From Promise to Promise

We began our pilgrimage with a rainbow on the Sea of Galilee...and finished with a rainbow on our way to the airport between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. These we simply confirmations of what we already knew: That God has and will continue to grow us, shape us, form and reform us into the likeness of Jesus as we walk with him every day. The pilgrimage is over, but not really--the true pilgrimage is life. The question is, will we have the eyes to see and ears to hear and hands to touch the reality of Jesus and his work in this world?

(Left: on the way to the airport)

Anointed

Cindy Morgan

27 March 2011


It began with the evening commissioning in Decatur. The next morning it was ashes.

In the Holy Land it was the mists of the Hebron Spring at Banias rushing to feed the Jordan, and then the mud and minerals of the Dead Sea. At the Notre Dame Jerusalem Center it was the oil of a laurel tree.

Back home in Bangladesh is was the passionate notes of "By the Sea of Galilee,” a piano piece composed for me by my husband in my absence.

Anointed. In so many ways we have each been anointed on this journey.

The gift will last a lifetime.

March 24

HOME FROM THE PILGRIMAGE!

Home is the place that they have to take us in, no matter what we smell like, no matter how long we've been gone!

I was too tired to clean up upon arriving home early this morning. I'm glad no one was around because it was some trip back. After more than 24 hours of traveling by feet, bus, tram, plane and car, I was a tired and dirty pilgrim. For most of us it was harder to get out of the Holy Land than to get in. After facing security checks and canceled flights - I prayed a quick, "Thank you Jesus!" and sank into the comfort of my own bed.

I was weary but it has been such a great experience over the last weeks.

We learned. The Bible came alive as never before when we visited the land that served as the cradle of our faith. Galilee, Jerusalem, Mt. of Olives - will never be the same on the pages of a Bible.

We worshiped. Together we sang to celebrate God's love among us. We came together as a group of pilgrims. God transformed us from names on Facebook to faces in one another's hearts.

We grew deeper. We prayed, listened, wrote in our journals, and read. In small groups and on walks we shared not only our wisdom but also our wounds. Our shoes were blessed. Our hearts were blessed.

Yet with each step we not only learned, listened, and grew - we shared with others who were in turn blessed from the pilgrimage as well. That sweet spirit flowed with each pilgrim to young and old, Palestinian and Jew, stranger and friend alike. There were shop owners, pilgrims from other countries, taxi drivers, and school children. All touched by God through each of us. We walked in the footsteps of Jesus by the Sea of Galilee and along the Via Dolorosa - and He walked right alongside in our footsteps.

And in their own way, they all smelled the love of God, the aroma of Christ along our pilgrimage, each and every day.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us

in triumph and through us spreads the frangrance of the

knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma

of Christ to God, among those who are being saved, and

among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from

death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

I'm sure we're all cleaned up now - but let's keep on spreading that fragrance of Christ!

Almost home

Hi friends and family, we're in Newark and awaiting our flight to Atlanta. Some have already left on connecting flights and others are having some issues with storms coming through.  We are aware of the bombing in Jerusalem today. Our thoughts and prayers are with all people in the region, praying that peace will prevail.

Heading home

Heading to our gate at Ben Gurion.

Day 13: Sabbath Day

We each spent our day today differently; some getting energized by the Old City and others spending very quiet time at the hotel. We gathered this evening to have our final time of worship together and have a farewell dinner. We're turning in early tonight--it's a 6am departure for the airport!

Day 12: Masada, Qumran, and Dead Sea

Our final day of keeping a regular schedule was spent trekking southward from Jerusalem into the wilderness toward the Negev.

Masada

Masada was originally built as a mountaintop fortress for Herod the Great. It was full of fine Roman luxury--baths, palaces, and stunning views of surrounding mountains and the dead sea. After Herod's time, Jewish rebels began hiding out

here. It was here that a remnant of Jewish zealots held out as the heel of Rome sought to crack down on rebellion. As the story is recorded by Josephus, the Romans used Jewish slaves to build a huge siege ramp all the way to the top where they could break through the walls and enter the fortress. Rather than being made slaves, the rebels chose mass suicide rather than succumb to Roman rule.

Masada is a significant place historically, geographically, and raises important questions about faith and its response to oppression.

Qumran

We also visited Qumran, the site in which a shepherd boy accidentally located jars containing the Dead Sea Scrolls.

These scrolls were written by the Essenes. This group was a Jewish sect that sought to escape all others and live in strict

community. Among their literature were manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible up to 1000 years older than previously discovered. This discovery went a long way in showing the textual consistency of the Hebrew Bible.

