Riley decided on getting a haircut after worship today, so we got a colleague’s recommendation for a nearby barber shop nestled on the Via Delarosa.

After picking up the kids from school (Yes, they have school on Saturday.) we popped over to the Mount of Olives to attend a St. Nicholas Day celebration at the Church of the Ascension. It was a joint event of German, English, and Arabic Christian congregations, and included singing, snacks, and a special guest appearance.

For my birthday, we took a trip to Jaffa Beach in Tel Aviv. We toured some of the waterside galleries and shops, then went to a restaurant called The Old Man and The Sea and found out just how filling a salad course can be. The kids splashed in the Mediterranean while we enjoyed the warm winter weather. Yep. Warm winter weather. And what we saw in our several hours there was just scratching the surface. We look forward to more wanderings on our next venture there.

The family treated me to Christmas High Tea at the American Colony Hotel in celebration of my birthday tomorrow. As you can see, it was something.

The hotel derives its names from the American Colony, Jerusalem, which was established in the Old City in 1881 as a communal Christian utopia. The community disbanded in the 1950s. Wikipedia link here.

This morning we helped prepare Advent wreaths for the chapels at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. The aromatic evergreen tree branches came from the grounds of Augusta Victoria Hospital at the Mount of Olives. Afterwards, we made a quick trip to the mall before it closed for Shabbat.

Have a joyous weekend.

We attended Taizé worship last night at the Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives. Inspired by the Taizé Community in France, it features sung prayers and spoken scripture in multiple languages, and extended silent reflection.

Last night’s service was followed by a communal meal of bread, borscht, and ice cream. (pause) Not in the same bowl. (pause) Not that we’re judging. You do you.

Rev. Dr. Christy Lohr Sapp participated in her first worship at The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer this past Sunday. She will be preaching her first sermon there this coming Sunday, November 30th, the first Sunday in Advent.

While there are many, many, MANY pieces of family art that we would have loved to bring with us on the initial journey, there was neither room in the luggage nor the budget for shipping. We still managed to bring some pieces to remind us of our home and friends back in the US, and continue to fill our hears with the joy in the journey ahead.

Featured artists (in order): Davide Maset, Grace Bollinger, Hunter Spiegel.

Today was Sadie and Riley’s first day at school at The Jerusalem American School. While we waited for them to get out at the end of the day, Christy and I perambulated around the neighborhood to enjoy some urban flora. First time I’ve seen poinsettias the wild.

We took an afternoon drive and walk through the (very) narrow streets of Bethlehem, to the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square. Tourism is gradually coming back and Christmas decorations are still in the early stages. We look forward to experiencing the season in this historic area.. Maybe recreate the climactic Linus scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas.