"What Does This Mean?"--A Sermon for Pentecost (a.k.a. The Coventry story)

Acts 2:1-21

What Does This Mean?

The Iona Abbey Church is many things—beautiful, thought-provoking, live with sound, spiritual.  But there are two things it is not:  it is not heated and it is not airtight.  The month of May in Scotland, while beautiful, is still pretty cold, especially in outer islands like Iona.  So, the second night of worship, Sunday evening, I had learned my lesson and I bundled up in my sweatshirt and fleece coat in order to go to the 9pm worship service.  It was beautiful as always—this huge stone cathedral filled with candlelight and people from all walks of life.  When we arrived they opened with the welcome and the traditional Opening Sentences which we used this morning in our Call to Worship.  Then we were informed that the traditional Sunday evening service was a service of silence.  We were to be given 15 minutes in the candlelit sanctuary to just meditate, pray, listen, and connect with the God.  The silence would then be broken by a benediction and we were invited to leave or stay as we wished.  As the reader finished her instructions she closed with the invitation, “Let us offer our prayers to the Lord…”  With that we all became silent.  But no sooner had those words been uttered than the wind picked up off the water and began to blow powerfully against the church.  As the wind whipped around the tall steeple on this sparse isle, it hissed and whistled and howled.  You could hear it pounding against the walls as if it were trying to get in or blow this stone-walled building down.  And as the wind persisted, the flames from the hundreds of candles in the sanctuary began to dance as the cracks and crevices of the stonework of this old Abbey church let in the breeze.  And then, you could feel it. 

            No, not the chill.  (Although I remember shivering through much of my silent 15 minutes).  You felt the Spirit.  The prayers rose up from each person in that church and the winds of the Spirit gathered them together, whipping across and around the building while the flames danced above us.  The Spirit moved and we prayed and though this was supposed to be a service of silence, the powerful winds made the space anything but silent.  I smiled to myself as I took it all in and thought, “It must have been something like this on that first Pentecost day…”

            Pentecost is an amazing day with an amazing story to go along with it—wind and flame, disciples speaking in many different languages, public proclamations, speeches, and later on baptisms and conversion of those who hear Peter’s sermon.  It is the day we celebrate the birth of the church, the day humanity received the gift of the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus at his ascension.  It is the day the disciples of Jesus became not a club of followers, but a Christian movement, the Church.

            And, often, when we read this story, our imagination is captured by the wind and flame, by the immediate gift of speech and proclamation the disciples experience.  And why not?  The disciples experienced something very profound. 

            But, for some reason, as I read this story, I find myself drawn to the bystanders and taken in by their questions.  After all, they witnessed something very unusual.  To start, all they see is a group of misfit Galileans who have been traveling all over the place with this rather suspicious man Jesus.  But then, out of nowhere, a wind picks up and flames dance upon this odd group’s heads and each person in the marketplace can hear the story of Jesus in their own language, clear as day.  It is very odd.  Had I been in the group of bystanders, I may have walked away or joined in the part of the crowd that accused them of being drunk.

            But, there was another part of the crowd who asks a very wise question:  What does this all mean?

            I think this is a question we must ask today, on this celebration of Pentecost as the church in 2011. What does it mean to receive or have the Holy Spirit moving in and among us?  What does that look like? What does it mean to be a people of God who are guided and prodded and inspired by the Holy Spirit?  What does this mean?

            So, while the story of wind and flame no doubt has a tendency to capture our imagination, it is perhaps even more important to lean in closely as Peter begins to answer the bystanders’ perceptive question about the meaning behind all these events.

            Peter explains that they are not drunk (after all, it is only 9 morning).  But he uses the words from Joel: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. ¹⁸Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

            We talk about dreamers and visionaries throughout our history.  On the 4^th of July we honor our American founders who had the dream of a free country and the foresight to create a foundation for our nation.  We speak of the dreams of people like Martin Luther King Jr. or Mahatma Gandhi who worked to lead people nonviolently to stand up for their freedoms and rights under the tyranny of blatant and subtle oppression.  We honor the dreams of pastors and church leaders like George MacLeod who had the vision to hire out of-work shipbuilders and ministers-in-training to rebuild a dilapidated abbey on the remote island of Iona in Scotland and create a space for people from all over the world and all Christian denominations to come together around issues of faith, worship, peace, and justice.

            But, it is not just these select few.  We are people who have the gift of the Spirit moving around and within us.  And what does that mean?  It means that we are to be people who see God’s future and proclaim it—people who have visions and dream dreams.  We are people who have been equipped by the very presence of the Spirit to look at the world—at the war, and hurt, and devastation—and be able to preach a different message—one of hope and peace.  We are able to speak of God’s presence in the midst of despair, of God’s peaceful kingdom in the midst of war and hatred and violence.  We are to offer a hand of service and a heart of care to those who are on the fringes or poor or oppressed, trusting in a God who loves them more deeply than we can imagine.  We are to open our mouths to profess words of justice and peace in the face of social and political situations that look at the bottom line and not towards the care of people.  We are people filled with the Spirit and that means we are people who have been gifted with vision, with Holy Imagination, to see a world that moves with the heartbeat of God, even when every bit of evidence seems to proclaim the opposite.

            I embarked on my month-long trip, thinking I would just spend time in Scotland—taking in the variety of land, terrains, culture, sights, and peoples during my travels.  However, during my time with the Iona community a woman from Portsmouth, England, of all places, convinced me to make a “side trip” to Coventry, England to see the Coventry cathedral.  Now for any of you who either know the UK very well or later plan to check a map—this wasn’t a little side trip.  It was a 7 hour detour each way.  However, she was so persuasive I finally decided to do it.  And I will be forever grateful for her persuasion.

            You see, on the night of November 14^th, 1940, 515 German bombers blitzed the city of Coventry, destroying their water lines, factories, businesses, leveling over 4,000 homes, and damaging hospitals police stations, and even the beautiful Coventry Cathedral.  The raid reached its height around midnight and by 6:15 the next morning, all that was left was the burning embers of a once proud industrial and residential town.  There was barely an undamaged building left in the city. The next morning, dazed by their ordeal, the citizens of Coventry who had been spared picked their way through their ruined city.  And when they got to Coventry Cathedral, a beacon of hope and symbol of faith, their hearts sank.  Before them was the shell of what was once a beautiful, grand, gothic cathedral.  Except for the stone exterior, everything was destroyed and much of it was still burning.  And, without any functioning water lines they had to let it burn.

            It would not have been surprising if, following the raid, another kind of flame were to have been fanned into being—the fire of bitterness, hatred, and revenge.  But, instead, the Provost of the cathedral, Dick Howard, filled with the Holy Spirit, offered visionary and prophetic words that inspired a Spirit of hope instead of hatred.  “We will not seek revenge,” he announced to his congregation, “but we will seek reconciliation.”  The cathedral’s stonemason, looking at his ruined cathedral, found two of the charred medieval roof timbers that had fallen across each other in amid the rubble.  He tied them together and set up the charred cross on the still-standing stone altar.  Then, a minister found three medieval nails in the debris and bound them together in the shape of the cross.  And then, on the wall behind the table, Provost Howard then inscribed the words, “Father Forgive.”  He made it very clear to his congregation that he would not write “Father Forgive them,” the words of Jesus from the cross, but only “Father Forgive” since they were all involved in the sin of destruction and war.  And that charred cross and inscribed words still remain today.

