Terry Brensinger, our Senior Pastor, will be away on sabbatical from April 9 through August 18 of this year. He, along with his wife and daughter, Deb and Julie, will reside at the Ecumenical Institute for Theological Research (Tantur) in Jerusalem. This sabbatical, funded by the Lilly Endowment, will provide time for Terry to reflect on the ongoing ministry of the Grantham Church, work on a new book, and experience spiritual renewal with his family. Please keep both the Brensingers and the congregation in your prayers during this period of separation. Also, be sure to check this spot on our website regularly for updates as well as pictures of the Brensingers in Jerusalem.

click to enlarge any photo
July 15, 2008 Update from Terry
Our time continues to fly by, but we are doing well.  We've enjoyed various experiences in recent weeks.  Deb and Julie participated in a week of VBS at our church in East Jerusalem. There were 40-50 Arab children from both Jerusalem as well as the nearby village of Beit Safafa.  Julie helped with recreation and Deb with crafts.  All in all, the week was both challenging and rewarding.

Julie also plays in the worship team at our church, and that has been good for her.  They meet for dinner and rehearsal every Thursday night, so Julie has had the opportunity to get to know several new people.  It also gives her a night out on her own, which she enjoys.

Deb spent last week at a retreat center on the western edge of Jerusalem. The center is owned by the Sisters of Zion and is a beautiful spot for silence and prayer. She continues to work on updating her two courses in the denomination's directed study program.

Having time to think and plan is certainly a wonderful thing. I'll be preaching in Jerusalem this Sunday, and then we are off to Jordan for a few days.  I spent the summer of 1982 on an archaeological excavation there, but neither Deb nor Julie have ever been there. Among seeing Petra and other sites, we are hoping to track down a Jordanian man who I met 26 years ago!  Pray that we would be successful.

We miss everyone at home and pray for you regularly.  Before long, we'll see you again.

Attached are a few photos of recent events.  One is of VBS and another from a Sunday a.m. service when a group of South African and Korean guests were with us..  Also, I've included a picture of Alex Awad and his wife, Brenda.  Alex, a local Palestinian, is our pastor. It is wonderful to have a pastor again!

Grace, Peace and Love, Pastor Terry
June 13, 2008 Update from Terry
ur last few weeks have been full and rich.  Jordan and Jillian visited with us for two weeks, so we set aside the time to take Jillian from one end of the country to the other.

We spent three days in the Galilee, four days down in the desert, and the rest here in Jerusalem. Among the highlights were a camel trek in the desert and a wonderful worship service one Sunday morning in the Arab village of Abu Ghosh. We worshiped at a French-speaking, Arab church where the service consists largely of Gregorian Chant! Although we could not underestand the words, we were deeply moved by the overall experience. The singing was beautiful and the mood reverent.  

Julie also had a thrill of a lifetime.  After reading his book entitled We Belong to this Land, she had the privilege of meeting Father Elias Chacour, an Arab priest in the Galilee who has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize.  I've known Father Chacour for over twenty years, and Julie was eager to meet him.  I've attached a picture of Julie with him.

We are all well and getting back into our rhythm following Jordan and Jillian's departure.  Julie will playing her violin in two concerts next week in Jerusalem, so she is practicing feverishly.  When she meets with her teacher in center city, Deb and I walk around and enjoy the people.

We miss everyone and pray for the entire Grantham community regularly.

-- Pastor Terry
May 24, 2008 Update from Terry
It is a beautiful Sunday morning in Jerusalem.  The sun is just coming up, and all is still calm.  In a few hours, the three of us will head to the Church of the Redeemer in the Old City to worship.  A friend who we met here at Tantur will preach today.

We had a quiet week following a wonderful but exhausting trip to Egypt.  In addition to visiting Cairo and Luxor, we spent a night near St. Catherines Monastery, got up at 1:00 Saturday morning, and hiked up Mt. Sinai in time for sunrise.  What an inspiring sight!  We were surprised at the number of other people who did the same thing.  

There must have been several hundred people on the top of the mountain.  When the sun appeared, we heard small groups of people from all over the world singing and praying in their own traditions and languages.  I suppose it was at least a glimpse of what heaven might be like.

Jordan and Jillian are scheduled to arrive this afternoon.  We are, needless to say, looking forward to spending the next two weeks together.  We will take short trips to the Galilee as well as the desert, but otherwise stay around Jerusalem.

