How do you explain the trinity? Over cheesecake. We attended a women’s fellowship group with Fr. Nael. The evening began with hymns around the table. They sang in arabic and Fr. Nael gently tapped the table to keep the group in rhythm. I closed my eyes to let the sweet sound of … read more
SHQ in the Holy Land: Sunset
On Tuesday afternoon three of my classmates and I said our goodbyes to the group we have been traveling with for two weeks and took a taxi on the winding roads back to Nazareth. Today we will begin working with Fr. Nael, Rector of Christ Church in Nazareth. As we drove the landscape shifted from […]
SHQ in the Holy Land: First Century Tomb
Greetings from Nazareth, where we have been staying with the Sisters of Nazareth. Our day began at the Jordan River. We renewed our Baptismal vows as we listened to the sounds of war in Syria, just a few miles from us. With temperatures soaring over 100F, we were intent on finishing the more physical […]
SHQ in the Holy Land: Dawn in the Desert
Today we were fed the bread of heaven at dawn in the desert. Cynthia presided as the desert slowly woke, a palette of pale rose and lavender, her words threaded with birdsong. – Jane Two pilgrims (Jane Patterson and Richelle Thompson) waiting on the sunrise over the Judean desert. – John
SHQ in the Holy Land: Tattoo
Today the group from SSW visited Razzouk tattoo parlor, which has been providing pilgrims with permanent remembrances of their time in the Holy Land for seven centuries. The owner of the shop told us stories of his father gathering soot from church candles to make his ink in the early 20th century, as his son […]
SHQ in the Holy Land: St. Benedict’s Workshop
How do our pilgrims seem so focused and organized? How is it they seem to miss nothing and experience everything? Because of the leadership of the Rev. John Lewis and the wonderful work the people do at St. Benedict’s Workshop, of course! – Eric
SHQ in the Holy Land: A Blessing on our Pilgrims
We had the honor of meeting with the Most Rev. Suheil Dawani, of praying for his ministry, and of receiving his blessing on our pilgrims. – Jane Our librarian, Yvonne Beever, digging history! – Jane
SHQ in the Holy Land: Layers
Who needs a smart classroom in the holiness of the Cathedral chapel? Jane unwinds the soft translucent scarf from her throat, opens it wide, and folds it three times – to depict the layers of interpretation: exodus,exile, hope and restoration. Rachel weeps for her children, laments for the infants slaughtered by Herod, and we […]
SHQ in the Holy Land: Western Wall
Rising seniors, Richelle Thompson and Reagan Gonzalez, dressed for the Western Wall and Temple Mount. – Jane The women’s area at the western wall. We joined other women of faith in holding up the world with prayer, leaning into the wall, smooth and warm as bone. – Jane Soundprint of birds at the Western Wall: The […]
SHQ in the Holy Land: Sacred
The sacredness of this place has enriched the gospels in ways I couldnt have imagined. I am meeting Jesus in all new ways as I walk these sacred paths with my fellow pilgrims. – Reagan