            It was clear, by the hope-filled and courageous acts of these faithful people that though the city of Coventry was physically flattened its spirit and soul was not dead. It was decided, immediately, that a new cathedral would be built—not as an act of defiance but as a testimony to hope and as a sign of faith and trust.   And, indeed, another cathedral was built, though not opened until 1962, 22 years after the raid.  However, this cathedral stands next to the shell of the old one, attached by a brick walkway, a testament of both the destruction of sin and the power of hope.  And this new cathedral, much more modern in design and concept, stands as both a physical and architectural testament to hope.  Every inscribed stone, every floor tile, every window, every little detail of this new cathedral holds symbolism.  But, this cathedral is more than just a symbol.  It has become a powerful center of peace-making and reconciliation work.  The Cross of Nails has become the recognizable symbol of Coventry’s international work for peace and justice.  Coventry has especially reached out to other faith communities in Germany who were bombed during the war, forming a relationship of support and friendship.

            And at noon, every day, in Coventry cathedral and in cathedrals around the world, including Coventry’s sister cathedrals in Germany, they recite the simple Litany of Reconciliation.  But, as I had the opportunity to experience, on Fridays, the Litany of Reconciliation is said in the middle of the old, bombed cathedral.  And then the whole congregation—some days 5 and some days 500—walk together from the old cathedral into the new one to share the Lord’s Supper, a meal of unity and forgiveness.

            I was floored not only by these cathedrals, but by their stories.  I was moved beyond words by the power and vision of Provost Howard and his whole congregation to be people who even in the midst of war and destruction, sought peace and reconciliation. 

            And in that place, you can feel it.  As you stand in the midst of the old cathedral shell, you can just imagine the congregation standing there, their city burning around them in fires of destruction and then, slowly, the wind begins to blow and the flame of the Spirit begins to flicker.  And the fires of God’s love begin to overwhelm the fires of devastation.  And those men and women standing there begin to catch it, the vision of God’s kingdom even as they are experiencing hell on earth.  And they tie together a charred cross and make a cross of nails, seeking to build out of what is broken.  And they have a dream and cast a vision not just for their own cathedral, but for the world.  A vision not of resentment and revenge, but a vision of reconciliation and renewal.  A vision that continues to inspire and influence the world.

            After hours of taking it all in, as I walked away from these two cathedrals, I noticed a little, out-of-place granite stone built into the wall of the old cathedral.  It contained these words from Haggai:  “The glory of this latter house shall be greater then of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace.”

            The Holy Spirit is in and among us.  What does this mean?

            My prayer on this Pentecost day for all of us is that we will feel the winds of the Spirit moving, the fires of God’s passion and love for this world burning, and that we, too, will claim the call the Spirit has placed on us.  May God grant us the courage to be people who have visions and dream dreams, for we are a Pentecost people.  Amen. 

Closing Thoughts

Scotland has truly been a journey for me--physically, emotionally, spiritually. I couldn't have asked for a more remarkable trip. Looking back it seems simultaneously to be an eon and an instant. In some ways it seems like I have been over there a long time (which I have, to a certain extent) but on the other hand it seems like I was taking off from the Newport News airport yesterday.

But, what a journey! I have seen, explored, and come to love and know an amazing part of the world; I have met amazing people from all over; I have had the opportunity to experience a culture different than mine; I have explored multiple types of worship from Iona to Coventry to Glasgow. And the list could go on.

It is of course impossible to document every thought, feeling, or stunning landscape. But, I have tried to do my best.

So, what do I bring home? More than I can say. I bring back new liturgy to try for worship, new understandings of what it means to be a Christian community, new understandings of our brothers and sisters across the ocean and around the world, and so on.

My own journey has had unexpected twists and turns, joys and frustrations, wonderful surprises and well-executed plans. But, it has all been an adventure.

As was said at Holy City by a reader who was doing a monologue as Peter, "...I do know that when you go on a journey, when you do move, even if you're not sure why or what will happen that things do happen, things change, you change. And you discover, that in unpredictable ways, somehow the world changes....I didn't have a clue what would happen when I started traveling." Amen.

It is no doubt hard to leave, and even as I write this it is hard to say goodbye. But, I know that as I return to the States, to Virginia, to my church and my home and my "real life," that God goes with me and will continue to speak in new ways even if I am not in a new location. As they said to us in Holy City, the journey has taken us up to this point, but God continues with us as we continue on. God continues to guide and lead and comfort and support. The key will be to continue to listen. It is, in many ways, easier to hear God's voice and sense God's presence on a mountain in the Highlands, by a Loch, or on the sacred isle of Iona. But, the truth is God is still speaking--across the whole world. The key is to make space to listen.

And now, as only seems appropriate, I will close with an Iona benediction:

Leader: From where we are to where you need us.
ALL: JESUS, NOW LEAD ON.

Leader: From the security of what we know
to the adventure of what you will reveal,
ALL: JESUS, NOW LEAD ON.

Leader: To refashion the fabric of this world
until it takes on the shape of your kingdom,
ALL: JESUS, NOW LEAD ON.

My Last Day--Balloch

A remarkable last day! Couldn't have asked for a more perfect combination of doing and being or more lovely weather.

Went out to Balloch today which sits on the southern shores of Loch Lomond. It was a little drizzly on the train ride and I was afraid it would be that way all day. When I got to Balloch, I went over to the boat docks to see about the possibility of a boat tour of Loch Lomond later in the day. I didn't even get the whole question out of my mouth when the captain of the boat grabbed my arm and said, "C'mon! We're leaving for a tour now."

So, I jumped right on the boat and off we went. At first, I was disappointed because it was cloudy and drizzly. The clouds were covering the Highland mountains. But, within 15 minutes of the tour starting, the clouds literally began to lift and the sun came out. By the end of the boat ride, we were riding in warm sun looking across the blue water to the mountains of the Highlands. It was glorious!

Then I decided to hike through the Castle City Park. The whole gardens and property around the Balloch Castle have been converted into biking and hiking trails. I probably spent over 2 hours wandering in the sunshine through the gardens and up and down the paths, getting breathtaking views of Loch Lomond.

After the hike in Castle City Park, went walking the other direction and found a cute little area right on the water with restaurants, shops, and an aquarium. I enjoyed some lunch with views over the water and even finished my book. Then I just walked around the shops and the docks and took it all in. There were all kinds of people out enjoying the beautiful, sunny day--young families, older couples, teenage couples. It was a wonderful slice of humanity and such a peaceful place to be and take it all in.

There is no doubt I will miss Scotland. It has been a place of respite and renewal for me as well as a place of discernment and challenge.

Upon returning to Glasgow, I got some food from the local grocery for dinner and decided to go see Sound of Music. The show was AMAZING and it was such a great, fun close to my trip. The cutest thing was all the cute little families with these precious little girls all dressed up to go to the theater. The best was the fathers and grandfathers who took their daughters--so precious!

Glasgow and Holy City

So, I arrived in Glasgow after the worst train ride ever from Coventry. Unfortunately a whole set of trains were broken down and so our train was horribly overcrowded with people filling the aisles and spaces in between cars. But, after 7 hours on the train, I got there.

