THE SPIRITUALITY OF PILGRIMAGE
BY: REV. KAY LANCASTER Associate Pastor
Our congregation regularly schedules pilgrimages to places selected to enhance our understanding of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God’s word. We travel to destinations such as the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Italy, The British Isles, and Germany. These pilgrimages help us grow spirituality in many ways. As we journey to the Holy Lands we experience sites familiar from the Hebrew Scriptures and walk the paths that Jesus walked. In Greece, Turkey and Italy we visit the ruins of the towns that Paul and
the early disciples walked. Visiting these places helps to bring the scriptures to life. As you read about the shepherds in Bethlehem, you can imagine the scene as they are visited by the angels announcing the birth of Jesus. As you read the Sermon on the Mount, you can visualize the view of the Galilee that the early followers of Jesus would have seen. As you visit the Garden Tomb you can experience what it might have been like on that first Easter morning. Visiting the ruins of the cities Paul visited you come to a better understanding of who the Ephesians, Corinthians, and Athenians were. In Rome you also get a better understanding of the early days of the Roman Catholic Church, which are also the roots of United Methodism. In the British Isles, we are able to visit the sites of the Wesleys’ lives from which United Methodism is founded. In Germany we also experience church history. Plus, every 10 years the Oberammergau Passion Play is performed which brings to life the story of Jesus. In addition to visiting these holy sites and learning about church history, each day begins with a devotion, prayer and singing. Some special worship
8 • Spring–Summer 2021
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