Seven-pointed star for Christmas

The first star is from the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Tla' Al-Ali, where the nativity scene was designed in the shape of a map of the Holy Land, namely conjoined Jordan and Palestine. In the middle of the nativity scene, which was crafted by engineer Marwan Haddad from the town of Al-Wahadneh in Ajloun Governorate, the door of the nativity scene took the shape of a heart which incorporates the Gospel texts of the Christmas event. The nativity scene (Jordan and Palestine) is topped by the seven-pointed Christmas star which includes Jordan and Palestine.

The second star is what was written by former minister His Excellency Kamel Mahadin. He is an architect and an artist, who drew Christmas paintings this year that spread hope and optimism. He wrote saying," The bells of the churches of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, will ring. We are on the threshold of a new year, and an atmosphere of heavenly drizzle accompanies the glorious holidays. O Lord, grant us peace of mind and health, and bestow upon this country an abundance of Your mercy!"

The third star is from Gaza, specifically from the Church of the Holy Family, which Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa has visited coming from Jerusalem to celebrate Christmas with the parishioners who are not only coming to pray in the church, but are rather residents and refugees there, since the start of the war on Gaza. The Patriarch said to his people and the families anxious about the future: "The war will end and we will rebuild again, but we must guard our hearts to be capable of rebuilding. We love you, so never fear and never give up."

The fourth star, we remain in Gaza, and every day at 8:00pm, the phone rings and on the other end is Pope Francis, who since the start of the war and when telephone contacts are available, makes a call most of the time even when he travels outside the Vatican and Rome. Furthermore, despite the difference in timing, he was always determined to maintain this daily tradition of talking with priests, nuns, and people who convey their concerns and hopes, and sometimes their laughter with Pope Francis every day.

The fifth star is great Jordan that is lit these days with the dear Christmas trees, especially at the Christian pilgrimage sites. However, there is a feature this year, namely the official lighting of Christmas trees in most of the governorates of Jordan, even a Christmas tree was lit in Aqaba in the presence of the minister of tourism, who used to attend most of the celebrations, or send a representative on her behalf which bears witness to the nobility and history of our cities and villages. The prime minister also lit a Christmas tree at "Um Al Jimal" has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List.

The sixth star is that on this holiday we mark the 25^th anniversary since the first Christmas in the era of His Majesty King Abdullah II, who declared that Christmas is an official holiday for all citizens. Since then, the Christmas tree--that Muslims and Christians rally around--has become a symbol of brotherhood and the precious national unity. We no longer talk about a holiday or a day to mark Christmas, but rather there is a season for this holiday, namely the season of brotherhood and the cementing of national unity sponsored by His Majesty the King, who has been receiving the heads of churches for 25 years to convey to them well wishes on this glorious feast.

As for the seventh-pointed star, it is relevant to what will happen on January 10 with the onset of the new year, namely the consecration and inauguration of the Church of the Baptism of Jesus Christ on the Eastern side of the River Jordan, which was supported financially by noble Jordanian Nadim Mu'asher and his family, as well as some other benefactors which include countries and individuals.Candles will be lit on the sides of the church, and on the altar, as a sign of the beginning of the official pilgrimage to this church amidst the Kingdom’s celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the start of the official pilgrimage to the Baptism Site in modern time. This event is falls within the global celebrations of the Jubilee, namely the elapse of 2025 years of the birth of the Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ.

Congratulations to us in this season as we mark Christmas and our national unity, while our church is decorated with our seven-pointed star.