Woke up Sunday morning and walked in the rain and wind to the Glasgow Cathedral where a Church of Scotland congregation now meets. I finally got to the cathedral after a half hour walk and tried to get in but the door was locked. Then a man in a full-blown tux with tails came to the door and asked if I was there for the service. He let me in and was very kind and then instructed me to go to the front part of the church and they would tell me where to sit. It was so formal. All the ushers in tuxes and silver cravats (sp??). Everyone seemed so dressed up and I was just in black pants, a shirt, and a sweater. Oh well. They were going to have to get over it. But, then some folks came in in jeans and such and I felt better.

I was given an order of worship and a worship book which had all the psalms and hymn words but no music. It seemed a very formal service as we had to stand for the clergy entrance, etc... But the pastors were very nice and very welcoming. I definitely think some of the formality on the front end was not reflected in the warmness of the pastors. The Associate Pastor, a young woman, preached and did a fairly nice job. But, you can never tell with those female Associate Pastors, they tend to be trouble (hehehehe).

After worship, I went over the the St. Mungo Religious Museum and Exhibit. It was interesting and pretty well done, trying to describe and include the 6 major religions around the world.

After eating the cafe, I went back to the cathedral and walked around and took pictures. It is a beautiful cathedral, but they have started to all feel the same in some ways.

Then I went to St. George's Square and took a bus ride tour around the city.

The most remarkable thing of the day was, without a doubt, Holy City. Holy City is an outgrowth of the Iona community in Glasgow. Once a month this event happens--an evening of gathering, workshops, and worship. It was the perfect bookend to my trip. It couldn't have been a more appropriate service--all about journeys. Holy City is about a 3 hour event. You arrive in the Fellowship Hall of this church where they have set up chairs all over in little semi-circles with tables and candles in the middle of each little cluster. We begin by being welcomed by Graham Maule, a very prolific writer and composer for the Iona Community. Then we are taught a series of songs which will be used later in the service in true Iona style.

I immediately felt at home again. Ever since Coventry, I have wanted to go back to Iona (well, let's be honest, ever since I left Iona I have wanted to go back.) But, this felt kind of like it. I was surrounded by people who were passionate about worship and music and social justice and who loved the island and the community as well. Then we broke up into workshops--we were given the option of 4 different workshops. I picked one about worship and the future of the church. It was very interesting. After the workshops of course we had to have tea--we are still in the UK after all!

Then, was the best part. The worship service. As I mentioned, it was all about journeys. We sang and read Scripture, and heard three monologues of people who had gone on journeys--Peter, Barnabas, and Paul. We then prayed for major events in the world of the last year--joys and concerns. We prayed month by month for the journey of this world. Then we were invited to offer our own journeys to God. Down the middle of the semi-circular chair setup was a timeline marking the last year. We were invited to come forward and make a mark on the timeline, marking a significant event in the past year and then were invited to take a luggage tag with us to remind us that God travels with us. I would say only about half of the people in attendance participated in this bit. But that was ok. This is a space where you are invited to worship as will best suit you. But, this was truly a sending out service for me. I rarely get emotional in worship, but I even got a little choked up. The service was amazing and people from all walks of life sat and sang and prayed together, seeking to build a more faithful world What more could you ask for? I felt like God was speaking to me through the words and music, about my own journey this past month. It has been a remarkable one and I was struggling watching the end nearing.

But, this community, this music, this liturgy--it was the bookend to my month. It prepared me to go back and fully serve to the best of my ability. Honestly, I would have got on a plane that night. I had been reminded of the lessons and wonders of this month's journey and sent forth with the promise that God was going with me. What a gift!

Coventry

You wouldn't believe me if I told you....it was just that kind of day.

So, first, to address the obvious question for anyone who has a map of the UK. Why the out-of-the-way side trip to Coventy when I have been happily traveling all this time around Scotland? Well, back on Iona I made friends ith a wonderful woman named Karen from Portsmouth (England) and she raved on and on about the cathedral in Coventry. It is a cathedral whose work focuses are peace and reconciliation issues and even the building itself is an architectural and artistic symbol of peace. Of course, I smiled and said it looked interesting, but she kept going on and on and on about it. Finally, a very soft-spoken gentleman who was in my Iona group spoke up and said, "I really think you need to go."

So, I planned a rather extensive side trip to the tiny town of Coventry.

First, I was happy to get to coventry because I actually got to stay in a modest hotel (for pretty cheap, actually). But, let me translate that: a room to myself; a nice, fluffy bed; my own bathroom with a shower I can move in; reliable internet. After being in hostels for about 2 1/2 weeks, this modest hotel felt like a palace. Hahaha.

Anyway, I woke up on the day of my Coventry visit and got up in time to go to the morning prayer service at 8:30am. When I got there I expected a modest crowd. But, it turned out to be me, two fully-robed priests, and one Indian woman who came in late. It was kind of awkward, honestly.

Then I spent a good amount of time wandering around the cathdral. It was absolutely silent. For probably a good 45 minutes I was the only one in the building (other than the people who worked there). It was very peaceful and an itneresting building. I went down to the visitors center and watched some videos about Coventry.

The story is very powerful. The original cathdral was bombed in one of the first air blitzes by the Germans in WWII. And, on the morning after, the head of the Cathedral spoke up and said that they would not seek revenge, but peace. 22 years later the new Cathedral was built and opened, standing as a symbol for peace and reconciliation and even employing a full-time priest who works on peace and reconciliation issues. Now, I am timid to give too much of this story away right now since it will probably be a big part of my sermon when I get back to the States and back to Virginia. So, for all those from my church reading my blog, you are going to have to wait to hear it. I think I will add the complete story later--after Sunday the 12th. So, for all my non-church-member readers, please be patient. I will have a post on the Coventry story soon.

The real crazy story of my day began at the noontime prayer service in which they read the Litany for Reconciliation and then have a small communion service in the side chapel. As an Anglican church, I knew I was allowed to participate in communion, so I planned on attending both events. As I was sitting in the front part of the Cathedral waiting for the Service of the Litany of Reconciliation to begin (a litany said noon-time all over the world), a woman from the cathedral came up to me and began to ask me about my visit--where I was from, how long I was here, etc... Then she asked me what I thought I would take back home from my visit to Coventry. I began to reply, "Well, I'm actually a minister at a church and so..." She didn't give me a chance to finish. "Oh! Well then!" she exclaimed. "Are you planning on joining us for the communion service after this?" "yes" I replied. "Well, would you mind reading the gospel lesson--here it is. The Beatitudes. I'm sure you've read them before." "Once or twice" I smiled.

When we got to the side chapel, there were about 15 people in attendance for the communion service. We sat in the round, around the communion table, facing one another. When we got to the gospel reading, I just stood in my place and read. It was a really lovely service--basic, but very meaningful.

After the service, I went down to the cafe to grab some lunch. While I was standing in line, a woman who was in the service grabbed my arm and said, "I really loved the way you read that. I have a feeling you've done that before." I laughed and shared with her that I was a minister. And immediately her eyes lit up and she began to ask me questions about my visit. When I shared with her that I originally went to Iona, the conversation really took off as she has always wanted to go to Iona.

She invited me to sit down with her and her husband and sent her husband away to buy me a cup of coffee. Somehow in the course of the conversation, we got to the question of what I was goignt o do the rest of the day. Honestly, I had no major plans. You should go here and here and here she went on and I tried to make a mental note and figure out how to take a bus or train to the spot that sounded most interesting.

