Saturday, Oct. 26, Luke 24:5-7

The last full day in Israel provides us an opportunity to focus again on what is so important about being here.  First, we allow folks to sleep in a bit and perhaps to get a little work done on packing for the trip home.  Then there are basically two items on our agenda: worshiping with a church in the Talpiot area of Jerusalem and then a visit to the Garden Tomb.  Because the Jewish bus system is not operating (Shabbat) we use the Arab bus system.  The bus to Bethlehem will run us right up Hwy. 60 (Hebron Road) in Jerusalem to a bus stop that is a short walk to the church.  Then we catch the bus on its way back to the bus terminal which is a short walk through East Jerusalem shopping area to the Garden Tomb.  At the end of the day we do have to walk back UP to our hotel so we usually stop at the Allegro in the Notre Dame Hotel for our main meal for the day.  That completes most of the up, leaving us less than a quarter mile walk to the hotel.  On this day it was raining, lightly.  What a blessing and joy that is for it to be raining in Israel even a little before the rainy season starts.

·       10:30AM Jerusalem Assembly/House of Redemption.  We do warn folks.  This is a 2 hour service that gives you a good look and experience with a congregation that is mostly Jewish believers.  The service is always in Hebrew first but also in English.  And you can hear noise throughout from the back of the room as other languages are being translated for people using ear buds to hear.  The couple in front of us was from Switzerland and heard it in German.

Pastor Meno was not here but whoever took his place (I never did catch his name; why would he give it since everyone else knew who he was 😊 ) did a wonderful job of opening the word of God.  The service goes like this. 

ü Opening welcome followed by a song led by a worship team.  The words are on the screen in three forms: Hebrew (duh), English (thank you), and then in English letters letting you know the Hebrew so you can sing somewhat similar sounds with those around you.  Some of the words, of course, sound familiar.  Like Meshiach, Elohim, Adonai, hallelujah, olam (everlasting), Tikvah (hope; we were supposed to have learned that word on this trip), and so forth. 

ü Then there is a short sermon by one of the men of the church on the Torah portion for the week.  The believers in Christ do not, of course, limit their reading and study to the Torah portion.  But most of them are Jews and they all know Jewish people and this is what they are reading for the week.  So the message highlights the passage (Gen. 1-6) and might deal with some difficult aspect so they can talk with their friends.  Remember that we were in Israel this time for Tabernacles which ends with “simchat torah”, the day they rewind the Torah scroll and begin again with Genesis.

ü Then there is extended singing.  the songs this week included some choruses and then two hymns we know.  “It is Well with My Soul” (li shalom nephisti) was written by Horatio Spafford who lived in Jerusalem in the latter years of his life.  “In Christ Alone” is, after only a few years, a classic hymn in many churches.

ü Then there is usually some “family” business.  Last time we were here there was a baby dedication.  This time they had a Korean family come up on stage and they prayer for the son who is returning to Korea for military duty.

ü Then the sermon.  The pastor in Hebrew; a great translator in English; from side-by-side pulpits.  This week it was from Mark 4:26-29.

I will finish this account of Saturday in tomorrow’s post as it is quite lengthy.