We are all well.  We will be leading the Sunday evening chapel service at Tantur tonight.  The house is full of people from many places.  Most importantly, we are thankful that God continues to breathe freshness into our souls.  

Peace,Terry
Julie holding the top of the pyramid.
Terry with an Egyptian rug-maker
Three Russians singing with candles
Deb and Julie on Mt Sinai at sunrise
May 11, 2008 Update from Terry
We've had a full but refreshing week this week.  Julie met again with her violin teacher here, and she absolutley loves her.  Miryam Ratner, her teacher, is a Serbian who studied violin in Moscow and now lives here in Jerusalem.  They hit it off right away!  In addition to the places we've visited, we have particularly enjoyed reading and playing games together.  There is so much for us to process and talk about, and so much to learn.  The highlight of the week was a visit from Emily Wilson-Hauger, who is here for several days with a group of students from Duke.  Julie grew very close to Emily, so they were thrilled to have an evening together.

Tomorrow morning, the three of us are off to Egypt.  We will visit Cairo and Luxor before traveling across the Sinai to see St. Catherines Monastery and Mt. Sinai.  Deb and Julie have never been to Sinai before, so they are particularly excited about trip.

Please keep us in your prayers.  God is at work in our lives, and he continues to bring new ideas and new concerns to our attention.  Regardless of how long we have been followers of Jesus, there is more to learn and experience.
May 1, 2008 Update from Terry
Deb and Julie arrived safely early Wednesday morning after a terribly long flight.  In between recovering from jet-lag, we've been just enjoying some leisure time together--reading, playing games, and talking a lot, particularly about the situation here in Israel/Palestine.  Yesterday we walked into Bethlehem with another family staying here at Tantur.  We visited the Evangelical Lutheran Church there and saw some of the wonderful ways that Rev. Mitri and his people are "taking the church into the streets."  If you are interested, check out their website -- the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem.  I've attached a picture of the church as well as one of Deb and Julie eating a felafel on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem.

We miss all of you and pray for you regularly!
April 24, 2008 Update from Terry
This week began with a wonderful worship service on Sunday at a small, international church in East Jerusalem.  The pastor is Palestinian, but the congregation included people from England, the U.S., Chile, Holland and South Africa.  The singing and preaching were inspiring, and the congregation's involvement in evangelism and social justice encouraging.  I also met a young couple there from the states who are studying here in Jerusalem.  They reminded me so much of Deb and myself when we first came to Israel 28 years ago.  We ate lunch together afterward and shared our stories.

I've had opportunities this week to read, write, pray and renew friendships with various people.  I spent one day with George and Afaf Abu-Dayyeh, a Palestinian couple who I've known over the years.  I've included a picture of them.  Please keep George in your prayers.  He will be having open-heart surgery soon.

 I also spent time with the presidents of Jerusalem University College and Bethlehem Bible College.  JUC is doing well after years of low enrollment, and Bethlehem Bible College is a real miracle, to say the least.  In spite of the fact that the Arab Christian population here continues to dwindle, BBC is thriving.  I taught there in 1993, and there were 20 or so students.  Today, there are 130 on two campuses--Bethlehem and Nazareth!

They are in the process of building a new student center, and the enthusiasm is high.  My day there today with President Awad was perhaps the highlight of my trip thus far.  Keep him and BBC in your prayers, particularly that God would provide the necessary funding to keep the new building on schedule.  And if any of you want to contribute some funds to this amazing school, let me know.  They are keeping hope alive in this weary place. Note the pictures of President Awad as well as some of the college buildings.
In spite of the excitement of my time away, I miss all of you at Grantham BIC more than I can say.  Rest assured that I am well and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Deb and Julie on Wednesday.  I'm eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables that I buy at the Jewish market in West Jerusalem.  Please keep me in your prayers and Deb and Julie as they travel.  You remain in my prayers.

George and Afaf Abu-Dayyeh
April 12, 2008 Note from Terry
Here are a few photos.  My camera battery gave out just before dinner, and the sun went down. I can send more later.  One photo is of the front of my apartment, another of me in front of the apartment, another of the front gate to Tantur, another of the center lawn, and another of Michael and Carfmen Zoughbi and their family.  Michael Zoughbi sent the olive wood that we sold -- I gave him a check today for over $4,000 that will be divided among several Palestinian families here.

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