Oh Little Town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie
Above they deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in they dark streets shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together proclaim the holy birth
And praising sing to God our king and peace to men on earth
How silently how silently the wondrous gift is given
So God impart to human hearts the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still the dear Christ enters in
Oh holy child of Bethlehem descend to us we pray
Cast out our sins and enter in be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
O come to us abide with us Our Lord Emanuel
Bethlehem...the birth place of Jesus, how many times have I heard that song at Christmas time? The phrase no room at the inn comes from that event. Every Christmas I bring out our Nativity set, actually several of them, and put one on my mantle and some in each room of my house. To be able to go there was a blessing. To see modern Bethlehem is not the same thing as seeing the ancient Bethlehem. I knew that but I was still kind of sad when we drove through and it is a regular town with regular houses and streets and stores. There is a Shepherds field but it is not very big and it is in the middle of town. But like our guide said, try to see what it was like get rid of the buildings and the car traffic and you will see the cave like place for the animals, the manger, the hay, the sounds of the animals, maybe a camel or two, donkeys, cows and the shepherds in the fields watching over their flocks of sheep. Here are some pictures of the Church of the Nativity.
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