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!