Dead Sea

Our final stop of the day was to have some fun in the Dead Sea. Many in our group took advantage of the unique waters and mud that is located in the Dead Sea. The shores of the Dead Sea are yhe lowest dry point on earth. The water is very bouyant and is rich in minerals; the mud is widely known for its conditioning effect on the skin. Our stop at the dead sea was at a beach on the northern most point of the Dead Sea, near where the Jordan River feeds into it and very close to the border with Jordan.

Pilgrim Thoughts IX

Cindy Morgan

In the silence of the early morning, your Spirit hovers over the brink of the day, and new light pierces the darkness of the night. In the silence of the morning, life begins to stir around us, and we listen for the day's first utterances. In earth, sea and sky, and in the landscape of our own soul, we listen for utterances of your love, O God. We listen for utterances of your love.

J. Philip Newell

This prayer given to us in worship this morning by Karen and Travis was the perfect start to the day!

I had been looking forward to this day for a long time—the day we would go to Bethlehem. We encountered a profound paradox, however, as we traveled south to the birthplace of the Prince of Peace, only to find Bethlehem hidden behind the 26-foot high security wall now separating the West Bank from Jerusalem.

In the open fields just outside of Bethlehem, where it is believed an angel once proclaimed the birth of the Savior, and a host of angels sang of peace on earth, shepherds were once again keeping watch over their sheep. Just above this quiet grazing scene, however, a Palestinian village sits just blocks from an Israeli settlement built on the hilltop a few years back.

After a time of worship in which we prayed, "Let our lives be rooted in the ground of your peace, O God, let us be rooted in the depths of your peace," we moved on to the Church of the Nativity where I delighted in lighting a candle for each of the three children born of my womb. I then descended amongst the crowd into the grotto that commemorates the place where tradition says Christ was born.

Kneeling down, and then bending over to peer under the curtained canopy, I was amazed by the beauty of the resplendent shrine. In silence I touched the hollowed center of the star that lies on the floor, just over the cave in which Christ's birth is said to have occurred, and then sat in prayer with other pilgrims.

As a group of 21, we have traveled thousands of miles to find our roots in Christ. We have now seen where he was born, where he grew up, where he lived in Capernaum and the synagogue in which he taught there. We've seen where he fed the five thousand and delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and we have walked much of the lonely path that he walked from Gethsemane to Caiaphas to Pilate and then on to Golgotha.

From Bethlehem to Calvary we have followed Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Listening anew to the Beatitudes, seeing abandoned cities and mosques, as well as new settlements and military camps, I feel more strongly than ever the need for us as disciples of Christ to embrace Jesus' ministry of peace. Jesus' life of humility, forgiveness and compassion is an invitation to each of us to be intentional in our pursuit of peace, both in our personal lives, and in society.

May the Prince of Peace continue to live on earth in each of us.

Be the change you want to see. Gandhi

Pilgrim Thoughts VIII

Now may the love of God our creator, and the grace of Jesus Christ our savior, and guide and the joy and peace of the spirit be with you all today and always. -- Worship benediction from Larry Slager

As I sit here on the second floor of the hotel in the parlor area, drinking my first cup of coffee, I’m thinking about Jesus 2000 years ago. It’s 7am and the church bells are chiming and echoing through the city of Jerusalem. I too, am weeping over Jerusalem, and praying that their bells might be telling the message of peace on earth and good will toward all people. But no, not today, maybe tomorrow. – Mary Ann Hickman

from Karen and Travis Webster
“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ Our feet arestanding within your gates, O Jerusalem.” (Psalm 122, verse 1-2).

