Devotions for Advent · 2019. 12. 5. · Devotions for Advent Featuring Mitri Raheb and the Bright...

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Devotions for Advent

Devotions for AdventFeaturing Mitri Raheb and the Bright Stars of Bethlehem Ministry

I n t R o d u c t I o nWe invite you to travel in spirit and in hope to Bethlehem in these devotions for Advent. The city of Bethlehem—both past and present—has so much to tell us. But there is one thing that stands out in this “little town.” As the classic hymn “O Little Town of Bethlehem” says, “O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth.” That’s what the authors of these devotions are doing—proclaiming a holy birth. Whose birth are we proclaiming? The one who “in thy dark streets shineth,” the Bright Star of Bethlehem—Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is his birth in Bethlehem and his birth in our hearts that we celebrate in these pages.

It is our pleasure to present these devotions to you in coordination with Bethlehem pastor Mitri Raheb and the Bright Stars of Bethlehem organization. Bright Stars of Bethlehem is a U.S. 501(c)3 organization founded in 2003 to promote and to bring awareness to the many hope-filled ministries of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, to build hope and a brighter future for Palestine. To learn more about how you can help provide funding and support for the educational, medical, wellness and spiritual needs of the people currently living in Bethlehem and throughout Palestine, visit the Bright Stars website at www.brightstarsbethlehem.org. The organization’s focus says it all: “Hope is what we do!”

Enjoy your journey to Bethlehem this Advent season to meet the Bright Star, Jesus Christ, who is for us the Star of Creation, the Star of Hope, the Star of Unity and the Star of Joy.

Pastor Mitri Raheb, Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, Palestine

Ms. Beth Nelson Chase, Vice President, Bright Stars of Bethlehem, U.S.,Email: [email protected]

Dr. Rich Bimler, Board of Directors, Bright Stars of BethlehemMr. Mark Zimmermann, editor

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F I R S t S u n d ay o F a d v e n t

People of LightBut you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. —1 Peter 2:9

W elcome to Bethlehem, where there truly is no room at the inn. Tourism to this land, the Holy Land, is on the increase. Around 75% of the tourists are Christian pilgrims who come to visit the Holy Land. Indeed, a pilgrimage to the places where Jesus, the Bright Star of Bethlehem, lived, died and rose is a transforming experience that makes one read and understand the Bible in a new way.

However, by visiting only the ancient stones and touring mainly archaeological sites, tourists miss out on encountering the “living stones” where Jesus is dwelling today. Being a Palestinian Christian who was born just a few meters away from the Church of the Nativity, I often watched tourists flocking to the narrow and low gate that marks the entrance to the Church. Less than 20 minutes later, I would see them coming out, running into the bus and hurrying on to their next destination. The Holy Land seems similar to a Christian Disneyland, tourists standing in long lines to visit many sites and ancient churches, and pilgrims running where Jesus walked. They are not seeing the Light.

It is a moving experience for pilgrims to walk the Via Dolorosa, carrying a wooden cross on their backs. Still, it is even more meaningful to hear firsthand stories, genuine testimonies and personal narratives by local Christians. What makes the land holy are not the stones, but the people, and the Light that shines through them because of Jesus.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, we thank you for making us holy by your birth, death

and resurrection. Help us to be people of light because you are the Bright Star of Bethlehem. Amen.

Mitri Raheb

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The Star of Creation

T h e B r i g h T S T a r o f B e T h l e h e m

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M o n d ay, F I R S t W e e k o F a d v e n t

Confluence of SeasonsThe people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.—Isaiah 9:2

W e are in a confluence of seasons: Thanksgiving is just over; Advent is now just beginning. We already see Christmas lights and decorations going up.It is a confluence of emotions, too, and it was a mix of emotions on my latest

trip to Bethlehem, to be sure. There was relief at having made it after such a long journey, happiness for our hosts Charlie and Raida, excitement about being part of the ministry in Bethlehem, sadness over the struggles in this place, but joy that here our Savior was born for us.

Have you had the experience of people who think Bethlehem is a magical wonderland of Christmas? Sometimes we who have been here before may despair a bit about what’s happened to Bethlehem, what has happened to Christmas here. There are few lights, few jobs and little hope among many.

But it’s not so different, really. Jesus, the Bright Star of Bethlehem, has always come to people who were less than overwhelmed to greet him, people who “dwelt in the land of deep darkness.” Christ has come to create a new confluence of glory and blessing between this earth and the paradise above.

It is still our joy to join the shepherds and angels, Mary and Joseph, and the Wise Men who greeted Jesus here when he entered creation, and to join those who spread the good news of his presence on earth. It is still our joy to know this joy in our hearts. Today it is our joy to be Christian citizens of Bethlehem and ambassadors of the birth of Jesus. That is what God has created us to be—bright stars pointing to Christ.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, thank you for creating us to be ambassadors of your

birth to all the earth. Amen.

