St. Jerome called the land itself the Fifth Gospel. I always insist on proclaiming that wherever I am, like at my current congregation Bethesda, it is the New Jerusalem. What is it about the landscape, the water. the traditions, the edifices and chapels, and the ruins that assist the story of God? This is what […]
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Day 5 Considering Jesus November 15, 2013 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been […]
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Day 2 Via Dolorosa November 14, 2013 We will glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, our life, and our resurrection. So go the words of a devotional service created by Franciscans to commemorate Jesus’ way of suffering. It goes by many names, Via Dolorosa in Latin, Stations […]
Continue ReadingDay 2 Arriving in Jerusalem November 13, 2013 Rejoice in Jerusalem We landed in Tel Aviv after our almost ten-hour flight, and found ELCA Global Mission staffer Julie Rossate ready to greet us. She has been my consultant for planning, and a valuable partner as a local resource. Julie and her husband Jeff coordinate the […]
Continue ReadingDay 1 Leave-taking November 12, 2013 Rejoice in Jerusalem Twenty-two of us leave today from Newark Airport to Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv. It is a direct flight, and takes over ten hours. We leave in the afternoon our time and arrive in the morning their time (though it will feel like the middle of […]
Continue ReadingRejoice in Jerusalem For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will […]
Continue ReadingI can’t imagine church without music, and song. As a young child, I remember my mother turning the hymnal right-side up when I was holding it upside down. She would line out the stanzas of the hymns with her finger so that I could navigate its tricky layout. I often sat between my mother and […]
Continue ReadingI’m crazy about baptism this Lent. I want to turn on the fire hydrant and hose everyone down. Every Wednesday, we are telling water stories from the Bible and our own water stories. The Israelites made it safely through the sea, and we give thanks for Long Island Sound, part of our fair city. (Exodus […]
Continue ReadingHistory of Us So we must love while these moments are still called today Take part in the pain of this passion play Stretching our youth as we must, until we are ashes to dust Until time makes history of us –Indigo Girls I believe the year was 2006, and I spent three days at […]
Continue ReadingThursday, November 10 The Galilee On our last day in theGalileewe enjoyed the Guest House’s breakfast on an outdoor balcony, with eggs made to order. We boarded our minibus, and headed forNazareth, the site where Gabriel the angel announced Jesus’ birth to Mary. Nazarethwas just about half an hour from our guest house, and […]
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