We began this morning on the rooftop of the building where we are staying,watching the sun rise over the slowly awakening city. As red turned to orange andthen yellow against the scattered clouds, as church steeples and minaret towers stood inever sharper contrast against the morning light, we were glad to accept God’s beautifulinvitation into the gift of a new day, indeed, to hurry out and stand within the literal gatesof Jerusalem!After the sun was well above the horizon, we hurried down and, following theperimeter of the city wall counter-clockwise, walked to the Zion Gate, still bearingcountless bullet marks from heavy fighting in the 1948 war. Cats waited patently at thegate; as we approached, they congregated around a woman who got out of her car, leftthem piles of food on the ground, and just as quickly left, undoubtedly off to tend tomore of the city’s cats, waiting outside other gates! At the Zion Gate, we turned right,and, going down the hill, passing the Chamber of the Holocaust and crossing the road,we entered a cemetery and looked for Oskar Schindler’s grave. We found it in lessthan two minutes; it is piled so high with rocks left in remembrance and gratitude thatit’s hard to miss! Under his name and dates of birth and death, a Hebrew inscriptionreads “Righteous Among the Nations,” which is an honorific title given by the state ofIsrael for non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust, and Germanwords say that he was the “Unforgettable Lifesaver of 1200 Persecuted Jews.” It was ahumbling reminder, just a few dozen yards from a gate bearing the signs of unthinkableviolence, that God’s peace, in its often quiet but persistent way, is far stronger thanhuman brutality.Making our way back up the hill, we decided to buy some sesame bread fromone of the street stands to carry in for breakfast. We circled through the quiet New Gateand back through the old city to the Jaffa Gate, which is far busier and, we thought, morelikely to have a vendor close by. The second we rounded the corner, a boy, probablynot much older than twelve, rolled a cart piled high with fresh bread out of the gate toone of the vendors. After purchasing a still-warm loaf, we returned in time for morningworship, laughing along the way that we weren’t much different than the cats we hadseen earlier, looking for and finding their breakfast outside the gates of Jerusalem.

Day 11: Bethlehem and Olive Wood Shop

This morning was great. We enjoyed a filling breakfast at our hotel, the Notre Dame Conference Center.

With a joyous spirit we visited among ourselves before loading the bus. There was a distinct feeling of anticipation in the lobby. Once seated we followed our usual custom – counting off – each pilgrim shouts his/her individual number beginning with ONE, in order to make sure all 21 are present. Today each of us was also asked to show our passport – a requisite to crossing into the West Bank area south of Jerusalem.

After a 15 minute drive to the security check point, we passed through to the other side of Bethlehem.Our destination was a woodcarving business, located in the basement of a Christian family’s home just outside of town. For generations this family has transformed olive trees into manger scenes, statues of Mary, crosses, and the like. We made a tour and met some of the family members.

Next stop was back into Bethlehem to the Shepherd’s Fields.

Travis and Karen Webster led us in a thoughtful service of prayer and silence overlooking the fields recognized since the third century as the location where angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. We could just make out a group of Bedouin shepherds deep in the valley below.

After a shopping trip – many of you reading this will receive some nice gifts - we joined hundreds of others crossing the Manger Square in the center of town to visit the oldest continually functioning church in the world. The Church of the Nativity was founded by Queen Helen, the mother of Constantine who visited the Holy Land in the third century.

We waited in line among the icons, burning candles and incense, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses over centuries to kneel and touch the spot marking the birth of our Lord. For many there was a feeling of life kicking deep inside, crying to be born. And it was a moment of reverence that will be long remembered by each of us.

Pilgrim Thoughts VII

Saturday, 3/19/2011, Phil writes:

We stretched ourselves far and wide today. We visited the Garden Tomb and shared communion. Then we went to the spot on which a church is now built remembering the trial of Jesus by the High Priest and the denial of Jesus by St. Peter.

The most meaningful moment for me was praying at the Wailing (Western) Wall. Praying and leaving my prayers at a wall over 3,000 years old was amazing. This was a “Holy Moment” – when and where I saw the eyes of God as they said to me, “Phil, I love you . . . feed my sheep.” I answered, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

Saturday, 3/19/2011, Betty Kay writes:

Today at the Wailing Wall I stood beside a young Jewish woman in passionate prayer. My prayer rose together with hers in that place, a sweet smell to heaven.

On the way out my gaze fell upon a piece of rosemary someone had dropped. It had been stepped on dozens of times over. I knelt to pick it up, aware of the feet that left dust on the green leaves. And I took in the scent. The aroma was like a prayer to me . . .

God, may we retain our Christ-likeness even in difficult times. And may our prayers for peace continue to rise as sweet scents to God.

On 3/20/2011, Claire Bowen wrote:

On the flight over I was seated apart from our group, but didn’t mind as I was beside twin Jewish sisters, Mary and Margaret. Today we ran into each other at the Wailing Wall and embraced like old friends. And today I rose at 5:30am to go to the rooftop with my roommate to see the sun rise over Jerusalem. Please post this as my husband will never believe I got up this early!!

Calvary at the Bus Stop

Yesterday morning we were taken to the Garden Tomb which serves as an alternative to the traditional Holy Sepulcher site since crucifixions and burials would not have occurred within the walls of the city. We all walked inside this tomb, cut out of a massive rock wall bordering the garden. On the far side of the garden is an outcropping that has been carved out and looks almost skull-like. I had chills knowing that this spot could really mark the location of Calvary. And then my eyes were drawn to what was immediately below; a bus stop!