Then, she sat up really straight, her eyes lit up, and she said to her husband. "WE should go there. We have a day off. We haven't been there in forever." Her husband nodded, somewhat unenthusiastically. And she turned to me and said, "Do you want us to show you around?" "Ummm...I replied." "Well, at least we'll show you around Coventry," she conceded.

So, first they took me to climb the bell tower of the ruined church. while I was up there, she left her husband to wait for me and ran to buy us lunch. So, when I got down, we had lunch in the ruins and continued to talk. They are lovely people. She is a little spacy, but so kind and he is a kind man who clearly adores his wife and has a wickedly dry British sense of humor. They then took me to see the Holy Trinity church in town as well as the medieval trade house. Then, they invited me to drive over to Kenilworth to see the castle. So, we did. And we hiked around the castle ruins. From there we went to Leamington and saw the Leamington Spa and the natural gardens. Then we went to Warwick where we saw the Castle and ate fish and chips out of the bag in the park along with strawberries and cream she had bought in Leamington (how much more British can you get?!?!). The weather was lovely and in each town we walked in the parks and down the rivers. Then, when I tohought we were done, they took me to Stratford-upon-Avon to see the Globe theater, the barges, and all the statues of the William Shakespeare characters all over the town. Then we went to their favorite pub in Stratford and sat in the warm evening air, drinking and talking.

They were amazing--not only did they tote me around all day, but they paid for absolutely EVERYTHING. They wouldn't let me spend a penny on food or admissions or anything. And when I offered or tried to thank them to the best of my ability, she would always answer, "Nonsense! I love entertaining angels. And you are definitely our angel today. You see, we have been married so long now and it's been a tough couple of years. We had forgotten how to go out and enjoy where we live and have fun. You are clearly our angel and the Spirit sent you to us. The least I can do is buy you fish and chips!"

So, 9 hours after meeting this odd but wonderful couple, they dropped me off back at my hotel. When I asked if I could have an e-mail or address, she replied. "You don't need one more person to stay in touch with. But, know that we are praying for you and all we ask is that when you think of us, you pray for us." I was so touched. It is not often that we allow people to come in and out of our lives so readily. We often want to cling or feel obligated to stay in touch. (Ultimately, she did take my e-mail b/c she wanted to send me an article. "But that's it." she ordered sternly, "no need for anything else.")

I got back to my hotel room and flopped on the bed, not believing my day. It began with two priests in an empty cathedral and ended with two angels in a pub in Stratford.

I told you....you wouldn't believe me if I told you...

Roslin

One afternoon I took a trip out to Roslin to see the Roslyn Chapel--made famous by the
DaVinci Code book by Dan Brown. It is an amazing building, a 15th century chapel built by the St. Clair family. Every inch of it is intricately carved and symbolic. It is a very mysterious chapel with lots of interesting symbolism that can be dual Christian/Celtic symbols or Mason/Christian or even Priory/Christian symbolism. There are also some curious carvings like pictures of maize from the US even though, at the time the chapel was built, Columbus hadn't even been to the Americas yet.

Nonetheless, it is a chapel under repair and reconstruction, but an amazing place with some definite mystery and intrigue. Worth the visit.

St. Andrews

One of my "Edinburgh days" I took a day trip out to St. Andrews. Unfortunately, it turned out be just an afternoon trip because the buses got messed up because of the wind (the wind knocked out all power to the bus station). But, when I got out to St. Andrews, it was worth all the hassle.

It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny day. I made my way around the Cathedral ruins (rather quickly) and the Castle ruins. Unfortunately, I only had an hour and a half to go to both places since my bus had been so delayed. But, I really did get to see everything I wanted to. The Cathedral Ruins are absolutely stunning!! There is a sense of peace there, kind of like the peace of Iona. It was a quiet day and I was alone in the ruins, walking around the old cathedral, the area of the cloisters, and the graveyards. And of course, the setting looking out on the water doesn't hurt a thing.

The Castle ruins were quite awesome as well. My favorite thing about this castle was the Tunnel and Counter-tunnel. You see, at one point a group of local lords had taken over the castle and killed the bishop (or archbishop...I can't remember) who lived in there. The Earl of Arran wanted to recapture the castle, but didn't want to do a full-on siege because they were holding his son captive and ransom in the castle. So, he and his men dug a tunnel under the castle. The plan was to get underneath and blow one of the side walls just enough so they could get in. But, the lords inside the castle figured out what they were doing and dug a counter-tunnel (with a couple of false starts), following the sound of the other guys. Eventually the two tunnels met and the defending lords were able to keep away the Earl and his men (at least for a time). The awesome part is you can actually go into the tunnels under the castle. What is most notable is how the Earl's tunnels are large and actually have carved-out steps (as they hoped to carry animals and supplies down there) while the counter-tunnel is tiny and rushed. You actually have to crouch down to get through (yes, even me...I know someone is bound to make a short joke).

While in St. Andrews I found a few more church ruins, watched some guys play the 18th hole at the golf course, and also followed the recommendation to a phenomenal fish and chips shop.

But, the most remarkable thing that happened was at the very end of my visit. I had about an hour left before my bus and I was kicking myself for not getting more organized and getting out to St. Andrews earlier to spend more time in the cathedral ruins. But, I decided to walk down to that end of town again. Though the gates would be closed, I would still be able to see over the wall and through the gates and get another view of the cathedral. So, as I walk up, I am taking it all in again and then out of nowhere (it seems) forms a complete rainbow from right to left. It arched over the whole of the ruins. I cannot even begin to describe how beautiful it was. It was like God was smiling down and assuring me that I had sen what I needed to see. I took as many pictures as I could (see photobucket) and then just stood and took it all in until it disappeared just before I had to head to my bus.

Amazing day, amazing place.

A Note About the Weather

Let me say this to start: I love Scotland.

But, I must say I have had the wackiest weather here that I have ever seen. First, there is not a day I haven't had a "wee bit" of rain at least. Some days it has poured. But, most days, there is this beautiful alternating of rain and sun. But, friends, we are not talking rain in the morning, sun in the afternoon. We are talking about rain for ten minutes, shining sun and blue skies for 10 minutes, rain for ten minutes, sun for ten minutes, cloud for ten minutes, rain for ten minutes, sun....you get the picture. It is wild. All I have to say is, layers are a good thing in clothing and ALWAYS carry your raincoat.

As if that wasn't weird enough, while I was in Edinburgh, we experienced hurricane-force winds across the entire of Scotland. In the Highlands gusts got up to 100 mph. However, in Edinburgh we only experienced gusts up to 65 or 70 mph. So glad I was on an outdoor walking tour for all this--definitely was an adventure.

And then, if that wasn't strange enough, we have been experiencing the ash cloud from the Iceland Volcano. It has canceled many flights going out of Scotland but I am hopeful it will clear by the time I have to leave.

P.S.-I had to add this. So, I was in my hostel in Edinburgh and it was another rainy morning (which of course turned sunny and rainy and sunny again) and a guy from Norway was having breakfast with his friend. His friend started complaining about not wanting to go out in the "bad weather." At that, the Norwegian guy popped up from his cereal bowl and replied without hesitation, "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." I laughed so hard. But, a good rule to live by when traveling in Scotland!

