Monday, July 30, 2018

Israel Day 7/12 - Shepherd's Field

Our next stop was Shepherds' Field, in an area known as Beit Sahur. This area has been known for grazing sheep for thousands of years, and still is today.




The place we visited is the Catholic site with the Chapel of the Angels and a couple of other smaller caves and chapels for small group worship. The Chapel adjoins the remains of a 4th century church.





While we were in one of the caves the weather changed and for the first time we got RAIN! Pouring rain. It was nice that it didn't last long. But it didn't really do anything to cool the temperature either...



The inside of the church is painted with pictures depicting the story from Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.





Many sheep and shepherd themed items can been seen there...


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