Monday, May 23, 2011

~Dan Searby (I am basically stealing these off of an e-mail - Laura)


Hello, hello from the Sea of Galilee. Actually a very lovely lake and maybe Israel's version re a mix of Switzerland and Northern Michigan.

We went early to the Church of the Nativity in Palestinian controlled territory. Incredible shaft of morning sunlight coming through a near empty church and we were the second group into the grotto where Christ was born. Was quite powerful.

Long bus ride after this past the spot on the Jordan River where Christ was baptized ("This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased") -- now an Israeli border security zone and no disembarkation allowed -- and up to Bethlehem which is now distressingly traffic packed. Very large Catholic Church of the Annunciation where Mary met the Angel Gabriel and wonderfully set in motion the events that changed the cosmos. Mary had a front and center role all day.

We drove from Nazareth thru Cana down to Galilee and are staying at Pilgerhaus --- a German Benedictine community with incredible views of the lake, smart Bauhaus design and almost a Hofbrauhau social aesthetic (complete with the large steins of brau).

Tomorrow the Galilean ministry. Forget who said this, but the concept is that the Holy Land represents the fifth Gospel. You experience and relive the word of God in a very authentic, universal and timeless sense.

Dan

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