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is officially my second favorite city in the world (next to Salzburg). (And if you know my love of Salzburg, that is saying a lot.)

Though the weather wasn't always ideal (see following entries), I had an amazing time exploring the city and taking in all the sights and experiences. I spent a total of 4 days in Edinburgh, 2 of which I took side trips to St. Andrews and Roslin (see following entries).

Here is a full, but incomplete list of all the things I discovered and loved about Edinburgh.

NEW FRIENDS: I have to start by saying I stayed in a rather good hostel with GREAT people. Among my new friends are 3 Canadians, 2 Finnish girls, and 1 Spanish girl. I especially became close with the 2 Finnish girls. We hit it off right away when they moved into the room (my second night). We enjoyed evenings out, card games, swapping stories, morning walks and cups of coffee and just a great exchange of culture and ideas. During the day we did different things, but it was always fun to come back and check in with one another.

2. THE CASTLE: Wow! What an amazing place! I probably spent upwards of 4 hours my first day in Edinburgh exploring the castle. You can see the buildings themselves and places like St. Margaret's Chapel and the Feasting Hall recreated as it would have been in the Victorian Era. The grounds are beautiful and give panoramic views of the city from all angles. But, they have also used many of the castle buildings for museums. I had the opportunity to see the Scottish Crown Jewels (the scepter, crown, and sword) as well as the Stone of Destiny (which will be used in the coronation of the next King of England). They had an awesome exhibit on Prisons of War where they recreated the conditions for prisoners in the castle and had some artifacts from those prisoners. It was especially fascinating as many of the prisoners kept there would have been American. I went round and round the castle grounds trying to take it all in.

3. THE ROYAL MILE: I enjoyed strolling down the Royal Mile (yes, it is a mile and yes, I did the whole thing--a couple of times). There are shops and little stops along the way. It takes quite a while to walk as you pop in and out, but what a great place, so alive with life!

4. THE WALKING TOUR: My second day in Edinburgh, I took one of those "Free Walking Tours from New Europe." It is a three hour tour (yes, I start humming the theme song to Gilligan's Island too). We walked all around the city--both the Old Town and the New Town--and heard stories about the city and learned about many of the sites and buildings. Our tour guide, Izzy, was AWESOME. She had a great sense of humor which was really needed seeing that we were walking through screaming winds and alternating times of rain and sun. But, she made it fun and she was able to offer suggestions for places to go, things to do, etc... It was a great tour! At the end of the tour, Izzy took a small group of willing victims to her favorite restaurant for HAGGIS. I actually thought it was delicious--piled on mashed potatoes and turnips ("neeps and tatties"), it really just tasted like a spicy shepherd's pie.

5. EXPLORING THE CITY: I spent a good amount of time just walking around the city--Old Town and New Town. I popped my head into churches and old buildings, took in all the statues around and by the end of my visit, felt like I barely needed a map to get around! Go me!

Apologies

I know it's been a while since I have updated my blog...my apologies. Things have been going well over here and moving quickly. It seems that each day is a new adventure and I am in a new city. Also, internet has not been the most reliable.

Excuses aside, I hope that the following entries will make up for the lack of communication over the last week. Also, I have added more pictures in my album on photobucket.

Here is the link: http://s1206.photobucket.com/home/Wagnerkr15906/index

Stirling

Traveled from Inverness to Stirling first ting in the morning. I got to ride in the first class of the train--it was SO NICE. Plus it was a large train headed to King's Cross Station in London. So, the chairs were cushy and they brought by a paper, coffee and tea constantly, and even a croissant with cheese and tomato. THAT is the way to travel.

Got to Stirling at around 10:30 and immediately found my hostel. After dropping off my stuff, I got a map and went out. I climbed up to the top of the hill and paid for my entry and tour through Stirling Castle. It was AWESOME. the tour was great and I'm more and more able to understand the Scottish history. The only bummer is that I am two weeks too early to see the newly-refinished throne room/palace. But, what I got to see was awesome nonetheless. They have reproductions of the larger kitchens, they have refinished the banquet hall, the Chapel Royal, and the Tapestry studio. In the tapestry studio they are redoing the tapestries that they believe would have hung in the Palace Hall. The man was giving a little talk about it and showing us how they did it. It a was fascinating and sounded like grueling work.

After the castle, I walked through this beautiful old graveyard and then into the Church of the Holy Rude. It is one of the oldest medieval cathedrals in Scotland or something like that. The church is absolutely beautiful and has quite the history. My favorite part of their history is when the pastors disagreed and put up a wall in the middle of the church and two separate congregations met. For more than 200 years, two Church of Scotland congregations would show up at the same building, go to two different churches, and stared at the wall that divided them. Finally, in the early 20th century, the wall came down and the two congregations have been worshipping together ever since.

This cathedral is full of history--windows and decorations ripped out and destroyed during the Reformation and now beautiful stained glass windows and decor. Not only was the cathedral beautiful, the people who were working or volunteering there were incredibly nice and anxious to tell you all about the cathedral. By far, my favorite comment was a guy who pointed me to look at the timbered ceiling. "That ceiling was built before America was founded. Did you know that?" Crazy.

After the church, I took a few more steps down the hill and went to the Old Town Jail. The tour was interesting, but the actor who walks you through the whole thing was HILARIOUS and a little scary. Throughout the course of all of it, he plays 4 different characters, treating you like inmates, making fun of people and just being very convincing. I was impressed.

Since it was cold and pouring rain, I decided to go back to the hostel and take advantage of the free cup of hot tea. Once I got there, I began talking with some of the staff and folks who were staying there. They showed me such great hospitality. They invited me to join them in a pot of soup they were making and to join in their card games in the evening. So, I ended up staying up til the wee hours of the morning talking and laughing and joking with these people. They almost have a little family there and they were more than willing to welcome me into it even though I was only staying in the hostel one night. Shouldn't the church be more like that? Just a thought.

Inverness

Spent two days in Inverness and enjoyed bot the town and the surrounding area. The first morning I got up and found a sweet little cafe to have some breakfast and an actually good cup of coffee. Wile the tea over here is wonderful, the coffee is not so good.

After breakfast, I went for a walk into old town Inverness and took a lovely walk along the river to see the islands and the park. The sun was actually shining and so it was absolutely beautiful. I probably took about a hundred pictures.

Then in the afternoon I went on a boat ride down the Caledonian canal and inti Loch Ness. Unfortunately didn't see Nessie. She must have been sleeping.

On the boat I met this kind and fascinating girl from Argentina. We instantly got along and later found out we were staying not only in the same hostel but in the same room in Inverness. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening together.

When the boat ride was over it docked at Urquhart Castle and we went around and had an hour to explore before our bus came to get us. Afterwards, we had dinner together and talked about everything from relationships to travel to politics. It was a fascinating conversation and she was amazing company.

I the evening some more folks from my room (2 girls from France and a couple from Canada) went out to hear a bagpipe/accordion duo. they were great!!

The next morning I woke up and my Argentinian friend was gone. It actually made me a little sad. I had so enjoyed getting to know her. But thank goodness for Facebook, we can stay in touch!

The second day I went out to Culloden Battlefield, the sight of the famous Jacobite uprising and defeat in Scotland. The museum if FANTASTIC and everything was very well done. I think I am starting to get a better grip on Scottish history. After getting back from the battlefield I took another walk around old town Inverness.

