Holy Land 2023

It’s hard to describe the opening of our hearts, as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We see the sites and hear about the scrolls and archeology that document the locations of the events at each site. The veil…

We began our second day in hilly Nazareth by visiting the church closest to our guesthouse, the Anglican Christ Church. The rector, Father Nael, described the 150 year-old church’s origins, including the role of England’s King Edward VII in sponsoring…

In one of our first lectures, our course Director, The Reverend Rodney Aist, PhD, shared that a Pilgrimage includes the Fifth Gospel which is your experience to include a time of discernment—intentional decision making and finding meaning in actual experience.…

Breathtaking Basilicas, magnificent Mosques, awe-inspiring art and spectacular sites representing the Abrahamic faiths. It can be overwhelming to the point that the majestic can almost seem the mundane. This is the spot thought to be where Mary received the Visitation,…

The first night of the course, our leader, Rodney Aist, in his introductory lecture on pilgrimage, cited the following quote by Mark Twain: “We do not think in the Holy place, we think in bed, afterwards.” In other words, we…

The Temple Mount… one of the holiest sites for both Jews and Muslims. Within its 36-acres, the Jewish temples were erected and subsequently destroyed. But today I’m focusing on the Muslims who now administer this area. Muslims believe that it…

This extraordinary replica of the Walled City of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period is at the Museum of Israel. It is outdoors and one can walk around (but not in) it. It gives an extraordinary sense of what the…

St. George’s College is situated in East Jerusalem, in the Palestinian section of Jerusalem. It is filled with the common activities of life: working and playing, shopping and praying. Our journey today presented sharp contrasts of life in a land…

In our small group of 30 we have Ryscilla, a Bishop from Canada; Mary Anne, a priest from Texas; Ann, our beloved priest,; and Amy, the theological fellow. These women, in addition to their vast biblical knowledge, carry the weight…