The Holy Land is both familiar and alien. Large hedges of lavender and lemon trees are surprisingly fabulous, but they are not strange. But street signs filled with Arabic and Hebrew letters feel very foreign. The sounds and smells and colors of the Old City of Jerusalem are hard to take in. It is a little overwhelming.

The pilgrims from St. Martin’s Williamsburg have mostly adjusted to the seven-hour time difference, and we had a full day on Tuesday to do what we liked. Some of us slept in, some shopped, some explored the Old City.

The strangeness of the city was mitigated this evening by the opening Eucharist of our course at St. George’s College. Familiar Easter hymns, familiar liturgy, and the fellowship of other pilgrims have launched us on our pilgrimage.

Tonight‘s preacher spoke of the benefit of slowing the pace to enable prayerful attention to one’s surroundings and one’s companions. He cited a Japanese theologian named Kosuke Koyama, who wrote a book called “Three Mile an Hour God”. Koyama says “Love has its speed. It is a different kind of speed from the technological speed to which we are accustomed. It goes on in the depth of life at three miles per hour. It is the speed we walk and therefore the speed the love of God walks.”

We look forward to slowing down and walking with Jesus and with each other in the next several days.

“From departure to arrival/what does it mean to travel? From taking off to landing/you can feel your heart expanding.” (Mary Chapin Carpenter)

17 of 19 pilgrims from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Williamsburg Virginia are leaving Richmond airport this morning for Tel Aviv. We have distributed pocket metals bearing the image of St. Martin, had a prayer, and are now ready to roll!

Pictured above: Otis and Phyllis Haislip, Kay Russell, Debbie Scudder, Jean Grunewald, Lisa Green, Gerri Conradi, Catherine White, Mary Osborn, Marybeth Fager, Judy Yates, Jim Osborn, Lisa and Rob Beall, Lisa Cumming and Michael Fager. We look forward to seeing Ben and Susan Gregg in Jerusalem.

Nineteen members of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Williamsburg VA will travel to the Holy Land April 28-May 11, 2019. We will join with other pilgrims from around the world, participating in the “Footsteps of Jesus” course at St. George’s College, Jerusalem.

We have been preparing as a community for several months, joining the company of millions of pilgrims who have gone before us. It is a privilege to walk the land with our spiritual forebears.

Please share our journey here.