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Visiting Bethlehem: Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

Looking up at the dome of the church at Shepherd's Field


Rough translation... I haven't studied French for many years and would welcome a better rendering of the legend on this plaque at Shepherd's Field:

          Who would be sad now? The creche is home to an infant who is the light of the world,       who takes the sin of the world.

Inside the grotto at Shepherd's Field. In this cave, the shepherds would keep their sheep while watching to ensure their safety at night.


A window in the Church of the Nativity

The star pictured here lies over the place of Jesus' birth. 
Worshipers kneel down and touch this spot in a moment of prayer

The Birth of Jesus, from the Gospel of Luke

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Merry Christmas, and God bless you!



34 comments:

  1. A lovely place to be at this time of year.

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  2. That's a beautiful place !!!
    Thanks for sharing your great photos !!
    Greetings

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  3. Merry Christmas from Germany
    and thanks for weekly hosting

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  4. More wonderful photos! I visited the Church of Nativity many years ago. It would not be so easy for me to get to Bethlehem these days. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas. Thank you for hosting image-in-ing.

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  5. What a spiritual place to have been! Merry and Blessed Christmas, Sue!

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  6. Indeed, now before Christmastime it's the best place to feel the the glory.

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  7. Merry Christmas from Kentucky and thanks for being a NanaHood friend all year long!
    http://nanahood.com/whats-new-at-nanas-the-new-nintendo-3ds-xl

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  8. Wonderful photos! Merry Christmas!

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  9. Lovely photographs and post. Merry Christmas!
    Maggie

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  10. Very nice pics you are sharing. Thanks

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  11. Nice post & shots :-)

    Happy Christmas to you and all :-)

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  12. Perfect for this week! Beautiful to see the birth place of the Saviour!

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  13. Beautiful photos. What a great post. Amazing that you got to visit the birth site of Christ. Very cool.

    Hope you have a blessed Christmas.

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  14. Appropriate leading into Christmas. Well done

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  15. Thank you for the images and the Christmas story. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas. And thank you for the link up this year. Happy travels.

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  16. Blessing at Christmas for you and your family!!

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  17. The stained glass window is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful colors!

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  18. wow very nice...post
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  19. Greetings from Malaysia! Thank you for hosting! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  20. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas Sue. Thank you for letting me join http://image-in-ing.blogspot.co.uk/ every week.

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  21. So perfect for the season!
    Have a happy holiday!

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  22. How special to get to visit Bethlehem! Merry Christmas to you and yours too!

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  23. Merry Christmas to all that celebrate.
    The place looks stunning

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  24. May His light shine in your heart and home this Christmas. Have a blessed week.

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  25. Thank you for stopping by OMHGWW, sorry Linky was not up, I have added your link to the party!!! Have a great day! Happy Holiday Season!! http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com/heartsie-girls-wonderful-wednesday-36/

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  26. Hi! Your photos are very beautiful. It'S nice trip to go there in Christmas season. Have a nice days.

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  27. Such a perfect series of photos for this week! Thank you for sharing, and for hosting!

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  28. Those are amazing photos! Wonderful reminders of the Savior who came for us! Have a very blessed Christmas!

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  29. Stunning dome, and I love the stained glass showing the flight into Egypt.

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  30. A very interesting post! Thank you!
    Merry Christmas from Hamburg/Germany abd thanks for hosting!

    Best, Marie

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  31. Wow! That is magnificent! I would love to see it in person some day!

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  32. Lovely!! Amazing photos and post! Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you, too!

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