12th annual simulcast Christmas Service with Bethlehem Lutheran Christmas Church

Join in for a wonderful Christmas experience!

The 12th Annual Bethlehem Prayer Service will be held this Saturday, December 15, 2018, at 9:30 AM EST.  The service is a joint service with the people of the Holy Land gathered at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, Palestine and the people of the United States gathered at the Washington National Cathedral (Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW, Washington, DC), and online through live streaming.

In Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians continue to bear witness to their faith this Christmas, as they have done for generations. Once again, let us join our voices with theirs in seeking and offering hope for a better future.  Prayers, readings, and hymns alternate between Washington and Bethlehem via the Internet, bringing together people of different lands, languages, and ethnic backgrounds in celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace. 

Invite your friends and fellow parishioners to join us at the Cathedral, or online.  If you are unable to join us at the Cathedral, we encourage you to gather with others in your community to watch the service live.

Print out the order of service with hymns and prayers here.

Among those participating this year are Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Holy Land Rev. Suheil Dawani, Evangelical Lutheran Bishop of Jordan and the Holy Land Rev. Sani Ibrahim Azar, Evangelical Lutheran Bishop of Washington Rev. Richard Graham, Cathedral Dean Rev. Randolph Hollerith, Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christian Church in Bethlehem, Rev. Canon John Peterson, Rev. Mitri Raheb, Rev. Victor Makari, Rev. Sari Ateek, Rev. David Wacaster, Rev. Hosam Naoum, and lay people Matthew Taylor, Jim Zogby, Joyce Haddad, Lois Herrmann, Adel Nassar, and Anton Nassar. Music provided by Brass for Peace and combined choirs in Bethlehem and Washington. Here’s a quick view of some of our past services.