Christmas in Bethlehem

Posted on December 9, 2025 
Filed under Good News, Other denominations

“Christmas is unlikely to be much in Bethlehem this year. The city of Jesus’ birth has about 30,000 people, of whom about 9,000 identify as Christan. They live with poverty, restrictions and uncertainty. They are squeezed between their majority Muslim neighbours and the Israeli government and west bank settlers.

Nor was Christmas much in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. A few shepherds cared for some smelly, dirty and bothersome sheep in nearby paddocks. Forget the maternity suite with all mod cons. Instead, the baby arrived in the equivalent of a corrugated iron shed out the back of a country pub. …”

– At AP, David Burke, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, reminds us of the good news of Christmas.

Photo of David Burke: Christ College, Burwood.