Merry Christmas!

The birth place of our Lord and Savior

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Today went to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We celebrated mass in the Church of the Nativity. The mass took place in the Grotto of the Manger within the church. The church is own by the Franciscans monks (Catholics), the Greek Orthodox, and the Armenians. Below you will see pictures from within the Church of the Nativity. 

Greek Orthodox section of the church

Armenian section

Franciscan section

"When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance." Acts 2:1-4

The Upper Room

After leaving Bethlehem we came back to Jerusalem to release the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room. It was such a powerful experience. You can just feel the Holy Spirit moving in this place! 

The Wailing Wall

Next we ventured off to the Wailing Wall to place our prayers and petitions. The wall is located in the Jewish section, but it is open to anyone who wishes to place a petition in the wall. It is separated into two sections. One side being for the women and the other for the men. Petitions are placed in the wall that are written on small pieces of paper. Once you place your petition you say a prayer and walk away backwards from the wall. It is the custom not to turn you back from the wall once you are done praying.

Praying at the Wailing Wall