December 24, 2001 — Mudeif Productions

A long day spent waiting for the results of the computer's self-diagnosis - it's at least hobbling along, but it's been a bit of wear and tear on us emotionally. We rely on the computer so much for our work, that we've taken to calling it "the baby" - such is our demented affection for this machine.

Christmas Eve really began when we could hear the carols playing from the Latin Church's Bell Tower speaker. As we looked out the window and saw the lit-up hay of the farm next-door, there was something that tugged at us to remind us that the Palestinian Christian village culture holds a strong connection with the time of Christ.

We worshiped at the Latin Church with Abuna Aktham. It was a special service (of course), a high Mass of music and readings. Here, there is a tradition of a sort of symbolic "pageant" as part of the service - several children dress as angels, while two of the high schoolers dress as Mary and Joseph in traditional Palestinian clothing. One of the villagers brings a live lamb into the church - no doubt from among his herd - who then spends the rest of the service lying in the manger scene. Father Peter, who had come up from Bethlehem, delivered the homily (in Arabic!). While last year we felt it was important to spend Christmas in Bethlehem, this year it seemed much more important to stay here with the villagers who have made us feel so much a part of their life. Greeting everyone with Merry Christmas was a wonderful gift to us.

Elizabeth said goodbye to Advent with a good dose of sorely-missed chocolate by the Christmas tree.