Holy Land Solidarity Visit

Dear Ones,
Our little band of pilgrims all made it to Tel Aviv on time or even early. Quite frankly that was amazing, considering some of us went through Newark, which is not the easiest place to fly through at the moment, and JFK. All arrived safe and well. It is so very good to be back. We have been here 48 hours and it has just been magical. This is a beleaguered place, but as always, the Living Stones (Christians living now in the Holy Land) are resilient, strong and faithful. We have been, as we always have been, warmly welcomed here.

We arrived early in the morning on the 29th. We were greeted by our Triple AAA guide Ghassan, a Christian of deep faith, and exceptional professionalism. Marti and I have been blessed to have him as a guide for our trips since 2014. He has become a good friend, and it was so very good to finally see him again. We also met our new friend, and bus driver, Rafael. Once we all cleared customs, we were on our way. We first visited the beautiful seaside ancient city of Caesarea Mariteme. This is an very well preserved Roman ruin right on the coast. It was a beautiful day, with a temperature perhaps even hotter than Ft. Lauderdale! After a very good tour there we moved further north to have lunch at a restaurant at Mt Carmel. Then onward to Mt. Tabor, and the Church of the Transfiguration. where we celebrate our first Eucharist on the top of the Holy Mountain. After that we moved on to our home for the next three nights, Pilgerhaus, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. After a fabulous dinner and a nice night on the deck overlooking the Sea, we blessedly retired after long hours in the air, and on the ground. I believe we all slept well, and Marti and I did more than we have in quite a while.
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Our second day began very early, with a 6:30 a.m. wake up, breakfast and an 8 a.m. departure. We started at Cana of Gallilee, where we visited the site of Jesus’ first miracle. Then onward from there to Nazareth to visit the Christ Episcopal School, a place Marti and I have visited many times, and always an inspiration. This visit did not disappoint. I particularly point out the pictures and videos from this visit. The students here are truly an amazing inspiration as are their teachers. This school is made up of 2/3 Muslim students and 1/3 Christian and is quite simply one of the most excellent schools in the world, with their students as living proof. We met about 25 students of all ages ,and were introduced to them, as we introduced ourselves. It was so difficult to leave and many on our pilgrimage said this was the best part of our visit so far. We came here to be in solidarity with our Christian siblings and that is most exactly what this visit was all about. You can learn more about this great school and all the institutions that are overseen by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem at the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem website. Through this organization that Marti and I both support and for which I served as Board member and Chair in the past, we in the US, support these inspiring ministries. You can too! Many of you already have by giving to us before we left the states. We are sharing your generosity all along our journey. You can view all of the institutions and learn more about the work of the American Friends HERE.

From there we moved on to the Basilica of the Annunciation in the heart of Nazareth. Here, in this beautiful Roman Catholic Basilica, is the grotto that most believe was Mary’s house in Nazareth. We prayed in that space and toured this beautiful modern Basilica that honors the Mother of our Lord. We then went to Christ Episcopal Church in Nazareth, a church and community where I have preached several times and been welcomed many more times than that. Our group worshipped there and we were greeted by the Rector’s wife, Mira, a friend for several years. The Rector and all the priests and Archbishop, are at their annual convention in Amman in these first few days of our visit. Marti and I have been to that meeting on several occasions but alas, due to our pilgrimage, we could not be there this year. However, when they all pass back over the Jordan in a few days we shall meet them in Jerusalem. We very much look forward to that reunion.

After a great lunch at Holy Land Restaurant just down the hill from Christ Church.a place we have eaten many times before, we traveled onward to the archeological site of Megiddo. I am fascinated by this site, the site of Armageddon, or the end of the world, if you are in to the Hal Lindsey, Late Great Planet Earth stuff! I am really not, but this site is amazing, with ruins dating back farther than 3500 years, long before Christ, and to the time of the Canaanites. Over these years of my visits I have seen it being ever more excavated and improved. I learn something new every time. Here we walked down the tunnel dug by the ancients in order to get water from a spring to the community of people that once lived there. It is 185 steep steps down,then through a tunnel, and then 75 steps up. All of our pilgrims did it! We then made it back to our beautiful spot on the Sea of Galilee for a great meal, and social time, as we celebrated the day and the people, the Living Stones, we met on this day. I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos as we vicariously carry you with us. I hope to send you such dispatches at least every other day.

Blessings to all of you,

Marti, and +Greg