Blogs from Israel, Middle East - page 7

a highlight of our visit on Sunday. we visited the the basilica (a Catholic church with particular significance), of the Annunciation built over the well and possible house where the Virgin Mary lived as a girl. Parts of that actual building and a later 4th century church on the same site are incorporated into the present church built in 1960. It is a wonderful vision of preserving old with new. The lower church preserves the 1st century remains and has a feeling of a womb. The upper church includes and entire wall from the 4th century church and has a brilliant feeling of light and space, and includes artwork commissioned from around the world of the Virgin Mary - fabulously creative pieces. Here is a picture that tries to incorporate a bit of both spaces. A ... read more

We visited places related to Jesus birth today. the home town of Elizabeth, the place where Mary and Eiizabeth probably had their discussion about being pregnant with John and Jesus that is shared in Luke. These places - Mary's spring and The Church of the Visitation, are so old. The well from the 4th century church remains. Then we saw the Church of the Nativity built over the site of Jesus' presumed birth place by Constantine in 339 AD. The building standing today remains from 659 AD when Justinian revised the building with an altar area - same columns and mosaic floor Constantine had built and same wooden beamed roof - 1500 years old. The oldest church in the world where worship has continued ever since then, and 4 congregations share the holy space, even worshiping ... read more

We have arrived at St. George's College, Jerusalem. On the way in the airplane, we read our morning devotional which included this passage from Deuteronomy - "The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Really!!!!!! As Becky often preaches, The Lord is before us preparing a way. This sabbatical time is so meant to be. And this pilgrimage to Jerusalem, will indeed be that. At our opening Eucharist tonight, the Dean of St. George's College reminded us that we are pilgrims, not tourists. That when we enter into this time with that in mind we will experience transformation. We pray for God leading us throughout the is holy city.... read more

we left haifa, israel yesterday evening and today we are cruising the mediterranean sea on our way to cadiz, spain. i am writing this blog from my cabin and the sea is quite choppy so hopefully i will get through it before feeling the effects of the white caps. we will be 4 days at sea now arriving in cadiz on the 13th. thank you to my arcadia friend vera from vancouver! i knew i could rely on her expertise to know what type of birds they were in my last blog. they are called northern gannets. a very stream lined bird that use their power to plunge dive for fish. i did see a few diving into the sea. after leaving muscat, oman we were 5 days at sea before reaching port suez, the start ... read more

Wonderful experience to have a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We have a Memorial Meeting (church service), and I was privileged to give the talk that morning. Jesus often spoke around the Sea of Galilee and some of his most well remembered acts took place on its shores. I spoke of how Jesus was come as a light unto the world and we, who are his followers, needed to be bright shine lights and not hiding our lamp stands under a bushel. The amazing, and that word will be used often on this trip, thing was the peace and quiet that we experienced on the sea. We also sang a hymn which must have been heard across the waters as we heard other groups once we reached shore.... read more