Fred Zimmermann

T H E S T A R O F C R E A T I O N

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Wish Upon a Star I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky. —Genesis 22:17

W henever I hear the song from Walt Disney’s movie Pinocchio, “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you,” I am transported back to a time in my life when wishing on a star was magical. Standing under starlit skies still fills me with awe and a sense of serenity. No matter what is going on in the world or in my life, at that moment I feel blessed.

Stories in the Bible I read as a child reinforced this understanding of the stars as signs of blessing. For Abraham and Sarah, the stars reminded them of God’s promise that they would have offspring as numerous as the stars in the heavens. For Mary and Joseph, the star was a sign of blessing on the child for whom they risked their reputations and their lives for the sake of God’s dream for the world.

And in Bethlehem today, the Bright Star of Bethlehem continues to bless the lives of children, youth and adults who, because of the various ministries at Christmas Lutheran Church, get to dream and shine like stars. Whenever I stand there, under those rising stars, I am again filled with a sense of awe and possibility that the life God envisions for us is possible and dreams can come true.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, as we watch the night sky this Advent, waiting for your

appearance, remind us that your dream for us and our world is possible. Amen.

Bonnie Van Overbeke


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The Mindfulness of GodWhen I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him? —Psalm 8:3-4

A fter church one Sunday in Bethlehem, I was invited home for dinner by a woman I met at coffee hour. Over dinner, she and her husband talked about their concerns for their children, their own safety and their future in this war-torn place. “We feel trapped like animals in a cage. Are we not human beings?” they said in desperation.

Just then a neighbor came by to take the kids to the pool at Dar Al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center. “If it weren’t for Pastor Mitri and the activities at the Center, our children would have nothing positive to do,” said this mother. “We are so very grateful.”

It was in that moment when my commitment to support and participate in the ongoing work of the church in Bethlehem tightened its hold on my heart. Our God is mindful of us and works through us to care for all who feel “like animals in a cage.”

The International Center of Bethlehem and the various ministries there offer care and hope to the people of Bethlehem. In a speech given in acceptance of the German Media Award, Pastor Mitri Raheb spoke about the necessity of “creating spaces for life: spaces where people can breathe,” where children can explore their abilities and stretch their wings, where young adults can learn how to express their dreams and frustrations in music and dance, where God’s mindfulness for us as his creations is expressed and experienced.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, thank you for being mindful of us. Help us to create

spaces in this world where your blessings can be found. Amen.

Bonnie Van Overbeke


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Cosmic LoveThe heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. —Psalm 19:1

S cientists tell us that we live in an unfinished universe moving toward an ever-greater complexity. What we call “life” is a present dynamic process, and we are standing at the threshold of a new creation being born in us and through us. As people of the Spirit, it is in our hands to be midwives of this new creation.

The cosmic is close. Incarnation is personal. The dimness we see is not the dusk, the setting of the light, but the rising of a new dawn. And we are being changed; slowly the old is falling away to make room for Christ, the darkness giving way to the dawn.

God is Love, the Bible says. And that is true. But too often, we assume that love is God, which is not quite yet true. For human love to approximate the Love that is God, it needs to be childlike in its simplicity, fierce in its intensity, unconditional in its expanse. Then human love is incarnated as God who is Love.

Jesus Christ, the Bright Star of Bethlehem, the Love of God incarnate, comes from the expanse of heaven to be born in the tiny town of Bethlehem. All of creation is affected by what happened in this place, and that is why, as the hymn suggests, we “come to Bethlehem and see.”

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, fill us with your love during this Advent season, that

we might be beacons of love to others in this world. Amen.

L. Michael Spath


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Star Light, Star BrightWe saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.—Matthew 2:2

B ethlehem at night is a beautiful sight. Looking out over the hills of Bethlehem from the patio of the International Center, adjacent to Christmas Lutheran Church, one is swept away by the shiny and sparkling visibility of all the stars. Isn’t it amazing that the Lord used a star to lead the Wise Men to Jesus? Let me suggest that he continues to do this in our daily lives, both where you are and also in Bethlehem.

He is doing this in Bethlehem today by providing opportunities for hundreds of children to attend school. The Lord is providing parents and teachers to shine the light of Christ into the hearts and minds of college students in the new Lutheran College, right there in Bethlehem. He is bringing his Spirit into the lives of hundreds of older adults who play and pray and ponder anew what the Bright Star of Bethlehem can do.