At first I was annoyed that I could not get a good picture without that silly bus stop. It was dirty and unattractive. Maybe I could crop it out when I got home. Then it occurred to me, with our guide’s help, that it was an important part of the picture. Crucifixions were public executions intentionally located for crowds to see. It made sense that it would be at a busy intersection. It would be where the people are.

Interestingly enough, this intersection of a well traveled road is on the way to Damascus. People have gathered and still gather in this spot as they are coming and going in their busy, sometimes dirty, daily lives. It is a perfect spot for a crucifixion. But where do you put a cross when you are getting ready for this execution? Probably not at the top of the wall; high enough for all to see but low enough for all to unavoidably see up close, hear, smell, and perhaps even talk (or jeer?) at the prisoners.

All are there; Jew, Gentile, believer, non-believer. And at this intersection, in our very midst, is Jesus. None of us knows the exact GPS coordinates for Calvary but I think it’s closer than we may realize. You find it when you’re waiting at the bus stop for Damascus.

Pilgrim Thoughts VI

The tomb garden and the Wailing Wall were very cathartic for me. I walked in the garden and I immediately thought of the song in the Garden... “I come to the garden alone while dew is still on the roses...” and it made me smile. I was so peaceful with the environment. This changed when we got to the tomb. I recently lost my stepfather and flew directly from the funeral to this pilgrimage. The tomb was a reminder of the loss for me and my family. I cried outside the tomb for my family. My fellow pilgrims gave me comfort. But I found joy when we had our worship. I started to identify with Mary Magdalene personally. The words of new life, new love, forgiveness, and joy in the prayer were uplifting. Then I remember once again the gift that Christ life was as we had communion. I am so grateful. I know my loved one loved the Lord and will be with him. Then when we got to the Wailing Wall, I left my daily concerns. I prayed and placed the requests of others on the wall. As a backed away from the wall I sang to myself “take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.” I found another level of peace. God is a good!

Stacey McNeil

After morning worship today, we set out together to a site that many believe to have been the place of crucifixion (Golgotha) and the tomb in which Jesus was placed following his death. It was also the site that Mary visited and found the stone rolled away and was greeted by angels telling her that “He is not here; He is risen.” Set in a beautiful garden, pilgrim groups were worshiping in other languages accompanied by singing birds. We were blessed to celebrate communion on this site.

We moved from the Garden Tomb to the Western (Wailing) Wall where we participated with hundreds of others in prayer at the wall. The crevices and cracks in the wall were filled with prayers and we added our own requests on small bits of paper. How amazing to be adding our prayers to those of millions who have prayed at the wall, God’s people petitioning and praising God.

This was indeed a day of pilgrimage into the dark days before Easter and toward the Easter hope of resurrection!

--Barbara Hart

Day 10: Garden Tomb, Wailing Wall, St. Peter's Gallicantu

The Garden Tomb

The garden tomb was a moving and emotional site. The garden was beautiful. It had a multitude of trees and different flowers. Hues of green from the foliage were enhanced with flowers of pink, fuchsia, yellow, white, and purple. Birds were singing their praises as they playfully watched us. The people in the garden were of many hues and languages too. This tomb is representative of where a

person would be laid after death during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. There is some evidence that this may in fact be the location of Jesus’ tomb

based on its proximity to the Old City of Jerusalem and the distinctive “skull hill” near it. As pilgrims, we paid homage to this location because of it is representative of the scripture references. Our group visited the “skull hill”, cistern, wine press, and the tomb. At the tomb we saw the entrance, weeping chamber, and an area where bodies would have been stored. The tomb had a window and a channel that a round rock would be placed to close it off.

We went into the tomb in groups of seven. Many of us briefly reflected at this point overwhelmed with the magnitude of what this all meant. Our visit was followed by lovely midday worship in the garden lead by Mary Ann and Deedra. During worship we had prayers, scripture reading (Psalm 118:1-2,14-24 and John 20:1-18), and Eucharist/communion. The prayers are listed below.

Midday Worship Prayers: Lord, help us to remember the pain and disappointment of Mary Magdalene who found the tomb empty. Bring new life, where we are worn and tired; new love, where we have become indifferent; forgiveness where we have hurt and where we have wounded; joy in your empty tomb . . . And now God, we ask that we not forget the pain, suffering and weeping of Mary Magdalene upon finding the empty tomb and

that we not forget to weep tears of joy in finding the empty tomb and the risen Christ . . . CHRIST IS RISEN - HALLELUAH!

