From the Rector

Dear Friends in Christ,

There are a few memories of the Holy Land that always come to mind.

The first is standing by the water’s edge at the Sea of Galilee at sunrise. You can imagine Jesus there with the disciples as you watch fishermen still casting nets and rods out into the sea. As the water laps at the shore, you hear the sounds of birds and watch flocks of them skim the surface.

The second is staying overnight at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. To spend the night in the place where Jesus was crucified, where he was laid in the tomb, and where he rose again is among the most moving experiences I have had. To spend the night waiting for the dawn, for the doors to open, while the quiet work of refilling candles, sweeping, and more are lovingly done by those who tend the place puts you in a different time and space.

The third is the morning services offered each day at Saint James Armenian Cathedral in Jerusalem. It’s a place where an ancient liturgy is offered daily, sung in a strange tongue yet so familiar for its deep roots. There is a large, wonderful choir that chants the liturgy. They offer it whether the place is full or whether no one shows up but them. They offer their gifts to God day in and day out as they have for centuries.

The last is spending time in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. There, at the place of Christ’s birth, I was able to spend a few minutes with my boys just as they closed. Watching them marvel at the silver star in the floor, marking the spot of the birth, as they connected the stories and hymns they knew with the place around them remains a cherished moment.

There are so many more memories I could write about. If you are able, I hope you will consider joining the pilgrimages offered later this spring. We have postponed them because of COVID-19 a number of times. Fr Peter and Fr John Kitagawa are co-leading one pilgrimage that is for folks who have been to the Holy Land before. Fr Scott Gunn and Shirin MacArthur will co-lead another pilgrimage for first time visitors. Those who have heard Scott preach, read anything from Forward Movement, or attended any of Shirin’s retreats will know how moving an experience this will be.

As we come out of the pandemic, I can’t imagine a better way to re-commit to what matters. As we try to figure out what the future looks like, perhaps we will best find it by walking in the steps of Jesus, along those ancient paths where so many have both lost and found themselves for centuries.

Yours in Christ, 

—Fr Robert