That star that led the Magi is certainly not the only star shining brightly in Bethlehem today. There are so many others by the names of Rami and Rana and Nuha and Naila and Najwa and on and on and on. These are the bright stars of Bethlehem who have been “lit up” by the light of Christ in order to shine out into the dark and dreary world.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, do not let your Light go out in our lives, nor in the lives

of the people of Bethlehem. Amen.

Rich Bimler


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A Light in the DarknessGod is light, and in him is no darkness at all. —1 John 1:5

A t Christmas we imagine the Bethlehem of the Bible—a quiet village, flat rooftops on houses made of stones, an idyllic place to sleep under the stars. The night is still and the only sound you hear is the soft cooing of animals. We envision a quaint and simple life.

But our vision of the past is sentimentalized. The people of Bethlehem, then and now, lived and live under occupation. Today, daily life is lived in the shadow of a 35-foot-high cement wall, and soldiers watch over the streets from guard towers. A settlement sits smugly on a distant hill, and “Caesar” still thinks he is in charge.

Down a narrow street in the middle of town there is a little church where faith is shared and roses grow in the concrete. Despite cement walls, spaces are created for people to grow and seek meaning for their lives. At Christmas Lutheran Church the light of Christ continues to inspire and encourage God’s people to dream that life can flourish even in the darkest of nights.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Creation, help us to see and share your Light with the world that

all may have abundant life. Amen.

Bonnie Van Overbeke

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The Star of HopeS e c o n d S u n d ay o F a d v e n t

Do Not Be Afraid And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” —Luke 2:10

A few weeks ago I was meeting with leaders from the Middle East. Although each one of us came from a different context, it was clear that there was one theme in common in all our deliberations: Fear. Fear seems to be the mark of our century. Human beings seem to be formed not of clay, but of fear.

“Do not be afraid” is not about being courageous. The message heard 2000 years ago here in occupied Palestine by the shepherds, then marginalized in that society, opens a new understanding of living without fears although surrounded by fears. God came to save us from that fear that paralyzes us. He set us free. Fear lost its control over us when the Bright Star of Bethlehem came. Does this mean that we are saved from trouble, from wars, from disease, from worries? Not at all. We will still pass through troubled waters, but when we pass through troubled waters, he will be there with us and for us so that the powerful rivers will not overwhelm us. We will continue to experience fire, yet when we walk through fire, the flames shall not consume us. Because he is there for us and with us, we shall not fear. For here is one who is greater than the greatest fear. And because of that, we have hope for tomorrow.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, thank you for freeing us from all fears and, therefore,

giving us hope. Send us into our world so that we can be agents of hope and liberation from all fears. Amen.

Mitri Raheb

T H E S T A R O F H O P E

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The Face of JesusFor God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. —2 Corinthians 4:6

E ven before Bethlehem, God’s Word became flesh in the womb of Mary. Mary’s family home in Nazareth now actually serves as the foundation of the Basilica of the Annunciation. This basilica is domed by an incredibly spectacular, opened rose-lily, reaching down from heavenly heights, to cap the sanctuary above the high altar. The walls of the church are adorned with massive mosaic depictions of Mary as visualized by over 43 cultures around the world. Most fascinating is that each culture portrays Mary with the appearance of one from that nationality: Chinese Mary looks Chinese; Japanese Mary, Japanese; Polish Mary, central European; Columbian Mary, South American; and so on.

How strange though beautiful, I think. But then I recall the very American-looking Jesus who occupied the sacred space above my parent’s dresser for so many years. The artist obviously didn’t stylize Jesus more appropriately like a Middle-Eastern fellow of Hebrew lineage. When I think of Jesus, I think of that picture. And I have hope.

I have hope because God speaks to us through his Word, his Son made flesh, who now lives in glory with the Father. He also lives in the deepest reaches of our spirit, our conscience, our soul. The same Word of God who came upon Mary’s ears, heart and womb in Nazareth so long ago is the same powerful Word who falls on our hearts and imparts God’s grace to us every day.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, open our eyes to see your face that we might have hope

for future days. Amen.

John D. Eckrich


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From Nazareth to Bethlehem And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. —Isaiah 60:3

W henever I make the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem, I think about Joseph and Mary traveling this same route on foot. Whenever I think about Mary and Joseph traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem, I marvel at their hope and trust in God to make such a long trip at this time in Mary’s pregnancy. We are told they went because Emperor Augustus decreed it, but they would also have known the prophecy of Micah that told of Bethlehem being the birthplace for the Messiah.

Whenever I cross the checkpoint into Bethlehem, I wonder if there were checkpoints along the way for Mary and Joseph. Were soldiers monitoring their travel and demanding proof of ancestry? Were they fearful for their safety? Did they really know how much their lives—and ours—would forever be changed? What kept their hope in God alive?

