On our first night in Galilee on my last pilgrimage, a few of us decided to venture out and explore Tiberias. As the only one who had been there before, I was pointing out various landmarks when we came across St. Andrew's Church near the promenade. I mentioned that previous groups had worshiped there and I suggested seeing the various murals that cover the pillars. As we made our way through the garden and up to the door, we heard the most glorious music. We stepped inside this little chapel by the sea and there we saw and heard a very unusual sight. There were about seven people all sitting in a semi-circle, each with an instrument. Someone was on a drum, another on the piano. There was a guitar of course. The surprise was a man on a soprano sax, a really outstanding player. The rest were singers who played various percussive instruments. Spellbound, we listened to them sing Christian worship songs in Hebrew. Had we stumbled on some sort of Messianic worship team? After all it was mid-week and there was no congregation to speak of.
So we stood respectfully in the back and took in the sight and sounds of passionate and moving worship from our brothers in Christ. They looked like they came from all backgrounds and walks of life. One was a solider in uniform, his gun resting nearby. Another looked Arab. Most were odinary Israelis. With eyes closed and faces turned upward, their voices together expressed their deep love for God. On this Thanksgiving Day, it is this vision of Israel/Palestine that offers me hope. I am grateful for each and every pocket where love of God and of each other is apparent.
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