St. Stephens Anglican Church Belmont

Last Postcard from the Middle East

Tim Smith — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:53:19 +0000

When asked what I was hoping for from this pilgrimage I said I wanted to be awed about being in the places where Jesus had walked. On this hope I confess to having been disappointed. Much of what is significant, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been destroyed and what is there is a reconstruction. Having said that, I have had a fresh and renewing experience of the Holy Spirit, a new trust on the Holy Spirit. I am however, much more informed about the events of Jesus ministry. See you soon as I fly out tonight and be back in Geelong Thursday morning.

Postcard from the Middle East – Day 15

Tim Smith — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:24:18 +0000

Experienced fantastic worship in the Anglican Church just up the road from our Lutheran Guest House. Christ Church is the oldest protestant church in Jerusalem, established by CMJ, an from England. The speaker was Andrew Whote, the Vicar of Baghdad. The point of his sermon was if you are wher and doing what God wants you to be and do, he will provide cor all your needs. And, even if you are not keen about where he is asking you to be, he will cause you to enjoy it. I found this extremely encouraging and something that we should hold onto as we undertake our transition as church.

Postcards from the Middle East – Day 14

Tim Smith — Sat, 12 May 2012 05:39:23 +0000

Sorry all, didn’t have internet acess while staying on the edge of the north Galilee. It was an extremely full-on time and terribly hot as well as humid, but much much greener. Jesus travels and ministry around Jerusalem have much more perspective. I am convinced from what I have seen and learnt that our model of church as a network of faith communities is right. I am looking forward to showing you the design of houses in Jesus day that enabled the church to grow even in the face of sustained and horrific persecution. I am back in Jerusalem and will be returning in another three sleeps. I am thoroughly exhausted. Chat believe how much o have done.

Postcard from the Middle East – Day 9

Tim Smith — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:23:52 +0000

The focus of today was the spiritual context to which Jesus came. Visited Qumeran the home of the Essenes, the strict Jewish monks in the desert. Tjer is some suggestion in Scripture that John the Baptist was an Essene,and this informed.histheologh and practice. Also visited Masada, the desert fortress of the zealots. Originally the palace of Herod, it became the final.stand of.defence in the destricction by the Romans.

Most significantly though was the early morning Mass in the tomb of Jesus. I was surprised how moving this experience was. Came out from the tomb, in this Eastertide proclaiming, Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Now the scene is set for Jesus world we head tomorrow to Bethlehem and his birth.

Postcards from the Middle East – Day 8

Tim Smith — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:38:50 +0000

Trap cor young travelers, or even old ones for that matter. As Ian said, ‘A schoolboy mistake.’ We rose at 6 am to leave at 6.30. Had difficulty explaining to our driver that we were going to skip breakfast so we could male the 10 am bus from Eilat to Jerisalem, so I pulled out mu trusty translator so he could read it in Arabic. What good value for money that Polyglot application has been.

We got away as planned but as we crossed the border into Israel we noticed the clock reading 10.05 am. We had forguotten to check for time changes. Consequently we had missed the bus and the next one wasn’t until after 2 pm. We decided to catch a taxi to Jerusalem to get us there when we were expected. It probably only cost us a little bit more. So here we are on Jerusalem, smack dab in the middle of Old Jerusalem. From the viewing deck on the roof of the Lutheran Hostel, St Marks Street, Jerusalem we can see the mosque oh the dome of the rock. Will take some pictures before the other pilgrs arrive tomorrow.