In Advent, we, too, must travel to Bethlehem. Are we ready for the journey? Do we have enough faith to stay the course even if it is difficult or dangerous? Do we really know how much our lives will forever be changed by the birth of Mary and Joseph’s little boy? Are we willing to do what God asks of us? Like Mary and Joseph before us, our belief in the Savior keeps our hope alive.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, lead us to Bethlehem, and let our lives be transformed by

the journey through the hope we have in you. Amen.

Bonnie Van Overbeke


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Too Little to Matter? But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. —Micah 5:2

M y journey to Bethlehem started by plane from St. Louis to Chicago to Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, then continued on a late-night bus into the Holy City, Jerusalem, which was shining and teeming with life and light, music and laughter. Suddenly, as we turned south to Bethlehem, light and sound dissipated. The road narrowed, obstructed by a 35-foot-high concrete barrier, with its barbed wire, gun turrets, massive steel gate and ominous weaponry. We tried to pass through.

“Passports!” Israeli soldiers demanded. “Why are you here?” they questioned. “I’m on a pilgrimage; I just wanted to see where Jesus was born,” I responded, somewhere between sheepishness and defiance. “I’m an American.” “Americans. Always meddling” was the curt response. Yet, the crossing point opened, the massive gate parted and in I went, now fully intimidated. We saw graffiti and refugee camps and poverty, anger, frustration and despair. Deeper and deeper we went into the heart of the ancient, too-little-to-matter-then-or-now town. Finally, we found the right side street and a door. We knocked. A baby’s sweet cry pierced the night. I saw a dim lantern. A gate opened, and a heavily accented Arab-English voice declared: “Welcome to Christmas Lutheran Church. Welcome to the House of Bread, David’s City. Welcome to Jesus’ hometown.” I then had hope that all would be all right.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, give us hope, even when we are struggling to find our way

on life’s journey, that your door is always open to us. Amen.

John D. Eckrich


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The Bread of LifeJesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”—John 6:35

O ne item that is plentiful in Bethlehem is bread! My favorite happens to be flat bread, also called khoubiz. Give me some flat bread, morning, noon and night, and I am satisfied, especially if there are also fresh olives, oil and hummus available.

The word Bethlehem literally means “house of bread.” One of the joys of Advent is to celebrate Jesus as the Bread of Life itself! Our Scripture today loudly proclaims the fact that Jesus was born in this little “house of bread” in order to bring spiritual nourishment to people throughout the world. Picture the little children of Bethlehem, as well as the aging adults, working and walking and wandering around with bread in their hands, eating and sharing this bread. It seems that everywhere one turns in Bethlehem there is always bread. What a powerful picture of Jesus himself! And what hope that brings to each of our homes. Just as Jesus came to be born in this “house of bread,” he continues to be visible and alive to people in every home the world over.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, continue to feed us your Word so we continue to be

nourished by you and grow in our hope in you. Amen.

Rich Bimler


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House of the WordAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14

C an you hear those giggling children running around on the sports field? Can you smell the odors of breads and spices being prepared for lunch? Can you sense the excitement as students and teachers alike discuss their favorite school subjects? These are just a few of the sights and sounds of Dar Al-Kalima School in Bethlehem. Children, youth and adults, just like us, come together to learn, to worship, to listen, to question, to laugh, to cry and to build up one another in the Lord!

Dar Al-Kalima means “The House of the Word,” and what an appropriate name that is. For here in the middle of this little town of Bethlehem are over 350 of God’s people sharing and celebrating the Word of God, Jesus Christ! And that gives us hope that the same thing can happen in our towns, little and big, all over the world.

The Scripture today reminds us that the Word, Jesus Christ, came into this world for all of us, beginning right there in Bethlehem. As Jesus ministered to the people in Bethlehem and throughout the Holy Land, God’s Word continues to be spread to people everywhere, including where each of us lives today. Consider today how your school, home or workplace is also a Dar Al-Kalima, a house of the Word. Listen to the Lord speak to you through his Word and sacraments as well as through his people around you, and be filled with hope.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, enable us to share your Word with others in fresh and

exciting ways, the way you first came to Bethlehem. Amen.

Rich Bimler


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Old Melodies, New WordsThe darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. —1 John 2:8

T he organ began the hymn. I didn’t expect to understand the words—after all, they were in Arabic, and I have only a three-word Arabic vocabulary. But the melody startled me; I heard it often as a boy in North Carolina: “Way Down Upon the Swanee River”! What a culture shock! “How did Stephen Foster get to Bethlehem?” I wondered. “Things will not be as expected!” I realized then and there.

This was Sunday morning, my first in Bethlehem. Two friends and I were at worship at Christmas Lutheran Church. On this trip I did not expect Sunday-school-leaflet shepherds, camels or huddled villages. But whatever I did expect, that Sunday morning disconnect, as trivial as it was, was an omen of what was to come: encounters and conversations that would chip away at earlier understandings and stretch perceptions. With each visit to Bethlehem I continue to find vital connections with her people, and each visit teaches me something.

