Day 11: Bethlehem and Olive Wood Shop

This morning was great. We enjoyed a filling breakfast at our hotel, the Notre Dame Conference Center.

With a joyous spirit we visited among ourselves before loading the bus. There was a distinct feeling of anticipation in the lobby. Once seated we followed our usual custom – counting off – each pilgrim shouts his/her individual number beginning with ONE, in order to make sure all 21 are present. Today each of us was also asked to show our passport – a requisite to crossing into the West Bank area south of Jerusalem.

After a 15 minute drive to the security check point, we passed through to the other side of Bethlehem.Our destination was a woodcarving business, located in the basement of a Christian family’s home just outside of town. For generations this family has transformed olive trees into manger scenes, statues of Mary, crosses, and the like. We made a tour and met some of the family members.

Next stop was back into Bethlehem to the Shepherd’s Fields.

Travis and Karen Webster led us in a thoughtful service of prayer and silence overlooking the fields recognized since the third century as the location where angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. We could just make out a group of Bedouin shepherds deep in the valley below.

After a shopping trip – many of you reading this will receive some nice gifts - we joined hundreds of others crossing the Manger Square in the center of town to visit the oldest continually functioning church in the world. The Church of the Nativity was founded by Queen Helen, the mother of Constantine who visited the Holy Land in the third century.

We waited in line among the icons, burning candles and incense, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses over centuries to kneel and touch the spot marking the birth of our Lord. For many there was a feeling of life kicking deep inside, crying to be born. And it was a moment of reverence that will be long remembered by each of us.