We left the tomb garden and went to the Western (Wailing) Wall and offered up prayers. Unfortunately, because it was Shabbat, there were no pictures allowed at the wall.

Church of St. Peter- Gallicantu on Mt. Zion (church of the denial and imprisonment of Jesus)

Our last stop, before a late lunch, was at the Church of St. Peter – Gallicantu on Mt. Zion. This church was built over the residence of Caiaphas, the high priest, and commemorates Peter’s denial of Christ (Luke 22:54-62). The lowest level has an excavated pit where many believe Jesus was imprisoned prior to his crucifixion.

Day 9: Mt. Olives, Stations of the Cross

We started the day with worship in our hotel, sharing a communion service which focused on the “The Way of the Cross.” Learning an individual breath prayer to use during the day, was a blessing for us all.

Feeling blessed by blue skies and clear weather, we rode the bus to the Mt. of Olives. This is the mountain that overlooks Jerusalem. When in this area, Jesus spent more time there than at any other place. He often prayed, visited folk, and stayed with friends.

We then walked to the Garden of Gethsemane. Bater, a new tour guide, took time to explain everything in sight, and often provided deep insights connecting the sights to our faith. For example, we heard that Gethsemane actually means “olive press” in Aramaic.

This ties to the agonizing purpose of Jesus’ visit to that garden before his arrest and crucifixion.

Following a time of prayer, we walked down the Kidron Valley and up into the area of the ancient city of Jerusalem. Our path was the Via Dolorosa, “Way of Sorrow,” the path on which Jesus carried his cross to Calvary.

It brought a variety of responses – joy, marvel, pain, thankfulness, and sorrow. The path ends in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed to contain both the rock of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus.

Seeing all of this in a matter of hours was a challenge to ponder. Seeing people in tears as they knelt to enter the tomb, bow on their knees to touch the rock of Calvary, and pray in many languages deepened our worship every step along the way. We were reminded of the words of Paul to the Philippians:

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Additional thoughts from Rob:

Several of us joined the Franciscan-led Stations of the Cross processional this afternoon. We journeyed through the various stops on the Via Dolorosa (“Way of Sorrows”). Being Lent, it was particularly crowded. Most of the prayers were recited or sung in Latin, but the Scripture passages were read in five languages at each of the fourteen stations.

t was an incredible experience to walk among a throng of pilgrims from all over the world through the narrow by ways of the old city section of Jerusalem. Nuns from different orders, a group of Brazilians, a Polish priest and his flock, and a myriad of others, all walking in the footsteps of Jesus, as He walked the Via Crucis, the Way of the Cross. . . The whole experience gave power to understanding what it means for us as disciples to walk the same route, to, as Mark 8:34 tells us, “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow.”

Pilgrim Thoughts V

Thoughts from Claire Bowen after visiting Cesarea Philipi on day 6.

I am straddling 2,000 years of history and politics – yesterday’s and today’s.

1. By day I tour the places where Jesus preached a revolutionary message of love . . . traveling around a small portion of the Sea of Galilee the other towns were occupied by the conquering Romans.

2. By night I reflect on the Palestinian Arab Christian and Muslim plight as I read the Israeli newspaper and marvel at the freedom of the press which allows present day Jewish occupation to be debated.

3. A few days ago I walked the streets of Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, and probably saw the home of his mother, Mary – where as a teenager she lived with her parents, a house which was mostly a cave.

4. By night, I reflect that this land where Christianity was born, changed history, art, music, and time – now has less than 2% Christians. And yet today, Nazareth is the one and only town in Israel where Christians are in the majority (60%).

5. I walked the ruins of Caesarea Philippi where the disciple Peter affirmed Jesus as the Son of God.

6. This afternoon I reviewed my digital photos of the ruins in Caesarea Philippi (located in today’s occupied Golan Heights) and saw the background the abandoned mosque from which the Syrian Muslims fled in the war of 1967.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Thoughts on Sabbath Day and our Journey to Jerusalem (as soon as Rodney tells me who wrote this, I will give credit) :)

Wednesday, March 16

For the first time we divided up as pilgrims for the day. Each of us was encouraged to rest and enjoy the “Sabbath” time. It was like we were told to “Go where you need to go, and do what you need to do.” Following breakfast we followed our calling. So each of us looked and listened for God in various places, by different methods. At night we concluded our worship by sharing a time in which we experienced a blessing from the Lord. We were grateful for safe travel, being hugged by a stranger during worship, resting, seeing God’s creation from a cliff, touching the cool water in the Sea of Galilee, journaling, and praying on a hillside. We had all been touched by the Lord in a wide range of ways.