Stories of suffering, faith and hope can enrich and strengthen me, giving me hope to carry on in my own faith when I return home. Each new experience in life lays on us the necessity of trust. And each one, received in faith, enlarges life. So share your stories, continuing to sing old melodies with new words of hope in him.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Hope, continue to teach us to share the new words of the stories

of our lives transformed by the old, old story of your birth. Amen.

Arnie Voigt

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Building or Bridging WallsFor he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.—Ephesians 2:14

I f Jesus were to be born today, he would most likely not be born in Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph would probably not be allowed to cross the checkpoint and come through the wall surrounding Bethlehem. Neither would the shepherds nor the Magi. Jesus would likely have been born at the checkpoint. And no one living inside the barrier around Bethlehem would have been present to greet their Savior.

Many things block us from seeing Jesus even today. No one knew that more than St. Paul. A former Jewish leader, a zealot, a persecutor and a hard-liner, he committed himself to making sure that a wall of separation was built and kept up between his community and the followers of Christ. However, this same radical person was radically transformed. After his conversion, the zealot Saul became the passionate apostle Paul. His great discovery was that if God himself in Christ has broken the walls of hostility between the human and the divine, then there is no place for walls between peoples, tribes, cultures and nations; there can only be bridges.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, at a time when walls of hostility are being built up all

around us, help us to commit ourselves anew through Christ to breaking down all walls of hatred and hostilities, building bridges of unity instead. Amen.

Mitri Raheb

The Star of Unity

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Hemmed InI am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. —Revelation 22:16

T he barrier wall around Bethlehem represents a deep rift between people. The same thought I had when I visited the Berlin Wall before it fell came to me at the Bethlehem Wall: Sin lurks behind the facades we see. But walls of sin erected in this world are not just “out there.” They are inside you and me in the barriers we put up between ourselves and others. But the good news is that by his birth Christ has broken down every dividing wall among us. And we are united with him.

The Book of Revelation describes for us yet another wall made of gems with gates of pearl. I would suggest that this is not only our future home and future glory, where our Bright Morning Star, Jesus, resides, but it also describes our relationship to God now. That jeweled wall, that relationship to God, is the hope of the Christians now in Bethlehem. It is ours even when sin is all around us and the walls of the world are hemming us in. It is what is ours as we live the free life of love and forgiveness in Christ. It is what the Christians who live in Bethlehem seek as they strive to live in unity with others for all the world to see.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, thank you for breaking down the walls between us

through your birth, that we might join together in spreading your message of salvation to all the world. Amen.

Fred Zimmermann

T H E S T A R O F U N I T Y

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Living StonesAs you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.—1 Peter 2:4-5

H undreds of thousands of people stream to Bethlehem every year to look at the Church of the Nativity, purchase olive crosses in Bethlehem Square and tour the historical places. They see miles and miles of buildings, stones, gravel and impressive scenery, to be sure.

Our Scripture today reminds us, however, that the Holy Land is much more than historic monuments, religious sites and wonderful photo ops! This land of Jesus is also the land of “living stones,” the people of the Lord. In Bethlehem I saw the children playing. I listened to the elderly telling their stories. I talked with a man selling his wares on the street. How sad that so many people “come to Bethlehem and see,” but fail to see Christ bringing unity to his “living stones” right before their eyes.

But before we get too harsh with our fellow travelers, let us also remind ourselves that perhaps we, in our own towns, fail to see the Lord alive and at work in and through each other. Christ’s “living stones” are not only coming together at Christmas Lutheran Church, but are coming together to be the Church united wherever we reside. Won’t you join them?

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, thanks for making each of us your “living stones.” Bless

and guide us as we work as one to point others to you. Amen.

Rich Bimler


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Opening DoorsThe light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. —John 1:5

A t midnight on a wintry night, thirteen travelers boarded a bus at the Guesthouse of the International Center of Bethlehem, bound for the Tel Aviv airport to return home to the United States. As the bus made its way through the dark and quiet streets, the travelers quietly sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The bus slowed to a halt, and the travelers looked out to see a solid metal wall, three stories high, across the road. The driver honked and they waited. To the left, atop the wall, was a lookout tower. The driver honked again and still they waited. Their “hopes and fears” were present. The metal wall made a grinding sound as it slowly moved to create a narrow passageway. The driver drove forward, spoke to the armed guard, and the bus was permitted to pass. Our passage was made possible by the connections made between people.

