A Note from the Holy Land Band…

Due to physical EXHAUSTION our group has decided to give you a pictorial for our blog entry today.

We begin…

Bet She’han – During ancient times, it was the 2^nd most important city in the region, after Megiddo.

Amphitheater in Bet She’han – Katy got to do a mini-concert for us to show the amazing acoustics in this space.

Aquaducts – Perhaps the most relaxing part of our afternoon, the aqua ducts were located by the Mediterranean Sea, which calmed us all. Perhaps it even reminded us a little of home.

Megiddo – 25 different civilizations settled in this one place at different times. It was an important city because whoever lived here controlled the Yizreal Valley, which was an important caravan trail.

Church of the Annunciation – So-called because it is the traditional site of Mary’s home, and therefore, where Jesus lived as a child. The courtyard and inside the church are surrounded by “Marys” from around the world.

Cana of Galilee – Our last stop was to the church where it is said that Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. We celebrated in worship with all three tour bus groups. Mary & Jim had an extra special time in the ceremony of renewing their marriage commitment.

A Note from Mary...

Jim and I are having a wonderful time relating the Bible stories to “real” places. The trip makes the Bible come alive. Today, we experienced the reaffirmation of our marriage covenant. We both were nervous like the first time.

A Note from Becky...

Six a.m. came much too early this morning. After a night of being awake as much as I was asleep, I was far from ready to start the day. But, I knew there were new adventures ahead of us, so that made it a little easier.

Today’s stops had a much different feel from yesterday. Each stop we made yesterday had an emotional edge to it. Today it was mostly historical. Except for the last stop in Cana where the Bishop reaffirmed the wedding vows for any couples in the group who wanted to participate.

Tomorrow we leave our hotel so I am going to make this short and sweet. I need to get to bed earlier tonight. This trip has been physically and emotionally draining. But SO worthwhile! I am so very thankful for the chance to experience the Holy Land first hand.

A Note from Katy...

One thing that has stuck with me most of today is a comment our guide made yesterday – “Jesus did not come to make stones holy, but to make people holy.” (He was talking about the question of historical/archealogical sites vs. “traditional” holy land sites.)

I have often been uncomfortable with talk of “god moments” or the idea that God is setting up for us a list of specific successes. Perhaps I’m bothered because that idea would suggest that he is also writing up a list of my mistakes and failures.

A couple of days ago, as someone was sharing a supposed “god moment”, it occurred to me that perhaps what she sees as god moments, I see as the result of relationships. As we share with others, care for them and about them, as we experience life with each other, we build the connections God intended for us. And when those connections lead to moments of “coincidence”, then I guess they really are God moments—direct results of living as God would have us live.

God entered our lives, entered into relationship with us to make us holy. In that decisive act, God invites us into the holy story of creation. It is a story that allows for coincidence and pain and love at first sight. It is an epic story with battles and blood and apparently Roman bathhouses. Sometimes it is a sad story and sometimes it is a story that stretches from the mountaintop to the valley to the very Sea of Life.

I suppose I’ve come here to the land of prophets and poets in search of my part in this story. I have come to the holy stones, only to find that it is not in the stones that one finds God.

Instead it is in my own heart, in my own story, the peace of these valleys may wash over me and renew my strength and sense of self. For indeed, Jesus did not come for the valleys or the mountains or the fish or the sea. Jesus came for me.