Inverness is an amazing city, someplace I would definitely come back to. I met some amazing people at my hostel and actually had a taste if sun both days (shocking!!!!)

The hostel was a little grungy and iffy, but the awesome people made up for it.

Now it is off to Stirling and Edinburgh. Yay for castles!!

Castles and Rainbows

5/18/11

Woke up this morning multiple times, but finally got out of the bed at 8:15. Again, after packing up and checking out I left my luggage in the hostel and went to grab some breakfast at the Granary cafe.

Annie (from Atlanta), Brodie (from New Zealand), and I went out to Dunvegan Castle. It was fun to have some folks to travel with. Brodie was very interesting and works in forestry in New Zealand. He knew a lot of the Scottish history and taught me a lot going through the castle. Annie is a bit of a tornado. She blusters wherever she goes. But she is hilarious and it is nice to have new friends and some company.

After touring the castle we went into the gardens but it alternated between being sunny and POURING rain. I would have liked to have spent more time in the gardens before the bus, but I enjoyed what I did see of it. It was absolutely lovely. The gardens were GLORIOUS. Almost a little Eden behind that castle.

On the bus ride back to the hostel, Annie slept and Brodie and I got to talk. He is one AMAZING person. I do hope we stay in touch. He has such a sense of adventure. It's just a totally different mentality. Instead of being stable and responsible, these Aussies and New Zealanders run off and explore the world, working only to make more money to travel. Had lunch with Brodie and Annie before catching my bus from Portree to Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland.

The train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness and the ride is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. It is everything I was hoping to see of Scotland--locks, rivers, mountains. Hillsides plummeting down into riverbeds with waterfalls and precious cottages dotting the landscape. There are sheep and baby lambs running and playing everywhere. Ahhhh....what a blessing. How lucky am I to get to see such a magnificent portion of God's creation.

I wish my camera could take pictures of this. But, on the other hand, probably better it can't so I can relax and enjoy the scenery.

So, as we are riding through amazing scenery, out comes the sun from the rain and appears the most BEATUFIUL , bold rainbow. I can actually see where is begins and ends. It is a complete rainbow and out trains seems to be driving right under it. It is truly remarkable. Maybe this is God promising me he will not destroy my trip with a flood. After all, it has been raining since I left Iona. hahaha.

Tours and Tastings

Woke up this morning feeling like a rested, new woman!

After getting organized, I went over to the local coffee shop for breakfast and a REAL cup of coffee. Then I tried to take a driving tour around the northern part of the island. but there weren't enough of us to run the tour. But it worked out anyway. I took the bus up around the northern end for much cheaper. However, I wasn't able to hip on and hop off because there is only 2 buses a day around that route. This is an island definitely explored better by car or motorcycle. But I enjoyed what I was able to see.

Then I was able to catch an afternoon bus out to the Talisker Distillery and took a tour. It was really interesting. But while we were in there the temperature dropped and it started pouring rain. Waiting for the bus for an hour was not s fun but I got to know some lovely people as we huddled in the bus stop.

When I got back to the hostel I met my new roommate from ATLANTA and some new friends from Germany and NewZealand. The four of us hung out that evening. It is so interesting to meet such. Variety of people.

Traveling to Skye

5/16/11
OBAN TO PORTREE, ISLE OF SKYE

Woke up early this morning to catch my train to Mallaig. I was super excited about this train ride as I was riding of the famous West Highland line over the famous Harry Potter Bridge (of course, not on the steam train). The views were absolutely beautiful, but the weather was so foggy and rainy, and cloudy, I don't think i got the full effect--guess I'll just have to do it again!! AND I was terribly sleepy. So, rain+sleepy Kim+gentle rocking of train=fighting to stay awake.

But, it was beautiful nonetheless. Then I caught the ferry from Mallaig to Armandale (on the island of Skye). After only a half hour on the ferry, we landed in Armandale where it was pouring down rain but where I immediately found a bus heading to Portree. I thought the 6 pound fee was pretty steep until I realized it took over an hour and a half to get from Armandale to Portree. The sights were beautiful but again I struggled to stay awake.

I was worried, once we got to Portree I wouldn't be able to find my hostel, but we drove right by it on our way to the bus stop and it turns out it sat just off the main square where I had to pick up all the buses. GREAT! So, checked into the hostel, got up to my GREAT top floor room, met my roommate--an older woman from Paris, and then walked a bit around town, stopping first at the Tourist Information center. They were SO helpful, giving me maps and marked up bus schedules.

That evening, I went back to the hostel, did some e-mailing and went to bed around 10:30--it was wonderful!! And quiet!

Accessing more pictures

Apparently blogspot and ipads don't always get along. So, I have decided instead of the painstaking work of posting pictures that end up being too large for the blog format, I will upload pictures to a website called photobucket and you all can access them there.

Here is the link: http://s1206.photobucket.com/home/Wagnerkr15906/index

Hope it works! Otherwise you all will just have to wait for pictures until I get home.

Disclaimer: It is still a little arduous putting pictures onto photobucket, so there are only a few select pictures. Don't worry--the full album will be available upon my return!

a picture of the cloisters inside the Abbey

Pictures

Where I got to live while on Iona!

Goodbyes and Gateways

I had to say goodbye to Iona this morning as the 9am ferry pulled away in the driving rain.

It is sad, but I know that someday I will be back--even if is a while away. Last night I met a woman at the Abbey who was back at Iona for the first time in 30 years--how awesome! Even if it takes 30 years, I hope I will be back.

They say when you leave Iona you leave a piece of your soul there and a piece of Iona goes with you (not just rocks from the beach). I can believe it.

Iona is a place that marches to the beat of a different drum, but the same drummer that drives the beat of all of life. Perhaps the beat is closer to the heartbeat of God. Or, perhaps, as we breathe and slow down, we are able to hear the beat more clearly.

I have learned so much this week about worship, Christian community, discernment, and spiritual practices. I hope I can bring as much of it back with me as possible.

Today is a traveling day. I made it to Oban and plan to take a trip up to Isle of Skye tomorrow. Apparently, it has been named the 4th most beautiful island in the world by National Geographic. I will let you know! I am excited to take the West Highland Rail (famous for being 1. beautiful and 2. going over the bridge made famous in the train scene in Harry Potter). Hope the weather is good so the views are as spectacular as described.

P.S.-Finally figured out how to get pics on my ipad. I will post some pics of Iona. It will be hard to choose just a few!!

ONE LAST DAY

Went to worship at the Abbey this morning and then I had the opportunity to show some new friends around the island. At dinner last night, I met 2 girls from Denmark and 1 girl from South Korea. They were asking about the best hike on the island and I told them they HAD to go to St. Columba's Bay. Then I offered to take them as I was planning on taking a hike in the morning anyway.

It was so fun to get a chance to show them around an island I have grown to love so deeply. Even though I had done that walk already, all the views and vistas still took my breath away.

After having dinner with the two girls from Denmark, I found out they are currently studying in Glasgow. We have exchanged information so when I go back to Glasgow at the end of my trip I will have friends to hang out with!

Worship at the Abbey this evening was very meaningful but very strange. A whole new crew of Iona folk have come on to the island and so for the first time in a week the Abbey church was filled with faces I didn't know. But, it didn't make me sad. It made me excited...for them. I wish them the same excitement, discovery, and renewal I have had.

