Sabbath in Jerusalem

Our first Sabbath in Jerusalem brought back a flood of emotions and memories. We had forgotten how inspirational it is to look out over the Old City through the large panoramic windows behind the speakers in Sacrament Meeting. It is surely distinct from the solid walls in our chapels back home. Derek and Daniel were asked to bless the sacrament. We felt overwhelming gratitude to have them with us and to be blessed with such an opportunity together. Just sitting in Sacrament Meeting, blessed with the Spirit and looking out the windows, brings deepened insights to the scriptures we have been studying the last two years in Sunday school. It was fast Sabbath and we had a little reality check as members referred to the blessing of being able to come to the Center this week knowing that it may be some time before they can pass through the security checks again between Israel and Palestine. When we were here nine years ago, members often came to stay with us on Friday evening so that they could be here for Sabbath meetings, but the situation now is more difficult with the barriers between the Palestinian West Bank and Israel. One sweet sister has had a one month holiday pass that allowed her to come to Jerusalem from Bethlehem, but she will attend for the last time next Sabbath. It is a pretty tender and sensitive subject for her as she is leaving to work on a graduate degree in the West Bank city of Jenin and will be on the other side of the barriers unable to associate with members of the Church. For those interested, the December National Geographic has an article on the Security Wall between the West Bank and Israel. In Israel there are now three branches of The Church—one here in Jerusalem, and the others in Tel Aviv and Tiberias, which is on the Sea of Galilee. There are no branches in the West Bank for the members there.