Phone: 972-2-626-6800 FAX: 972-2-628.5764 ADDRESS: Muristan Rd. P.O. Box 14076 Jerusalem 91140 via Israel
On April 1, 2004, over one-hundred elderly women and men enjoyed a special program and a noon lunch to celebrate Mother’s Day. For this occasion the elderly people were brought to the refectory in the cloister area of the Lutheran church for a program of music and greetings. Later they sat at tables in the cloister courtyard and the refectory for their lunch and conversation. The Day Center for the Elderly is a program of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Day Center is open from 9 am to 2 pm every day but Sunday and is located in the former Martin Luther School building next to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Over two-hundred elderly people are served through the center. Many are able to come to the center and receive various services and enjoy activities; others who are unable to come to the center due to illness or disability are visited in their homes by nurses, a parish worker and the pastor of the Redeemer congregation, the Rev. Ibrahim Azar.
On Sunday, March 21, 2004, Pr. Kjell and Inger Jonasson were installed in their ELCJ positions during the Arabic-language service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Old City Jerusalem. Pr. Kjell Jonasson, from the Church of Sweden, is ELCJ Bishop Dr. Munib Younan’s Assistant for Ecumenical Affairs and International Relations. In addition, part of Pr. Jonasson’s time will be given to the Swedish Theological Institute in West Jerusalem. Inger Jonasson is the Coordinator of the Art Program at the International Center in Bethlehem, connected to the Christmas Lutheran Church and the ELCJ.
Bishop Younan and visiting Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme of the Diocese of Borg of the Lutheran Church of Norway, together with the Rev. Anders Bloomquist of the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem and the Rev. Sani Ibrahim Azar, pastor of the Arabic congregation at Redeemer all participated in the installation service, using four different languages: Arabic, English, Swedish and Norwegian. Bishop Kvarme preached the sermon in English, highlighting and uplifting the ELCJ congregations, schools and community projects and encouraging the ELCJ to continue being a servant, as Jesus was servant to all. Pr. Kjell and Inger Jonasson shared a song with guitar accompaniment as part of the worship service.
In the 1980s Pr. Jonasson previously served as the Overseas Secretary on the staff of then ELCJ Bishop Daoud Haddad. He and Inger lived in Beit Sahour at that time, and are happy to return to Jerusalem and the ELCJ to meet old friends and make many new ones.
On Maundy Thursday, April 8, 2004, hundreds of Lutherans gathered together in the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer for the remembrance of the Last Supper Jesus ate with his disciples, and to participate in the Eucharist. Bishop Younan, eight Lutheran pastors from six countries (Palestine, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland and the U.S.) and a vicar from Germany led the worship service. The Rev. Russell O. Siler, pastor of the English-speaking Redeemer congregation preached and Bishop Younan and German Probst Martin Reyer officiated at the Eucharist. With the words of the Gospel of Mark in their ears – “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” – the congregation, led by Bishop Younan, processed through the Old City streets, out St. Stephen Gate, and down into the Kidron Valley. The procession passed the Garden of Gethsemane and proceeded up a narrow road and many steps to the courtyard of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene. A short service of Scripture readings about Jesus praying in Gethsemane and being arrested were read, and several hymns were sung.
The Lutheran Church of the Reformation in Beit Jala was filled to overflowing on April 4, Palm Sunday 2004. The Sunday School children processed into the sanctuary with flowers and palm branches, and sang their praises to God. Flutes, guitar and organ accompanied the singing of the children and a young adult choir as well as the congregational singing.
Bishop Younan and Pastor Jadallah Shihadeh confirmed twelve young people and gave them their first Holy Communion in both elements. (The bread of Holy Communion is given to children but the wine is reserved until after confirmation in the ELCJ.) Following the worship service people greeted the newly-confirmed young people in a receiving line with the bishop and pastor, and a special reception was held.