It was a powerful service of Invitation to Seeking using candles and some AMAZING music.

Staying and Leaving

5/13/11

A bittersweet day. I have chosen to stay on the island a couple more days for reflection and preparation for the rest of my journey. However, I had the sad duty of waving goodbye to everyone else as they took the boat over to Mull. Watching them go way was painful, but a grateful moment for me. I had tears in my eyes as I hugged them and waved, but I also was so grateful for the part they played as we walked together through this week. Being realistic, I will probably not remember all of them or many of them. But, they were pilgrims along the way and that is a bond that I will be forever grateful to have had with them.

The goodbye service before they all left was rich as well. It made me kind of sad I wasn't departing either. They really know, liturgically, how to wrap up a week here at Iona. It is a rich goodbye and probably one I will read after worship on Saturday evening as I am planning on leaving at the 9:20 ferry on Sunday morning.

I spent most of the day by myself--catching up on journals (and blog posts)as well as taking a hike to the North Beach of the island.

However, this day had surprising hellos as well. At dinner I met two young women from Denmark. They are visiting Iona on a whim while they are studying in Glasgow. They asked me where they should go and I told them about this great hike to Columba's Bay. And I offered to go with them in the morning. Looks like I already have new friends!

Friends and Feasting

5/12/11

Woke up this morning in plenty of time to do my duties in the Refectory. It is amazing. I have yet to sleep until my alarm clock. The sun comes up very early here--around 4:45am and doesn't set until around 10:35pm. They said by June the sun will set at 11pm and will rise again at 3am.

I am still enchanted with the island, despite the ever-changing weather. There is so much to explore here and it is a place just to be. It has been a long time since I have taken time just to be. So, I have decided to stay on the island a couple more days. After the Staffa trip yesterday, I booked a room at the Argyll Hotel right down on the water. It will give me some space for digestion and reflection as well as give me time and internet capabilities to finish planning my trip.


Today was another wonderful day. Worship in the morning, as usual. Then we had our final sessions with David. I actually enjoyed these as they talked more directly about spirituality, Celtic Spirituality, and the Iona Community in particular.


This afternoon I went on a guided tour of the Abbey which was interesting and pointed out a lot of things I hadn't noticed while living there.

After the tour I went and hiked up Dun'I (the tallest "mountain" on the island) with my friends Jen and John from Australia. It was a tougher climb than I expected and when we got to the top the wind was howling and it started to rain. We found a spot just under the top, behind a rock and sat there for a while protected from the elements. We talked and laughed together until our stomachs hurt. Then we climbed down the mountain and went into the village to have Mussels in white wine sauce. We shared that and a bottle of wine while sitting by the window and looking out over the water. We talked about everything from Taize (where they had been before this) to relationships to church work. It was a wonderful time. I am so grateful for them--their love and friendship during this week. I have already told them I plan to go to Australia and I intend to make good on that promise.

Then we had our Table Space service in the evening which was VERY meaningful. As we came into the sanctuary they had long tables down the middle of the choir stalls. On the table was a line of stones interrupted every so often by candles that were also surrounded by rocks from on the island. I took a seat right at the table. The way they had the benches and chairs set up everyone surrounded the table three rows deep on each side. The whole service was done seated. The liturgist was wonderful--she set the perfect tone for the service. We sang this fantastic hymn which was not in the hymnary. It went:
"Come and feast at Wisdom's Table
Come and lay your burdens down
Come and find the power in weakness
Wisdom's cross and Wisdom's Crown"
The words were phenomenal as was the music. Then we shared the meal together. It was a simple service, as is all Iona worship. But, it was wonderful because it was completely about the communion meal and feasting together.

After worship we went out to the pub to celebrate both Bill's birthday and Jane's anniversary of her ordination. There were about 15 of us. It was a lovely time together and made me so sad to think that I had to say goodbye to all these people.

Thought of the day:
At the end of every meal we have a moment of silence and then the leader says, "Thank you God. Amen." Simple but perfect. We live lives of thanks or should, at least. God is good to us. God is still moving and speaking and guiding and loving. As long as that is the case, then there is no need to worry or fear but instead live lives of thanks. It is hard to do, if we are honest.

Boats and Caves and Puffins, Oh My!

5/11/11

This morning we did our Team Tasks and had breakfast. I should probably tell you that I am an "Otter" and our task is to set up breakfast, clean the dishes, and chop vegetables for the rest of the day. The monastic life is very interesting and in some ways very purifying. It is nice to contribute to the good of the community and, as they say on Iona, even our work is worship.


This afternoon was wonderful! We took a trip to Staffa, an uninhabited island about an hour boat ride away from Iona. The trip was rough in the little fishing boat they had us on. I even got a little seasick headed there. We went to Staffa for two reasons: 1. To see Fingal's Cave and 2. To see the puffins. Apparently the puffins nest out at Staffa for only a few months and the rest of the time they are out at sea. Also apparently they love people and will come up and be right next to you when they see you. So, when we got to the island we walked up to the top of the steep stairs and began to walk across the island to the furthest bluff. The puffins were in the water and we sat down. They began to fly around but really never landed. Turns out the cormorant or some other kind of bird was about and they scare away the puffins. So, while Jen and John stayed and watched the puffins I hiked it (VERY QUICKLY) to the total other side of the island to see Fingal's cave. It really was remarkable. Then we made it back to the boat and had a rough, but not quite as sick ride back.

When we got back it was immediately dinnertime followed by the Community Concert at the Mac (the MacLeod Center). That was interesting. After that we had a worship led by guests at the Mac called "Creative Space" We used rocks that symbolized our stories. We gave our stories to God and on the way out took other people's rocks to pray for their stories. It was a meaningful service.

A Pilgrim's Journey

5/10/11

Today was an amazing day of pilgrimage. They only had enough staff on hand to run the short pilgrimage so Bill (a guest and Church of England priest who has been here many times before) decided he could take the book and lead us through the longer pilgrimage. It was AMAZING. We started off the day in the cold and the rain, but after lunch at Columba's Bay it got sunny again. The hike was intense but the views were breathtaking and the experience of pilgrimage and reflection was VERY meaningful. At the end we even "paddled" our toes in the water and saw a seal. The water was FREEZING. At the very end of the pilgrimage we ended in St. Orin's chapel in the graveyard by the Abbey. There we sang a round of "Gloria in Excelsis Deo". It was so powerful. It was a 6 hour pilgrimage altogether. Lots of walking up and down rocky terrain.

The evening Healing Service was really powerful as well. Along with the liturgy there was a circle in the middle of the church with 12 kneelers and candles in the middle. When the time came, you could kneel and people put their hands on you behind you and a person in the middle of the circle put their hands on you head and together, the whole congregation recited the prayer: "Living God, Present with us now. Enter you body, mind, and spirit, and heal you from all that harms you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." The three people in the middle would go around the circle 4 times before everyone gets up. The neatest part was when Moira asked Jenny and I to be there for her healing to lay on hands.

It is a very powerful service where the Spirit moves richly and deeply.

After worship, there was tea and coffee. P.S. I have never drank so much tea in my LIFE and have never had so many times set aside to drink tea. Got to love the Scots and the Brits!

A Day with Dancing

5/9/11

Today started well. I was late for setting up breakfast, but I still stand by the fact that everyone else was early. But, we did breakfast and then our chores after worship.

