O Little Town of Bethlehem

Those who live and work here in this season can't help but be struck with the incredible irony of the favorite old song:  O Little Town of Bethlehem.  Years of land confiscation, illegal settlement expansion and now, the Separation Wall, have ensured that the Little Town will remain just that.  The Swedish Church has issued this brochure telling the stories of Christians in Bethlehem whose lives are made increasingly harsh by the Israeli occupation.

It is ironic that recently reports have re-circulated blaming the exodus of Christians from Bethlehem (and other areas) on persecution by Muslims.  Although there are isolated incidents of problems between Muslims and Christians, they are almost always more a social or family problem rather than actually based on religious persecution.  Ask anyone on the street from Bethlehem or neighboring Beit Sahour and Beit Jala why everyone is leaving and they will tell you:  the wall, the checkpoints, the permits needed to go anywhere, the land being confiscated, lack of tourism and job opportunities...all consequences of the 40-year-long occupation.

I wrote this song last year, putting new words from Bethlehemites to the old song:

 

From the little town of Bethlehem we sing to you tonight;

Our streets are clear, there's no one here, who sees our daily plight;

Once here was born a savior, but now we're all enclaved;

By razor wire and walls and towers, now when will we be saved?

The little town of Bethlehem gets smaller every day;

They take our land, it's all been planned; to make us fade away;

The settlements keep growing, they're bigger every day.

We've not much left from all the theft, so soon they'll have their way.

 

Our little town of Bethlehem is trapped by walls of stone;

By razor wire and giant towers we're left here all alone;

Tonight the world sings carols of peace on earth to all

Think of us all behind the wall that dwarfs the manger stall.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray,

Break down the walls and hear our calls, bring just peace here to stay;

Let angels sing together, their great glad tidings tell:

Let's share the land, there's peace at hand, from God Immanuel! 

Rev. Julie Rowe        Click here for word document with photos