Saturday Sabbath was a big day!   Lots of music!  We had a completely full house for sacrament meeting.  Jim played a 20-minute prelude of hymn arrangements, “I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked,” Dale Wood, Sheep May Safely Graze, and much more. It was the Primary program, and they did a great job!  Deanne had worked a lot on that.  There are only 6 children in Primary (ages 3-11), but we have 12 students called to serve by teaching and helping with music. 

At 8:00 pm we had our big student musical talent show.  It was the second show this semester, and the students go wild.  Lots of good numbers, mostly sacred, but not all.  Patty joined us in our 6-hand arrangement of "Le Secret" with some shtick…  Patty and Deanne went up first and pretended like they were going to do a duet, then Jim butted in for the top part.  The students thought it was for real.  The whole program was a hit.

                                The Zimbelstern arrived by DHL—on Shabbat! 

Jim installed the Zimbelstern, which is a jingling bell device that has been found on organs for hundreds of years.  A fun addition for light-hearted pieces and Christmas music.  Got what we call "Chicken Lickin’" (local rotisserie chicken in Wadi Joz) for late lunch with the Barkers. We set up for Jim's evening concert and stuffed programs.  A singer had had to cancel, so Jim played his program on short notice, which was just fine with him.  Around the World with organ music!  Plus the debut of the Zimbelstern. Eric and Wendy Nelson, friends from the Christian Science church in Palo Alto, are touring Israel and came to the concert.  Very fun to see them.  There was a big audience.  

Note the reflection of the organ in the big glass windows

On Sunday, the students left at 5 a.m. for Greece.  (Yes--we wish we had been able to go, too!) The place is now quiet.  Barkers joined us on a walk to Dominus Flevit church because Jim wanted to check out an old pump organ there.  A nice priest was friendly and let us take pictures and try out the organ which barely works now.  It’s probably 100+ years old, French, sort of a treasure, but left outside to gather dirt and suffer from the weather.  We ran into Eric and Wendy Nelson again there!  

Back up the hill to the Tombs of the Prophets (Haggai, Malachi, and Zechariah) for a private tour by candlelight with Jamil, the local owner.  Very interesting big tombs carved into the hillside.  Then to 7 Arches area, great views, back to Mt. of Olives Bazaar, and to the Center.  

                                     Beautiful mosaic flooring of Dominus Flevit