7 minute read
REV. DR. MITRI RAHEB
christmas in Bethlehem
BY REV. DR. MITRI RAHEB
Christmas and Bethlehem are synonymous for Christians throughout the world. Christians over the centuries have drawn their own imaginative depictions of both Bethlehem and Christmas. It is this magical portrayal of the “little town” with its shepherds, sheep, stars, and, yes, gifts, that have captured the imagination of children and have given both Bethlehem and Christmas its glamour. But what about Christmas in the real town of Bethlehem? As someone born, raised and having spent almost his entire life in the “little town,” allow me to share with you some insider insights about our city and Christmas in Bethlehem.
First, Bethlehem is no longer the “little town” that we imagine through Christian hymns. Rather it is a town of approximately 30,000 inhabitants, and as a municipality it has over 200,000 people. Bethlehem is a Palestinian town, located in the West Bank. The inhabitants are Arabs, both Christian and Muslims. And have been living here for centuries. Bethlehem’s location, with the desert to the east and the fertile terraces to the west made it an ideal place for all sorts of exchange, exchange of goods and ideas. The shepherds to the east supplied the city with milk and meat. The Arabic name, Beit Laham,
means the ‘house of meat.’ The fertile valleys where wheat used to grow gave the city its Aramaic name, beit lahmu, meaning the ‘house of bread.’ The trees of the terraces, laden with gorgeous fruit, to the west, gave the area the name Ephrathah (Micah 5:2) meaning ‘the fertile area.’ Its location on an ancient route between two major cities, Jerusalem to the north and Hebron to the south, has been an important factor in its prosperity. However, this route no longer exists due to the wall built by Israel which separates Bethlehem from Jerusalem.
It was the prophet Micah, the one who gave the city its famous description as the ‘little town,’ ‘though thou be little among the thousands of Judah’ (Micah 5:2). And yet, Matthew in his gospel rearranged that verse, correcting it to read: “And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah…” (Matthew 2:6). It was indeed the birth of Christ that changed the destiny of the ‘little town.’ The birth of Christ in this town has shaped its skyline: the seven towers of the diverse churches in the city central testify to this. The birth of Christ changed the city’s economy, making tourism, with hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops, the main income stream for the city and responsible for 70% of its economy. The birth of Christ was instrumental in raising the educational standard of its inhabitants. Today in the ‘little town’ there are five vigorous Church-related organizations, with two Christian universities (including our Dar alKalima University), two Christian colleges, twenty-seven Christian schools, three Christian hospitals, twenty-six Christian social programs (including our elderly care Ajyal program), fifteen Christian scout groups, and many more Christian entities. No wonder that over 50% of the Palestinian Christians in the West Bank reside in and around Bethlehem.
When it comes to Christmas, Bethlehem is unique. It is the only city in the world that celebrates three Christmases: the western Christmas (for Catholics & Protestants) on December 24 & 25; the eastern Christmas (for the Greek, Syriacs and Coptic Christians) on January 6
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& 7; and the Armenian Christmas on January 18 & 19. Yet, one could say, every day is Christmas in Bethlehem: on a daily basis, in all seasons, and in all languages, pilgrim groups visiting the church of the nativity will sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and tourists will shop for an olivewood-carved manger. In Bethlehem, Christmas is always ‘in the air.’
The Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem are unique. It all starts with decorating the city entrance and old town with lights, beginning near the end of November. Then comes the Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony in the presence of the Palestinian Prime Minister in early December; then comes the arrival of hundreds of journalists from all around the world, looking for a new Christmas story to tell. Next are the Christmas dinners and celebrations that Christian organizations put together. Then there are the grandiose arrivals of the three Patriarchs on December 24, January 6 and 18 respectively. And then the midnight mass with the Palestinian President and members of the cabinet all present.
Yet, everything depends here on the weather: Bethlehem is located on a mountain that is 2,600 feet above sea level. Winter is cold, and the homes here are not well insulated. Most of these celebrations need sunny days for both locals and tourists to enjoy. If it is rainy and windy, people in general refrain from participating. A white Christmas is possible but seldom occurs. For me, as a former senior pastor, the highlight was always the 5 pm service on December the 24th, when we had our multilingual service with visitors from many countries present, where prayers are read in multiple languages. It was a reminder that the babe of Bethlehem, born in a little town in Palestine, was able with His message, as an adult, to capture the hearts of people from every tribe, nation, and culture. It is He, Christ the Lord, that unites us across oceans, and brings the people at Pinnacle and the students of Dar al-Kalima University around His manger and, with the Bright Stars, leading us to where He is.
REV. DR. MITRI RAHEB is a Lutheran pastor and founder and president of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, Dr. Raheb is a co-founder of Bright Stars of Bethlehem, a 501c3 non-profit American organization. The most widely published Palestinian theologian to date, Dr. Raheb is the author and editor of 40 books including his latest: Politics of Persecution: Middle Eastern Christians in an Age of Empire. PHOTOS - Page 4, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Page 5, pilgrims perform a joint prayer in the Christmas cave in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Page 6 Christmas tree on the square of Bethlehem.
A Path to Changing Lives
BY REV. PATRICIA MAGYAR
In my third year as the Chaplain of UMOM, New Day Center, and assigned to this ministry by the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist church, I am grateful each positive impact on the children of UMOM.
Prior to the COVID pandemic, volunteer families from Pinnacle
day for the people I serve and those I meet that come our way. Having worked in the mission sending agency of the United Methodist Church in NYC, I have experienced many cultures and walks of life. But the Homeless Ministry is a new day as I learn new ways to engage for the common good.
It is with a warm heart that I thank Pinnacle Presbyterian for the continued outreach to UMOM, New Day Center. Your members and the team of the Children’s and Family Ministries have had a long-standing Presbyterian brought a VBS-style program on the third and fifth Sundays of the month. We have paused that program due to COVID restrictions.
Now, monthly themed fun bags have been delivered for distribution among the children, and these spiritual care projects have brought excitement to the hearts of all who receive them. The contents, filled with creative crafts, snacks and spiritual notes and coloring projects have been meaningful for the family to share and engage with each other. But the highlight experience with a lifelong impact was Camp 456 implemented by Hillary Mackowski and her team this summer. It was an opportunity for our children to engage with the children of Pinnacle Presbyterian, all learning to have fun, be friends and make good choices.
I asked one of the camp participants today what the camp meant to him.
“It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. I was able to have fun, play basketball and other games that I usually am not able to do. One of my goals in life is to live to be 21, and the camp was helping me to be a better leader and make good choices. If kids like us make bad decisions, we will not survive. I thank Ms. Hillary. “
REV. PATRICIA MAGYAR is the Chaplain at UMOM New Day Center in Phoenix. An Indiana girl receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. A lifelong United Methodist and her husband, a retired Methodist minister, service in the church has been a way of life. Following completion of a Master of Public Health from the University of AZ and later attendance in studies for a pastor, she joined UMOM.
