It is always good when a plan works and as we landed at Heathrow airport a week ago this evening (11 May) it was great to know that Bishop Christopher’s plan to take 30 Curates – some from each of the curacy the years – to the Holy Land to experience the sights, sounds and smells had come to fruition. We had succeeded in taking 30 there and we were pleased to be returning them all to their families and their churches! We were all rather tired but delighted to have been able to spend time together and to see the places where Jesus had lived and had his ministry.
For most this was a first journey to the Holy Land; for others at least a second trip. But travelling together with a group of other clergy – especially with your peers journeying together through the early stages of ministry it was a unique experience. Somewhat surprisingly, the group of curates that the Diocese has at any one-time odes not actually know each other well. The members of each year meet together but the opportunity to meet across the years is much less frequent and one of the joys was getting to know others from the other years. Friendships blossomed and the team facilitating the Pilgrimage realised that some more chances to meet together across the years of curacy would be a good idea in the future.
It is such a privilege to go and see the Holy Sites. It can be overwhelming, underwhelming, complicated, joyful, distressing in equal measure and sometimes a mixture of them all, all at the same time. And it was hot. Especially when we renewed our baptismal vows in the River Jordan or experienced time in the desert. Mornings are early and for the sociable, evenings can be late.
St George’s college provided our Jerusalem base and their hospitality enabled us to settle and feel ‘at home’ very quickly. Two complete days in Jerusalem included many of the expected sites of the Mount of Olives, Dominus Flevit, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations and the Holy Sepulchre. They also included the rather more unusual; for we spent Saturday afternoon watching the Coronation of King Charles III. The time at Tabgha gave us insight not only into Capernaum, Jesus’ Galilean base but also into life near the Lake and life in the sun. It was hot and the water was a blessed relief and we sailed on it, walked by it, or went in it! Seeing the Lake also helped us to remember the importance of water everywhere and the difficulties that global warming is causing in so many places.
For the Curates who travelled with Bishop Christopher to the Holy Land this time it is likely that they will read the Bible differently as they envisage places and things that they have now seen; it is likely too that their preaching will be forever changed. The journey may even have changed them as people as they have encountered the Biblical story and the risen Lord in new and challenging ways. If you meet one of those who has travelled ask them about it for, they will have so much to tell. Maybe think about whether you can find a way to go to this extraordinary, beautiful and ever-changing place: the home of the three great Abrahamic religions. Perhaps a group from your parish could be encouraged to explore a trip? Whether or not you ever visit please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the Living Stones – the Christians there and for all they do to bring caring compassionate help to those around them.