Worship this morning was lovely. Just a simple service to start the day. After worship we went back to our chores and finished those up. Then we went into two sessions with our featured speaker. The first was about Revelation (OT) and the second about Jesus and the Human Condition. He is not the best presenter. Almost too much information, but I am gleaning from is what i can.

During coffee, I had fantastic conversation with some folks. It is amazing the depth of conversation that I have had with people.

After lunch, I got a book out of the library and then went for a walk with Jen and John. We went to the shop in which I wanted to buy EVERYTHING--every book, every CD, every piece of jewelry. I walked away with a few postcards and ONE book--something the man at the bookstore insisted I needed to read. I am sure I will be back for more.

After that, we went over to the Mac Center to the Art Room. I was expecting to see a bunch of people in there, but it was only us. Jen and I got into coloring with crayons on paper while John worked on his weaving. We enjoyed great times of conversation and discussion.

Then at dinner I sat with Karen (not roomie) and Moira--both very cool ladies. We had lots of inspiring and interesting conversations.

We had an interesting Session on "What is healing?" after dinner. It was intriguing to hear what people think about healing. Ultimately, the idea was that God is the one that heals but that we are the ones through whom God can work. This session was in preparation for our healing service the next evening.

Of course we had 9pm worship--it was prayers for the world service.

After worship, a few of us went down to the Ceilidh (pronounced Cay-lee). It is a Scottish dance. They taught us a bunch of dances in the town hall. It was a blast!

Falling in Love

I am falling in love...with this Island.

The island continues to be amazing and every morning I wake up feeling humbled by the opportunity to be here and wake up in the Abbey looking out onto the courtyard and the Abbey church. The weather was rainy in the morning, but cleared up and was lovely and sunny both Sunday and Monday afternoon. However, it has been INCREDIBLY windy both days

One of the amazing things about the island is the water. I have never seen so many blues in one body of water. And the water almost has a life of its own. When it is rainy and windy the water turns an angry gray. When it is just overcast and calmer it is a dark, calm blue. And when the sun comes out there are thousands of different blues and teals blending and dancing into one another.

Sunday we had worship in the Abbey at 10:15 am. I even had the opportunity to serve communion. It was so neat. Then, we had a 9pm service of silence. It was very powerful. Monday we had regular worship at 9am and 9pm. The services are wonderful. Simple liturgy and music, but powerful. My congregation better be prepared for lots of fun new liturgy...hahaha.

Many say Iona is a "thin place"--the kind of place where earth and heaven, creation and Creator, people and God meet through a very thin bit of separation. I am believing it to be true. The Spirit seems to move here in unbelievable ways. Or, perhaps, it is that in places like this the smog of our lives is suspended for a moment and we are more receptive to seeing and hearing God moving.

I have met PHENOMENAL people--smart, witty, funny, amazing. Each has a story to tell and, whether they know it or not, have offered me some wisdom in our conversations together. I have to wonder if this is what "being Church" is all about. Gathering together around worship and prayer, serving one another and constantly listening to one another's stories and being present to God moving in the midst of them.

I will upload pictures when i have more reliable internet. For now, just word pictures will have to do!

The Welcome of Iona

5/7/11

Got to Iona today. Almost missed my morning train, but the rest of the trip was rushed but smooth. No minute to breath.

When we got to the island they greeted us at the dock with vans to carry our bags and we walked through the ruins of the nunnery to the abbey. Already this place is amazing--takes my breath away. Even more beautiful than I could have imagined.

When we got to the Abbey they immediately escorted us through the courtyard to have "a spot of tea or coffee." I began chatting with the women around me at the table. They all are delightful and think I am "incredibly brave" to be here on my own. I don't know about that, but i do know I am glad to be here. We got a brief tour of the residential area and then when I went down to get my bag in the entryway, I heard a bagpipe playing. Upon stepping outside, I saw that they were having a wedding in the Abbey Church. We were able to watch the arrival of the bridesmaids and the bride. They are now in the church getting married as I write. In fact, sitting in my room now I can hear the service going on. My room looks out over the courtyard of the Abbey and onto the sanctuary. AMAZING.

While here so far, I have met two Anglican priests (women) from London. One of them was one of the first female Anglican priests EVER--ordained in 1994. She also is the vicar-in-residence for the Westminster Abbey 2 weeks every year. When we were all talking someone asked her, "Did you know the vicar that did cartwheels down the aisle." "Oh yes, Ben!" she said as if it were no big deal. We all had a laugh and agreed it was great.

My roommate, Karen, is another Presbyterian Associate Pastor from Oregon here on Sabbatical.

My room has a precious windowsill seat in which I have found my perch. I could sit here, staring out onto the courtyard for hours. There is such a calm in this place. After the hustle and bustle of trains, boats, and buses, it feels so good to be here. I am definitely a little tired, but trying to push through until after dinner at 6:30 and worship at 9. But, I'm pretty sure I will collapse after that.

I saw a great quote in the Sanctuary prayer corner: "Let those who would pry into the mysteries of the life of God realize how little they understand of the mystery of the life of an ant." Gregory of Nyssa. May God allow me the foolishness and humility to be a seeker of the mysteries.


This place is a gift to the world. I wish everyone could experience it.

The Journey Begins

5/11

Couldn't have been a more beautiful sight taking off from the Newport News airport and watching the sunset over the water out of the airplane window. A perfect start to a great adventure. Flights so far have been easy.

I am now sitting in the Amsterdam airport waiting for my flight to Glasgow.I love international airports. It is amazing to sit in a terminal and watch such a diverse slice of humanity pass by. In my first 10 minutes on the ground, I spoke with a Czech girl who now lives in the States and is headed home to Prague to visit her family for the first time in 3 years! Also in those first 10 minutes, while talking with the Czech woman, we helped a family figure out how to find their gate for a flight to Tehran. It's so neat to walk around and hear all different languages and accents, to see different clothes and hairstyles, and to know that behind those accents and clothes are thousands of stories so different than my own. It really is so humbling to be reminded that your story is one of billions and your culture is one of millions.

Well, I am sitting on my last plane of the day and am anxious to land down in Glasgow. and to get some COFFEE!!!! Thank goodness every culture speaks the language of coffee.

P.S.- The last time I was in an international flight, when I landed I had to speak German. So, as we landed in Amsterdam my silly brain flipped into German mode (plus Dutch is pretty much a mutant amalgamation of German and English with extra vowels). I started wondering what it would be like not to hear German and instead have everything in English. And then, since God clearly has a fantastic sense of humor, I sat next to two German-speaking women on my flight to Glasgow. Made me smile!

Packing up

5/4/11

One word: EXCITED! The more I pack, the more excited I get. I am going over and over my packing lists (of course, I am a list person). I feel like I have everything, but I am sure I am missing something. But, honestly, I'm too ready to go to care. Whatever I don't have, I will buy while I'm over there!!

I am plotting out my journey to Iona and realize that in the course of 24 hours I will be on a plane, a train, a bus, and 2 boats! So amazing! It will be such a great opportunity to refresh and renew as well as experience a whole new culture for a month.

While I am nervous at times about going by myself, I am so grateful for the challenge of being alone and the way it will force me to talk to and get to know all kinds of people. This trip is an amazing gift and I know I will do everything to take advantage of it.

Up, up and away!!!