Sunday in Jerusalem

We went to church today - incase anyone was worried what their pastor was up to. We went to more than one church all in one place...the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was a bit of a Pentecostal feeling with all these different denominations and different languages worshiping throughout this ancient and sacred space...all at the same time. We had a wonderful guide who taught us more about Christian church history than any of us could remember from seminary - and she is Jewish. I see I need to crack open those seminary books - or dream about opening them...someday!! It was an insightful morning.
This whole trip has been beyond expectations. Now that we are here in Jerusalem - this place that contains so many sacred places for our faith - I find myself missing the more pastoral scenes of the Galilee where Jesus walked the fields from town to town. He was very much in touch with the land and the folks who worked the land and fished the waters. I am more at home in that setting...but Bonnie and I have learned how to double team the vendors in the streets of the old city in the haggling process - and make a good deal!!
We will be home before we know it - but we will never be the same. It is so nice to know that folks at home are praying for us and journeying with us through reading our blogs. See you all soon!

Christy in Jerusalem

Great day Saturday and today. Yesterday, we got to see the stations of the cross. They are much better presented in any of the many catholic churches and monestaries I've attended. It was surprising how close they were, how close everything is!

The markets which surround some of the stations are amazing. We have a farmer's market in Hartville, Ohio. It is like 10 times the stuff in 1/2 of the space. And the merchants are the 3-d version of email spam, constantly after you to see their store, to take their card, to have a free gift. I wonder if these guys to mass emails.

We were also at the western wall with the orthodox Jews during their Sabbath. It was overwhelming to see the mass of religious folks praying alone together at the wall. There are chairs and small stands to read from. A scroll or three were present, I believe readers take turns reading from it continiously. There isn't any pictures, because it is a holy time. Writing is also forbidden (it is work I'm guessing)

Men and women are separated by a partition, men fill about 3/4 of the space and the women have the remainer. A young girl came over and nudged her brother(?) in the men's side. He was not ready to stop reading aloud and gave her the universal dismissal of an older sibling to a younger. Some things transcend language and religion.

Today (Sunday) we went early to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the Crusaders name for the church of the resurrection, containing the traditional tomb of Jesus and the rock of Golgatha. If memroy serves, we started with the Ethiopian service (those guys can sing and chant!) , and went to the Coptic (Egyptian), Syrian, Armenian, and Greek Orthodox. We also went to the local Greek Orthodox. All of these meet in small chapels and go on about the same time. (The Greek Orthodox have a large room, at is the exception.) We couldn't understand the words, but we recognized the faith. Incense, candles, song, chants, readings, and procession (with accompany bells from the tower) were all included.

Thanks to the CF Foundation for this trip. Pray for the Holy Land!

Bruce's Blog - Reflections in Pictures!

This is the view from near the church of the Holy Sepulchre looking back to the Mount of OlivesThe Temple Mount (Haram esh Sharif) is in the fore groundthe golden Dome of the Rock is the notable feature

We followed the steps of Jesus today

This is the altar over the Rock of Calvary

it is lighted only by candles and oil lamps

Come, see where they laid him!

The tomb is empty!!

(This is the site of the garden tomb)

View of the Greek Orthodox Chapel

The market place is colorful and full of life!

Shops are in abundance in the narrow passages of the Old City

Bruce

Birthday in the Holy Land

What a birthday to spend it in the Holy Land! I didnt quite remember which day it was till I checked my watch. That day we headed to Jerusalem from Tiberias. What a great day to see the history of economics and politics in relation to the land at Megiddo. And then Caesarea by the Sea, amazing to have such ancient ruins and historical site next to a power plant and people doing water sports (jet skis, fishing, and windsurfing!). The ancient next to the modern. Strange and yet reminds me how new our country's history is.
And then there we were on the Mount of Olives looking at the old city and the Temple on the Mount. It's big! Really it is quite overwhelming. There is so much.
Today we started at the Western Wall during Sabbath. The spiritual presence was quite powerful. I managed to get close to the wall and touch it, standing between Jewish women. A few others from my group came by me and we stood there crying. At what, I am not fully sure. I would still need to make time to reflect upon what was going on. It was just the beginning of a full morning walking back and forth around the Old City seeing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (site of Jesus' crucifixion, anointing and tomb). The devotion of the crowds gathered, the praying, the closeness to a physical site and places of worship.
What a way to spend a birthday!!

Turning our Faces toward Jerusalem

Oh, yes, and here I am.