Within this three-story-high wall still more unifying work is being done. The International Center of Bethlehem is achieving the work of Christ, through education, sports, services to young families, services to the elderly, wellness services and cultural offerings that touch the lives of 60,000 people in the Bethlehem region. With something as simple as a honk or a friendly wave, you can be the agent of Christian unity in your communities as well.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, unite us in our commitment to serve the needs of those in

our neighborhoods. Amen.

Jo Lucas


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Building BondsThose who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. —Daniel 12:3

I was struck by how much bonding was happening on my last trip to Bethlehem. There were Adel and Raida opening up their homes to us. There was our own tour group’s fellowship. Hugs and kisses on both cheeks seemed to add to a sense of warmth. Then we experienced a special greeting at a church where members ran their hands over ours and then over their faces as a sign of God’s love for each of us. What a feeling of unity!

Yet Bethlehem remains a place of contrasts. We experienced great Christian bonding, but many doors are still closed to Jesus in this town. Many here accept Jesus as a great prophet, but nothing more. Yet as Christians, we are to share Christ with everyone, even in the midst of such great obstacles. We will never figure everything out or get everything straight except through Christ and his bond with us. Because of his ministry, there is always room in the inn of God’s heart and God’s home for another brother or sister in Christ.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, let us reach out in Christian love and warmth to those

around us this Advent season. Amen.

Fred Zimmermann


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F R I d ay, t h I R d W e e k o F a d v e n t

Set FreeA star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. —Numbers 24:17

I t was 5:30 a.m. My wife and I stood in line at the checkpoint between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Some 4000 Palestinians would pass through that morning on the way to work. Some arrived by 4:00 a.m. We were locked in line, two abreast. The electronic turnstile bars clicked shut behind us, and we waited for the one ahead to open. Eight or nine would manage to get through before it closed again. I felt imprisoned. My wife rested her hand on an iron bar and shook it. Two men next to us, resignation scripted in their faces, asked why we were there. My wife, a junior high school social studies teacher, looked around and said, “I want to be able to explain this to my students.” “This is our prison,” the man responded with a shrug.

Concrete walls and checkpoints may impede movement and crush human spirits. But God’s people, united by the Spirit, are released to serve as one Body. The Christians living in Bethlehem do not let the wall define who they are. Knowing they are the Body of Christ, they find ways to work together to model freedom and serve wherever they find themselves. They work as a group to create programs that enable others to live enriched and invested lives even when surrounded by concrete.

God comes to our Bethlehems. He unlocks the prisons of sin and selfishness and sets us free through Christ. Because of Christ, we live each day united in purpose.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, help us to live faithfully for you and for others in lockstep

with you and fellow Christians. Amen.

Arnie Voigt


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S at u R d ay, t h I R d W e e k o F a d v e n t

In This TogetherFor to us a child is born, to us a son is given. —Isaiah 9:6

A dvent is a time for being present to someone else. Being fully present in heart, soul and mind is a present. How can your presence be a present to someone who needs you simply to be—to be in unity with them? There are people close to us and far away who need our presence, who need us to stand with them shoulder to shoulder, side by side, hand in hand.

While we are sitting here today, for example, sisters and brothers in Christ in the little town of Bethlehem and all across the Holy Land—Lutherans, Baptists, Catholics, Anglicans and other “living stones”—are decking the halls, decorating trees, buying gifts, singing hymns, praying prayers and preparing for Jesus’ birth, just like we are. Yet these same Bethlehem Christians are also living with 40% unemployment, orchards being taken over and water being confiscated without compensation, surrounded by illegal settlements and a 35-foot-high cement wall.

Will we listen to their stories? Will we share their cross? And will we let their courage, faith and hope be a strong witness to us as we prepare for our Christmases? How will we enfold them in our Christmas presence this year? And how will we unwrap their presence—as Christ’s presence—with us?

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Unity, help us to unite our hearts, souls and minds with

Christians in Bethlehem and all over the world who are celebrating your birth even in difficult circumstances. Amen.

L. Michael Spath

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F o u Rt h S u n d ay o F a d v e n t

He Is ComingArise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. —Isaiah 60:1

T here is no lack of prayers in the Holy Land. You hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. The bells of monasteries ring five times indicating the times for prayer. You can watch orthodox Jews at the Wailing Wall in a prayer marathon. We do not lack prayers in the Holy Land. On the contrary, I believe that we have too many of them. We have too much religion. We have so much religion that people are getting suffocated by it.

The influx of religion could be a sign that people feel that God is far away and not near, that he is having hearing problems, that he is so silent and doesn’t move or that he is absent. Having too much religion can mean having too little faith and trust. As Christians, we are not asked to do more. The most important thing is done by God himself in Christ. Advent means he is coming. He is not far anymore, but he is dwelling among us, and, like a father, he knows what we need before we even articulate it. Our prayers become nothing but a joyful response to his coming.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Joy, thank you for your advent into our world. Help us to

trust in you, and give us joyous hearts to celebrate your birth with faith and thanksgiving. Amen.

