Sacraments

We had the opportunity to celebrate communion and renew our baptismal vows in the Holy Land. 

This blog is to outline those experiences and why the locations were important to that practice. 

Patrick, our priest at Christ Episcopal Church has reminded us that worship is a time of celebration and to rejoice and be thankful. 

The first time we celebrated Eucharist was in the Judean Desert - 

We did a silent retreat early in the morning on the day we were transferring from Jerusalem to Nazareth. We woke up and were not supposed to speak as we rode and arrived at the desert. Then we were given about 40 minutes to walk around and watch the sun rise in the holiest of lands. Below us is where the good Samaritan would have found and cared for the man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho in Luke 10.

It was so peaceful spending 30 minutes in quiet walking around the desert and a good intermission from the bustle of Jerusalem as we traveled to Nazareth. 

Following the sunrise and the moments of peace, we hiked back down the mountain to read Luke 10 and have communion together. 

Patrick preached on one of our fellow parishioners who answered God's call and said yes to lead consecration Sunday for the second year in a row due to a terrible event that has put the person who was supposed to lead consecration Sunday for 2023 in the hospital. The Good Samaritan answers God's call to help the people and spread God's love even when it isn't easy. 

It was a great remembrance of our Church community back home and how we still can know God a plane ride away from where he walked. 

*Photo taken by Susan Lindstrom

In a couple of days, we had a double whammy in Nazareth. We reaffirmed our baptismal vow at the Jordan river, where Jesus was baptized. 

"This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

I learned two things during this:

1. The baptism in the Jordan starts epiphany. The Lord Speaks. The Lord speaks again going into lent during the transfiguration in the same format. "This is my son, Listen to him"

Church calendars are great. Thank the Lord for the committee that planned them.

2. I have always known that the Baptismal covenant in some respects is similar to the Nicaean Creed but hearing it at the Jordan refreshed my memory that we reaffirm our Baptism nearly every Sunday in some respects. That will feel different going back to the US

We used a boat dock for the Baptismal covenant -- it was quiet. We were the only one there. I've never experienced anything else, but that was pretty special. 

Finally, after we had St. Peter's Fish at a restaurant (Tilapia with the head on it), we went to the Sea of Galilee to have Eucharist. The Sea of Galilee is huge and most of the ministry that Jesus had that happened around water was on the Sea of Galilee. 

We read the feeding of the 5000, where Jesus took 5 bread and two loaves and fed all the people on the hill. 

Justin reminded us that even when we plan, God surprises us. 

I think we have been surprised by the community we have formed in this pilgrimage. 

We have been surprised by the healing. 3 times on this trip we have had experiences that have to do with healing -- one at the pools of Bethesda, once during this Eucharist as we prayed for healing of ourselves and others, and to me, once time in the dead sea felt like a place of healing.

I think we have been surprised how the stories of the Bible come to life here. 

The Son of God probably did walk on the places we are today, and we are lucky for those that have come before us to commemorate those. The stories come alive when you see the places in person.

All photos were taken by us unless otherwise mentioned.