On our way to Jerusalem,

we made our way to Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea

ruins of an ancient Roman city

from where the apostle Paul set sail when he went to Rome.

You have turned my mourning into dancing

O God...

so that my soul may praise you

and not be silent. (Psalm 30:11-12)

Entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Today we noted where the stations of the cross are

the first ones

marking the places on Jesus' journey to the place of the skull.

We visited inside the Church of the Sepulcher

drawn to generations of prayer and devotion

where Jesus suffered in the last hours of his life,

was crucified, died and was raised.

I'm feeling disoriented

still

at all the building on that lonely place

that was once outside the city walls.

But then we walked past the place where Jesus put the paralyzed man

into the pool to be healed

or sang in the sanctuary of a crusader church

and heard our voices ring with an echo

long after we stopped

and I am moved beyond words.

Blessings to you this night!

Pastor Janet Peterman

P. S. Please excuse my mistake on my last entry -- It's Amariah McIntosh, not McDonald. We've been making too many jokes about the McDrives in all of the McDonald's. So sorry, Amariah!

Pictures at the Mediterranean before Arriving in Jerusalem

Here is a picture of the whole group at the aqueduct at Caesarea Maritima--except I think Wayne must be invisible behind Toni! Immediately after this picture was shot, nearly all the group made a run to go splashing in the Mediterranean Sea (behind us) until it was time to slowly and reluctantly put shoes back on to go on to see the Roman city of Caesarea, and then to proceed on to Jerusalem. Below is another picture of the aqueduct and some of Herod's columns in front of the sea.

Friday Blog From Bruce

As I write this entry today, we are on our way to Jerusalem. Galilee is beautiful and it has been meaningful for me to spend time in the place where Jesus’ ministry began and where the essential principals of what it means to be a disciple “of the way” were forged. Since my last writing we have enjoyed some time for reflection. Thursday was our “day off” and members of our group headed in different directions to visit places of interest and curiosity. Some took a bus to a nearby town for shopping and cultural immersion. Others sought out an archeological site with a massive reconstruction of a city that dates to the Roman era. A few stayed at Tiberius, to read and relax. Trisha, Linda and I rented a car and traveled about 75 kilometers north to the Hula Nature preserve. Here we had an opportunity to explore the wetlands and marshes that comprise one of the most significant stops for birds migrating from Northern Europe to South Africa. Those birds have already passed through (in March) and will not return until November. However, we did have the opportunity to view a number of resident species including the Palestinian sunbird, the Middle Eastern gold finch, pelicans (different from our pelicans on the East Coast) terns, herons, parakeets (more like parrots than our caged birds of the same name), and swallows as well as water buffalo, African catfish and turtles.

We viewed a film in “3 D” many parts of which were from the documentary “Winged Migration”). It was an “experience” as at times we found our seats moving, “wind” in our face, and water sprayed in our faces. It was a restful day that included a lunch at a kibbutz (a sort of commune) and a return to the cliffs of Arbel on the way back to the hotel. Cost of the car for the day 139 NIS; cost of a half a tank of gas 140 NIS! (Gas is about $8 per gallon).


I also want to make mention of Wednesday. We took a boat ride down the Sea of Galilee and it was not hard to imagine Jesus on these waters with the disciples. About midway, we stopped and read the scripture of Jesus coming to the disciples during the night as they “rowed hard against the wind”. It is in this story that Jesus walks on the water (no sign of any stones!) and invites Peter to walk to him on the stormy sea. This was a powerful experience.


At the conclusion of our sailing excursion, we arrived at a museum which contains a fantastic archeological find: A fishing boat, dated to the time of Jesus (1st century). It is hard to fathom Jesus in the boat with eleven others! I have included a picture of both the “modern” fisherman’s boat used currently on the sea, and the reconstructed boat that Peter and Andrew might have owned.


Wednesday afternoon also included a walk to the southern end of Tiberius and a look at ruins of the original city that was constructed here at the time of Jesus (about 22 CE). We could see the main road and the entrance to the city. Several other cities have been built on this site (right after the builders had razed the city that stood here at the time they came!) and their remains are also visible. This includes a bath house built in the Roman era that was utilized by various conquering civilizations for close to 800 years!

What does it mean to be a pilgrim in this place? It is still overwhelming! I am completing today’s entry to the blog as we arrive in Jerusalem. From the Mount of Olives we have viewed the Temple Mount. No words would come. This is Holy Ground.