at the highest point of the Mt. of Olives.

Tradition says that it is here that Jesus ascended into heaven.  There is a rock inside with an imprint of his footprint.

This site has been a place of worship for centuries beginning first in a cave located here.  The first building was erected in 392.  The present building dates back to Crusader times and was remodeled by Muslims in 1200.

Now on to the site of the Sanctuary of Eleona (translation, olive tree) built by Helena (mother of Emperor Constantine) in 333.  Here is located the Pater Noster (Our Father) Chapel where tradition says that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.

Halfway between Bethany and Jerusalem is Bethphage.  Tradition says that here Jesus borrowed the donkey for His ride into Jerusalem (on Palm Sunday).

At this site is a rock from the road on which tradition says Jesus rode.

From Mt. of Olives is incredible view of the Eastern Wall of the Temple Mount.  Between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount is the Kidron Valley which is filled with Jewish cemeteries  (a.k.a. Valley of Jehoshaphat believed to be where humanity will one day be judged by God).

We then walked the Palm Sunday route down the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem through the Garden of Gethsemane–  Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which was probably Jesus poking fun at the Empire and their war celebration processions.

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus taught and rested and retreated.  Here is the Church of All Nations.  Tradition holds this as the sight where Jesus cries for His Father to take the cup from him.  This building was erected in 1924 but has been a site of worship since 379.

We now move on to the cave where, tradition says, Mary, the mother of Jesus was buried (Transitus Mariae) and where Jesus and His disciples slept in the Garden, and where the kiss of Judas took place.

We hop into our bus for the short trek over to the Lion’s Gate where just inside is the Church of St. Anne where Mary was born to Anne and Joachim.

Nearby are the Bethsaidia Pools for cleansing sheep for Temple sacrifice and for healing.

We now walk the Via Dolorosa–  the way of the cross.  Tradition says this is the way Jesus walked to Golgotha.  It is also noted that this path is defined by faith and not by history.

Thousands upon thousands upon thousands of believers make the pilgrimage each year to walk the way of the cross, the Via Dolorosa.

Along the route are numbered plaques, shrines, chapels, and churches to indicate places for adoration, worship, and prayer.

Station 1                Chapel of Flagellation

Station 2                Chapel of Condemnation

Station 3                Jesus falls

Station 4                Jesus sees His mother

Station 5                Simon of Cyrene helps        (Picture 71)

Station 6                St. Veronica wipes brow     (Picture 72)

Station 7                Jesus falls

Station 8                Jesus tells Jerusalem women

to cry for selves not for him

Station 9                Jesus falls third time

Station 10              Jesus stripped of garments

Station 11              Jesus nailed to cross

Station 12              Jesus dies on cross

Station 13              Jesus taken from cross

Station 14              Jesus laid in tomb

Stations 11 through 14 are located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In 326, Constantine built the first church on this site after removing a temple built by Emperor Hadrian in 135.  The original site was destroyed by Muslims in 1009.  Restoration began in 1012 and have been various building projects thereafter.  This Church is “cared for” by the Latin Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Orthodox Syrians, Copts, and Ethiopians.    The enormous tomb monument was built in 1810.

Near the entrance of the church is the Unction Stone (stone where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.  Pilgrims place items (rosaries, oils, etc.) on the stone for blessing.

More on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre later.

Now a quick stop at the Western Wall Plaza (Haram esh-Sharif).  This is a portion of the retaining wall for the Temple Mount that was built by Herod in 29 BC.  The purpose of this part of the wall was to support the Temple.  Today the Western Wall is venerated by Jews as the sole remnant of the Temple.  It is the closest permitted accessible sight to the holiest spot in Judaism.

Be nice….I just wanted to touch the rock.

Lots and lots seen today.  I have a few reflections from the day….but we’ll save those for tomorrow.  Peace, PB

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July 2…More…Rather than jumping on to the next day of the tour, I’d like to reflect a bit so far.  The day spent on the Mt. of Olives, Kidron Valley, Via Dolorosa, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre was eye-opening, or at least piety jarring.  In one day, we had visited the places I longed to see, so what would be the point of the rest of the trip.  I was done; except that while at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we were not able to go into the Tomb of Jesus.  The line was too long.  We decided that we would return another day.  So now I had my reason for the tour to continue.

More later….

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TOUR DAY TWO

July 2nd – On the next day of the tour we drove the short trip to Bethlehem (approximately five miles).  Before entering the town of Bethlehem we have to cross a checkpoint at the dividing wall where Palestinians cannot cross over into Jerusalem and Israelis cannot cross into Bethlehem.

We stop at the Chapel of the Shepherd’s Field where tradition says that the angels spoke to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of the messiah.

Shepherds hung together.  Shepherds rested in caves with their sheep.  They slept during the day while the sheep grazed and were safe from predators.  Shepherds guarded their sheep at night, when it was most dangerous, by coraling sheep in caves while they guarded the entrance.

As mentioned earlier, these traditional sites have, for centuries upon centuries, been sites of worship and devotion.  Here at there Shepherd’s Field are ruins from 3rd to 5th century monastery.

Now on to the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem–  a Lutheran presence in Bethlehem since 1901.  Me with the Pastor and others from this church and school.

The next stop on our tour is the Milk Grotto where tradition says an angel appeared to Joseph instructing him to take his family to Egypt to escape Herod.  Before they left for Egypt, Mary fed her infant son Jesus in this cave and drops of her milk fell onto the floor.  Many say this is a site of miracles.

Now on to the Church of the Nativity.

The current entrance is from the Crusader period.  Tradition says that it is here that Jesus was born

and laid in the manger

Other areas of this site enshrine the traditional house of Mary.

Now to Herodium located in the Judean desert.  Built by Herod between 24 and 15 BC.  Here he entertained Agrippa, son in law of Augustus in 15 BC.  Herod’s tomb is possibly located here.

Now head back to Jerusalem.  On way are Solomon’s Pools (where King Solomon swam).  This was the major watersource for Jerusalem.  Aqueduct was built by Herod.

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We go to Hebron.  This is where the Tomb of the Patriarchs are located within a synagogue/mosque.  Today Hebron has a population of about 500,000.  We first stop at the oak of Abraham.  There to greet us is the keeper of the oak.  He is a Muslim man with 4 wives and 33 children (from 38 years to 6 months).  The oak of Abraham, tradition says, is where God told Abraham that he would have a son, and later, to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice.

We now head to the Tomb of the Patriarchs –  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their respective We go through a market area.

Market in Hebron

Alongside is an Israeli settlement.

Israeli settlement in Hebron

We then hit another checkpoint with high security.  We now enter the mosque side of the tomb.  In Mosque (Picture 240) area, where I had to wear covering (Picture 240) are tombs of Sarah, Rebekah and Isaac.

Tomb of Sarah

Tomb of Rebekah

Tomb of Isaac

Only one way down to the tombs.

(Picture 247)  In synagogue area (Picture 253) are tombs of Abraham, Jacob and Rachel.

Tomb of Abraham

This was Herod’s monument to the patriarchs, but now is divided in two.  On outside is tomb of Joseph just inside checkpoint.

Tomb of Joseph on left under archway

(picture 252)

We head back to bus via Israeli settlement rather than market.

Israeli settlement in Hebron

One position

Israeli settlement in Hebron

Division between the two

(Pictures 254 – 261).  Here’s graffiti from the other side. (Picture 262)

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