A Beautiful Sunday in Jerusalem

Our 6th day in Israel was Sunday June 19th (Fathers Day in the US). Fortunately our first free day in Israel had landed on Sunday, so we had the opportunity to go to church. Dr. Beyer a professor with Columbia International University had recommended Christ Church at Jaffa Gate. The church is an evangelical Anglican congregation and their services are held in english.

A few of us made our way with Dr. Painter to the church. We walked up to the gated entrance and made our way inside the courtyard of the church. The church was built in 1849 and is the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East.

Christ Church: photo cred: Jane Lam

The inside was not expansive but it was still beautiful. We sat in brown wooden chairs toward the front. Little details escape me, it has been a few months, but we did have the wonderful opportunity to worship and partake in communion. Communion was a little different, in which we shared the wine cup.

Following the service we communed outside in the courtyard. The sun was shining brightly of course as it was a summer day in Israel. That day was Fathers Day in the US and I remember thinking I would have given anything to have my father visit with me.

Our plan for the rest of the afternoon was to visit the Israel Museum. We decided to catch a taxi outside Jaffa Gate to the museum because it was located in the new city of Jerusalem. Two taxis later we all arrived at the Museum and made our way inside to their cafe. We enjoyed a nice lunch (for me a delicious salmon salad) and then ventured into the Museum.

Leilani and I in front of the Shrine of the Book Exhibit

Museums are not my most favorite destinations in the world. Yet, being able to visit a museum in another country and on top of the that a museum in the country where Biblical events occurred caught my interest. This Museum also house the ancient manuscripts known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, most notably the Isaiah scroll that I had always wanted to see. My family had the opportunity to see the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit at the Seattle Science Center back in 2006, but I had been unable to. The Shrine of the Book was beneath a giant white looking dome. It is supposed to represent the lids of the clay jars which had encased the scrolls for over 2000 years. Another interesting exhibit to the Musuem is the almost a one acre model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period. It gives a great 3-D visual of what Jerusalem looked like when Christianity was born. Leilani and I ventured into the book store after we were through and I found a book that I was pretty excited to bring home to my father who is fascinated with archeology.

Jerusalem 2nd Temple Model

A few of us decided to walk back to the college from the Israel Museum instead of taking a taxi back. It was a great way to enjoy the weather, the neighborhood of Jerusalem and was a free trip back. It took us about 50 minutes and I was in a skirt and sandals.

Ariel view of Christ Church at Jaffa Gate
The chapel is the building that is across from the red roof building, it has trees rising up in front of it. 

Resources:
Virtual Tour of the Shrine of the Book