Mitri Raheb

The Star of Joy

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t h e S t a R o F J o y

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M o n d ay, F o u Rt h W e e k o F a d v e n t

A Rejoicing SpiritAnd Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior ... he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.” —Luke 1:46-47, 52

W hen Mary sang these words, the powerful were still on their thrones, thriving and prospering. Caesar marched through the Judean hills with his legions, ordering mass crucifixions for those who protested or threatened the Empire. Yet Mary sang, “God has brought the powerful down”—as if God’s reign had already arrived.

Her words did not reflect the reality of Mary’s life. Instead, they declared her joy and her trust in God’s promises. Her words proclaimed a world she knew would happen.

While in Bethlehem, I noticed schoolchildren laughing and chattering away as they walked blocks out of their way, navigating around the wall where it cut into their neighborhoods. The joy of those children reminded me that, in the same way, in spite of the obstacles, members of Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem live as if God’s promises are true. Although their lands are occupied by outside forces and have been for many years, they live as if God’s reign is near. They build schools, a wellness center and now a college—the first Lutheran college in the Holy Land—to educate youth for leadership in a world that does not exist yet. Their joy in moving forward to a promising future is something that we should emulate in our own faith lives this Advent season.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Joy, rekindle our joy, so our actions reveal your promise to the

world of a life blessed by you. Amen.

Jan Miller

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t u e S d ay, F o u Rt h W e e k o F a d v e n t

Shallow Christmas?But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. —Luke 2:19

W e’re familiar with people’s propensity for a shallow Christmas. For many it seems like only a sentimental journey with no real substance. Shopping, lights, decorations—is that all there is? It’s possible to miss the heart of Christmas—the Christ Child—even in Bethlehem, I suppose.

But Mary didn’t miss it! Her joy was in the Lord, and her heart pondered what God was doing within her for all generations. We also have a special opportunity not to miss it, either! For those like me who have visited Bethlehem, it is hard not to miss the joy of the season because when you go to Bethlehem, you are not seeing just the land, but are experiencing the people of the land. You are not just seeing the stones (lots of stones), but the “living stones” of the people of Bethlehem who have been touched by the heart of Christmas, touched by the heart of Christ.

It is said that travelers don’t pass through the land, but that the land passes through them, becomes a part of them. As you experience the heart of Bethlehem in Christ Jesus this Christmas, whether you’ve traveled there or not, the land will become a part of you and, along with Mary, your Christmas will be anything but shallow. It will be joyous!

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Joy, let us never miss the heart of Christmas and the joy of

touching the lives of others with the Good News of your birth. Amen.

Fred Zimmermann

T H E S T A R O F J O Y

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W e d n e S d ay, F o u Rt h W e e k o F a d v e n t

The Real MangerAnd she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger. —Luke 2:7

W e left Christmas Lutheran Church and walked two blocks through a cacophony of languages, nationalities, fragrances, sights and sounds to Manger Square, nearly deserted, and finally to the Church of the Nativity. It was filled with thick incense flowing from ornate candleholders and lanterns. Icons were everywhere. Below the huge gilded altar were steep steps that led to the grotto that is the traditional site of the manger. This cavern in the porous rock of Bethlehem most probably served as the storage place for household livestock. This maternity ward, humble by any standard, was filled with pilgrims trying to see the stones of the “manger.”

I’ve done this tour a lot, and each time I kind of shake my head, wring my hands and wonder, “Do these particular stones matter? Was Jesus really born here? Why am I not moved by seeing ancient stones?” Then I remember with joy that the real manger is in my heart, where Jesus has lived since my baptism. He has made me a child of God. By grace, he has made me a witness not just to his birth, but to his life, death and resurrection. I am called to tell others of not just what began here in Bethlehem so long ago, but what he is doing each and every day now, in this world, at this time, for me and for you. What a joy that is!

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Joy, remind us daily that your manger is in our hearts, and help

us to always find joy in cradling you there. Amen.

John D. Eckrich


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t h u R S d ay, F o u Rt h W e e k o F a d v e n t

Joy at WorkThe meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel. —Isaiah 29:19

O ne Friday morning in February the International Center of Bethlehem was alive with activity as 100 people excitedly gathered at round tables in the theater to evaluate work they had been doing. Women and men, between the ages of 18 and 30, joyfully gather together like this each month to learn about and engage in issues that are important to the building of community. They come from all over: Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah, Hebron, Bethlehem and Jerusalem. They study topics such as Culture in the Arab World, the Impact of Media on Opinions and Behavior, the History of Bethlehem and Leadership Skills. They are happy to explore together the needs of their community and how to address them.