Thursday, March 17

Up early for breakfast before loading the bus, we were sad to leave Tiberias. The Scots Hotel had been a warm base for exploration, providing great food and sincere hospitality, as we traced the ministry of Jesus. We drove by Mt. Tabor, neighboring Nazareth, and later Mt. Carmel before arriving at Tel-Megiddo (Armageddon), the site of ancient battles and cities. We stopped to explore the excavations, descended stairs deep into a water tunnel, and learned about the 25 ancient civilizations that once called this city home. Following a brief ride we arrived at Herod the Great’s creation, Caesarea Maritime, located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. We traced the steps of an imprisoned Apostle Paul as he made his appeal to Caesar and boarded a ship for Rome. All of us marveled at the ancient aqueducts, harbor, and amphitheater. Some of us marveled at the warm water and wet our feet at the shore!

Our pilgrimage continued on to Jerusalem. As we climbed the hills to enter Jerusalem, Rodney and Sarah led us in worship on the bus using various Psalms.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

We arrived at the Notre Dame Conference Center, right across from the walls of the ancient section of Jerusalem. We shared dinner and retired for a worship service to close our day. Our theme was a “Blessing of Pilgrim Shoes.” We removed our shoes and prayed over them, asking that the Lord protect and guide all who wear them in the coming days as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus to the cross.

First evening in Jerusalem

A few of us found a nice cafe on the via dolorosa near the Damascus gate to people watch and enjoy some coffee.

Day 8: Megiddo, Ceasaria (Maritimia), and our Ascent to Jerusalem

Megiddo


Today we visited a couple of very important ancient cities on our way to Jerusalem. Our first stop was in Megiddo. Megiddo is referred to as Har (mountain) of Megiddo. It is actually a "tell" which is a human-made mound that is the result of repeated destruction and rebuilding. Megiddo is situated at a prime location for travel and commerce; thus, it was significant for military purposes. There is a tradition that because Josiah was killed in battle here (and he was known to be a righteous king), that a final battle to conquer injustice will happen here. Megiddo has extensive layers of ruins, ranging from crusader all the way back to caananite structures. There was an ingenious tunnel system to channel water from outside the city gates, underground, in order to supply the city in the event of a siege.

Caesarea

After Megido, we visited Cesaria on the sea.

Like Megiddo,

Cesarea was a significant city for commerce. It's zenith was in its early years when it was built by Herod the Great. It was destroyed and rebuilt numerous times, going through periods of great success and others of great decline.

Cesarea is impressive in its engineering and was one of the earliest and best fully Roman style city in the region. Paul was held here as he awaited his voyage to Rome.

Finally, we made our way toJerusalem, weaving our way through Tel Aviv traffic, ascending through the mountains and forests until finally, catching a glimpse of Jerusalem. Rodney and Sarah Macias led us in reading and singing some of the Psalms of Ascent as we entered Jerusalem.

Day 7: Sabbath Day

Since we didn't observe Shabbat or Sabbath, we took today, as was planned, as a day of rest. Some of us stayed around the beautiful gardens of the Scots Hotel--while others went on adventures (some to Arbel, others to some of the sites we've already seen, and more to various places around Tiberias). Words that we used to describe today include: joy, brotherhood, remaining, earthy, righteousness, holy, awe, astonishment, and more.

We enjoyed our "last dessert" at Scots and are off to bed now to rest up for an early departure to Jerusalem. Tomorrow we will see Cesarea Maritima (by the sea--in contrast to Cesarea Philippi), Megiddo, and perhaps some other surprises along the way depending on our time.

Hopefully the internet connection will be reliable at our hotel in Jerusalem.

The peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you.

Day 6: Banias (Ceasarea Philipi), and Golan Heights

Banias (Cesarea Philipi)

Our pilgrimage today involved some extended traveling. We loaded the bus after a time of prayer and breakfast for a ride filled with beauty and mountain curves. Rising slowly above the north end of the Sea of Galilee we traveled to the small, beginning streams of the Jordan River. We stopped briefly at the waters of Dan. After that, we went headed off to the rapids and falls of Banias national park. About mid-morning we arrived at the start of the Jordan, a place referred to by Mark’s Gospel as Caesarea Philippi. There were ancient temples to the pagan gods and churches to explore as well.

By themselves the three small streams don’t look like much. But they come together to form the Jordan River which fills the Sea of Galilee. Finding a quiet spot by the river’s edge, we re-affirmed our baptism and commitment to Christ in a brief prayer service.

