Jan 5 - Confirmation in Amman

It is 6:00 a.m. Monday morning in Amman, and we are safe and secure. As I st here in the lobby beautiful Christmas carols play over the speaker. We had a long but very good Sunday yesterday, one that culminated in evening worship at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the only Lutheran congregation in this city. "Ahlan Wa-sahlan" or welcome, were the words we heard from Pastor Samer Azar, Bishop Younan and the many friendly faces of the congregation.

Sunday evening worship?, you may be wondering. Christianity is a minority religion in Jordan and Sunday is a work day. His Majesty King Abudallah bin-al-Hussein is the 43rd direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammed. So Sunday was a work day and Christians, Lutherans at least, worship on Sunday evening.

We had come a day earlier than the official start up to the trip so that our flights would arrve in time for worship. Some who came on Sunday arrived too late or too exhausted for worship, so we were thankful we had tagged on an extra day.

Because we were here earlier, our hosts, which include Pastors Mark and Marcia Holman, ELCA pastors at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem, arranged a trip for us to Petra, the most important famous attraction of Jordan. I wish we had had a week to see this archaeological find that takes one back to the time of the Nabataeans, but 4 hours had to suffice. For more information and a vitual tour go to: http://www.raingod.com/angus/Gallery/Photos/MiddleEast/Jordan/Petra/index.html

But the highlight of the day was worship at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, a Christmas service and the Confirmation of 5 young people. Bp Younan preached in Arabic and Bp Hanson brought greetings. The 125 plus worshippers rejoiced in the birth of Jesus Christ and gave thanks for the life of Christ being born and growing in these five young people.

Afterwards a parishoner said to one of the bishops, "you are among the 1% of Americans who understand the Palestinians." It was a jarring comment but one that holds much truth. I don't know about the percentage but I do know that I came to a much different understanding of Middle Eastern issues on my visit in 2005. And my readings in preparation for this trip and the experiences again on this trip confirm this new understanding. There is an Israeli narrative, one we regularly hear in the United States news; but there is also the Palestinian narrative of how we have come to this day in the Middle East. One only hears and understands by listening, not to one side alone, but to both. In the United States we hear the one narrative. Our relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land (www.elcjhl.org) and our walking together helps us to hear and understand the Palestinian story. Bp Younan last evening told us accompaniment means walking together not only in days of tranquility but also in times of conflict. So we are glad Christ has brought us together for this day.

Also at the service last evening was Father Nabil D. Haddad, Executive Director for the Jordanian Interfath Coexistence Research Center. We will be meeting with him later today. But some who read this blog will also know that in 2005 a highlight was our visit with Fr Elias Chacour, also a priest in the Melkite Catholic Church, and now the Melkite archbishop of Galilee. For more: http://lluker.faculty.ltss.edu/Elias_Chacour.htm

As I sat in worship at Good Shepherd last night and listened to the music and the reading from Luke 2:41-52 and look upon the Christmas tree and outline of the nativity creche imposed upon the cross behind the altar, I thought of the words of the Christmas story, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to all." And I know of the bloodshed and death, the conflict and sorrow in Gaza, and I prayed, Lord, have mercy, and grant leaders wisdom and courage, to find your way to peace.