The extent of their joyful desire to get together is revealed in the fact that some of them have to begin their journey at 5:30 a.m. to arrive at the 10 a.m. gatherings on time, because of all the checkpoints they have to go through on the way. In the face of such obstacles, the group still continues to gather and learn and grow in their skills in addressing community needs. Mitri Raheb, who leads the work of this group, says, “Hope is what we do.” Seeing hope in action in the smiling faces of those who meet in this way is a joy to behold.

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Joy, help us all to find joy in working together to build

community. Amen.

Jo Lucas

T H E S T A R O F J O Y

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F R I d ay, F o u Rt h W e e k o F a d v e n t

The Presence of JoyCast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. —Psalm 51:11-12

I did not know if my phone call from Denver to Bethlehem would get through. The news was filled with reports of the Israeli curfew over Bethlehem and the siege of Nativity Church. But the call did go through, and Nahida picked up the receiver.

Nahida and her family are members of Christmas Lutheran Church. They live less than 75 yards from Manger Square. On several visits to Bethlehem they invited me into their home. Once I spent an afternoon practicing English with their four children. Now I wanted them to know God’s people remembered them and were praying for them.

Nahida’s voice came through. She described the last weeks. They could hear the shooting in Manger Square. Twice the soldiers had come, routed the family, ransacked their home and forced them to stand outside in the cold at night. She told of her children, who were scared and having dreams about tanks rumbling down their street toward their home. All except the youngest, five-year-old Huny, that is. Little Huny had dreams, too, but in her dreams sitting on the front step of their home was an angel. I found joy in the news that the faith of a little child would not let fear take over her life, and I was reminded of the verse in Isaiah, which says, “And a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6). I hoped Huny’s joy in the midst of suffering would be contagious.

P R ay e RO Jesus, Star of Joy, let my joy in you be revealed, even in hard times. Amen.

Arnie Voigt

t h e B R I g h t S t a R o F B e t h l e h e M

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S at u R d ay, F o u Rt h W e e k o F a d v e n t

The Song Goes OnFor you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. —Ephesians 5:8

S t. Paul in his message to the church at Ephesus helps us to look forward to the brilliance of life in Christ. The bright glow of grace-filled moments with Christ is for children of light a glow more brilliant than a star!

This is exactly the impression I had during a worship moment at Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem last year. Despite the darkness of their life circumstances, a group of older teens and students from a local college sang from the front of the church. These young people who have known nothing but occupation sang freely and beautifully. They sang in unison, their voices were deep, their bodies moved with the music and their expressive faces seemed to almost exude light. Their singing was a powerful testament to personal freedom and a gift to all who were in worship that morning.

We are called to live as children of light. We are called to be joyful in our expressions of love and happy to spread the Light of Christ even in the midst of trouble. Christ comes to us as the True Light, and with that Light within us we sing on with joy in our hearts for what he as done!

P R ay e RJesus, Star of Joy, enlighten us this day so that we can sing and dance with joy

in all we say and do today and every day. Amen.

Beth Nelson Chase

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a B o u t t h e au t h o R S

Dr. Rich Bimler, Board of Directors, Bright Stars, Bloomingdale, IL

Ms. Beth Nelson Chase, Vice President, Bright Stars, Mount Morris, IL

Dr. John Eckrich, Board of Directors, Bright Stars, St. Louis, MO

Ms. Jo Lucas, Area Representative, Bright Stars, Columbus, IN

Ms. Jan Miller, Area Representative, Bright Stars, Denver, CO

Pastor Mitri Raheb, President, Bright Stars, Bethlehem, Palestine

Pastor L. Michael Spath, Area Representative, Bright Stars, Ft. Wayne, IN

Pastor Bonnie Van Overbeke, Area Representative, Bright Stars, Madison, WI

Pastor Arnie Voigt, Area Representative, Bright Stars, Denver, CO

Pastor Fred Zimmermann, retired parish pastor, Madison, WI

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Devotions for AdventFeaturing Mitri Raheb and the Bright Stars of Bethlehem Ministry

See the birthplace of Christ in a whole new perspective this Advent through the eyes and experiences of Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church, Bethlehem, Palestine. Each week in these daily devotions for Advent, Pastor Raheb and other staff and board members of Bright Stars of Bethlehem share faith-stories of their ministries among the “living stones” in Bethlehem and create a vision and opportunity for you to prepare for Christmas through the eyes and challenges and hopes of the people who are living in that “little town of Bethlehem” today!

Edited by Mark Zimmermann in cooperation with Bright Stars of Bethlehem (www.brightstarsbethlehem.org). Art and design by Lindsay Galvin.

© 2013 Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026, (800) 325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com.

Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. MR2

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