This Sunday, July 9, we were going to have a special guest at St Stephen's in Adelaide. Mitri Raheb is the pastor of the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine, and he was to have been a visitor in our country, to our church. As most would know, the situation in Palestine has deteriorated, and Mitri was unable to travel. 'Bethlehem Besieged' is his most recent book. ('I am a Palestinian Christian' was published about 10 years ago).
Dr Norm Habel (our associate pastor) will preach instead, telling some of Mitri's story & quoting from his book, e.g.:
An Israeli tank outside our home entrance started firing.
We could feel the whole house shaking.
Little more than a single door was left between us and the streets.
The noise of the Israeli guns and tanks was as loud and near
as if they were inside the house.
His sermon is titled 'Little town of Bethlehem', and Norm has reworked the classic carol for the day (Robin & Dorothy, with others, will lead the music) :
1. O little town of Bethlehem,
Why lie you still so small?
With battered homes and crowded roads,
Surrounded by a wall!
Yet in your dark streets shineth,
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of every year
Still meet in you tonight.
2. How violently, how violently,
The sounds of war return,
And breach the night, the silent night!
When will we ever learn?
When will your neighbours wonder?
When will their anger end?
Christ work is us, your love through us;
Turn neighbours into friends.
3. O Christ once born in Bethlehem,
You suffer there each day;
You feel the pain, with us the pain;
When will it pass away?
Bring back the Christmas angels,
The great glad tidings tell:
The child with us, who died for us,
Is still Immanuel!
We'll also hear a children's address followed by a song based on the closing of the Bethlehem Lutheran school (& all of Bethlehem!) some years ago. The songs uses the slogan/prayer daubed on the outside wall:
Excuse us, dear Christ,
we can't celebrate your birthday
this year.
Pray for Bethlehem & it's people.