We explored the nearby caves and ruins from the first century over the next minutes.

Golan Heights

The next leg of the day’s trip took us further north into the mountains past Mt. Hermon and the Golan Heights. Mt. Hermonis a proud snow-capped peak near Israel’s northern borders with Syria and Lebanon. At just over 9,000 feet above sea level, it towers over the green valleys of almond and avocado trees. The group rode for more than an hour through the peaceful hills, vineyards, and farms that are the eastern border of Israel.

Occasionally the peaceful scene was interrupted by a row of tanks or soldiers in formation - a tragic reminder of the fragile nature of the region. Slowly wandering down the mountain road, we returned to the shore of the Sea of Galilee and enjoyed a sandwich and soft drink in Magdala, a town mentioned in the Gospels and known for it most famous first-century resident, Mary Magdalene.

Pilgrim Thoughts IV

From Sarah and Rodney Macias, 3/15/2011

Having spent almost a week on the Sea of Galilee has given us a good feel for the lay of the land. All the villages and towns are very close to one another indicating it was a very small region in which Jesus lived and established his ministry. Knowing that he walked all over this area caused us to pay attention to what would have been familiar to him: the rolling hills with its exposed rock, sheep and goats grazing together, abundant mustard plants, sparrows singing, an occasional sycamore tree, and the lake itself.

Two days ago we climbed to the top of the Cliff of Arbel. Most of us had never heard of it since it is not mentioned in the Gospels. As a prominent landscape feature with its proximity directly above the route taken if one had been walking from Nazareth to Magdala by the lake, there was no doubt to many of us that he spent time there. In the walls of the cliff there are many small caves each no doubt with a story it could tell. It is a good place to wonder especially if you are a boy with a special relationship with God in the 1st century.

Another boy who grew up in this area in the 20th century and was drawn to the "wild places" is Father Elias Chacour. We met him yesterday and it is a day we will not soon forget. In 1948, when he was nine years old, his world changed as his home and village were destroyed by outsiders moving in. Anger and revenge would have been expected but his parents believed firmly in the words of Jesus to love their enemies and be peacemakers. After telling his story, Chacour cautioned us to not take his people's side. "If you take our side, you would be one-sided. We don't need more enemies; rather more common friends." It is to this ministry of reconciliation between Palestinians and Jews which he has been called. Being a peacemaker in such conditions seems impossible but it is what Jesus asks of Chacour...and you and me.

Day 5: Elias Chacour in Ibillin, and Nazareth

Elias Chacour

Our morning started with a trek out to Ibillin, the location of the Mar Elias School. We had the honor of meeting with

founder and peacemaker, Elias Chacour. Abu Chacour is archbishop in the Melkite Church--an eastern rite Catholic community. He is also dedicated to peaceful reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians. The school he founded serves thousands of children from all faiths and

ethnicities in the region.

Nazareth

We then traveled to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth where we

viewed great artwork from around the world depicting the Virgin Mary. Also, the church was built around an archeological site from ancient Nazareth (which was a tiny, hilly, rocky village).

Pilgrim Thoughts III

Kathleen wrote on March 15

I got out of the hotel room early and sat at the Sea of Galilee this morning. The sea was calm and no movement of any people had started yet. The calm rhythm of the sea’s edge lulls my soul into stillness. Birds are actively flying, fishing, and singing.

Here in this still place I feel the warmth of God’s presence. I feel my soul still, resting in the arms of God, like a weaned child on her mother’s lap.

Betty Kay wrote on March 13

It was Sunday and I was on a boat in the Sea of Galilee. Yikes, I can’t believe I said that! Wow – Unbelievable!!

We passed by the spot Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection (The Primacy of Peter). Everyone saw the place that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, and ancient Capernaum, and the Mt. of Beatitudes.

Then the boat stopped. No engine, no talking, just the sound of the gentle waves and the birds. We worshiped God with prayer and silence and song. As I opened my eyes to the glistening water, about 50 birds flew close by the boat – about 6 inches above the water. One followed another in a perfect line. It was a God-moment for me. The Lord seemed to be saying 3 things: it is good to be in community; being a good follower is important because someone may be following you’ and, we won’t get lost if we stay close to our source.

Shalom

Betty Kay wrote on March 14

Dearest Blog Readers,

If you are reading this and have prayed for our group – THANK YOU! Your prayers have paved the way for all of us to be spiritually fed, amazed, awed, touched and challenged. As pilgrims we are walking a path where so many have trod. We have talked about an analogy of our life's path in God being like a string of beads - God being the string that holds all of us together from eternity to eternity.

For me, this trip has helped me become more aware that my bead is connected to all who have gone before me and those coming after. This pilgrimage has reinforced my understanding that I cannot be lost because God is holding me tight on his string of love.

Love to Ken and my family, my church and friends. Thanks for your being with me on this journey through your prayers.

Day 4: Cliffs of Arbel and Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee

Cliffs of Arbel

Our morning adventure was a hike up to the Cliffs of Arbel, where we could see a panoramic view from this north-eastern area off the sea of Galilee. We could see most every place we had visited: Tiberius, magdala, tabgha, capernaum, and the Ginnesseret valley.

Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee

Our afternoon adventure took us out on a boat on the Sea of Galilee to be on the water (which was glassy smooth this time) and see the villages and towns from the water.

We also had a meaningful time of reflection and meditation lead by Kathleen and Stacy.

Pilgrim Thoughts II

From Carlene on 3/13/2011

I came to the Holy Land in search of a deeper more authentic relationship with Jesus. I was helped along tonight in my search when we attended a Christian worship service at the invitation of our tour guide, a Palestinian Christian.

It became an incredible gift not to understand the language! I know very little Hebrew and therefore the only words I understood were the few names for God (Adonai) and Jesus (Yeshua), and the words for peace (Shalom) and holy (Kadosh). Yet I understood everything because I got those four words.

At some point I realized that I had suspended most of my thinking, and the only thing that caught my attention was the hymn – which contained the same four words. Each time I heard one of them I could feel my heart flutter as it opened a little bit more.

What if the words God, Jesus, peace & holy were the only words that I could hear? What if all the words for “fear” and “conflict” were indistinguishable in my life? – and I was left only with the ability to understand words that describe the Holy!

Through my inability to understand anything except those words, I received an invitation from Christ to open my heart to his presence. I think that I have a new mantra of sorts with which to begin my times of prayer.

ADONAI – YESHUA – SHALOM – KADOSH

“God who came as Jesus, you are holy. Bring me peace.“

This is an on-going invitation to allow my heart to be opened – “fluttered” just a bit more.

ADONAI – YESHUA – SHALOM – KADOSH

It is doubtful that I will ever attend a Catholic Mass spoken in Hebrew!

Day 4

Cliffs of Arbel and the Sea of Galilee

The Cliffs of Arbel is a mountain near our hotel in Tiberias. We changed plans to visit there because of rainy weather. Today’s walk to the top was well worth the wait. The sky was blue and the visibility extended for miles.

What a view! From Arbel’s peak at more than 1200 feet, seeing Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights, and the Sea of Galilee took our breath. Our guide explained that down through history its caves were home to refugees and rebels alike. The valley below was the path connecting Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee. It would most likely was the path used by Jesus to make the half-day walk home to see his family.

Following the mountain top visit we drove down to the shore and boarded a boat for a trip on the Sea of Galilee. Leaving the pier we were refreshed by the breeze, warmed by the sunshine, and captivated by the views. Each of the sites we have already visited, Capernaum, Tabgha, the Mt. of Beatitudes, and the Primacy of St. Peter were on clear display from the water. We were surrounded by places sacred for centuries! Then the crew stopped the boat that our pilgrim group might worship together. The motor gave way to silence which turned to prayer and ended in singing.

As we visited the place Jesus crossed in a boat, calmed a storm, and shared miracles with the disciples, we discovered that He is still walking on that water today.

Day 3: Mount of Beatitudes and the Primacy of St. Peter

Mount of Beatitudes

There is monastic community life on the hillside that most makes sense for an amphetheater-like effect on the shores of

the Sea of Galilee. Beautiful gardens and spots for groups to hold short worship gatherings

abound. We read the Beatitudes and spent time journaling, praying and absorbing what it might have been like to have heard these words of Jesus.

Primacy of St. Peter

This location is the traditional site of Jesus' final appearance to the disciples--the one in which he tells Peter to "feed my sheep."

There is a small, beautiful chapel here, more places for worship (we held a worship and communion gathering in a pavilion), and a gentle slope right into the sea of Galilee.

Several of us enjoyed wading into the sea.

Later that evening, many of us were deeply moved by a small

Hebrew-speaking "charismatic" Catholic congregation, St. Peter's. The warmth and deep spirit (not to mention the ecclectic music) was impossible to capture with a camera--but it nurtured our spirits, especially as we were welcomed heartily into communion with them. Wonderful spiritual nourishment for us as we continue our pilgrimage.