The size of this city is amazing. We have the tired feet to prove it.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Athens--sprawling out to the Akropolis and on to the sea
The size of this city is amazing. We have the tired feet to prove it.
Comfort in Catholicity
Lots of times I get asked why we aver our belief in the one, holy, CATHOLIC, and apostolic church. The answer lies in the meaning of the word itself. "Catholic" means "universal" -- the same everywhere. We dipped into that truth about the church this morning, celebrating Pentecost at St. Paul's Church in Athens which labels itself Anglican/Episcopal.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming -- as it should be. Coffee hour was held outside afterward and we had a couple really good conversations with a couple of gentlemen -- both British expats. But the real treat for me was the worship.
It was utterly familiar, yet had some different accents. They had a few wonderful and appropriate additions to the liturgy in light of the fact that we were celebrating the falling of the spirit on the apostles in the cosmopolitan city of Jerusalem. Athens can say the same thing. I couldn't help but hear in my mind, as we were hearing with our ears the list of all the peoples who saw the apostles speaking in each one's own language, a modern version. Instead of "Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Cappadocia . . ." I was hearing "Greeks, Brits, Americans, Frenchmen, Syrians, Liberians, Kenyans, Afghanis . . ., all hearing the Word afresh in their own languages. The setting was wonderful for such a re-hearing. And a terrific reminder that Scripture is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword...
The city of Athens is huge and sprawling. Apparently half the country's population lives here. There are many sections that are dirty and infrastructure is lacking--for instance the sidewalks are a mess, broken, uneven, neglected. Given the incredible stresses on the Greek economy right now, and the austerity measures imposed by the EU, things are really stretched. Apparently there are hundreds of thousands who need to avail themselves of feeding programs. Add to this the fact that there is a huge stress on things from the volume of refugee need...this place is stretched. Perhaps even in an economic depression.
I'm glad we can add just a little to the economy here. They really need tourists here more than ever.
Our guided program starts this evening-in about a half hour. Tomorrow we see the Parthenon and the Akropolis Museum, then leave for one of the islands--Tinos--a traditional site of Greek Orthodox pilgrimage.
Everyone was very friendly and welcoming -- as it should be. Coffee hour was held outside afterward and we had a couple really good conversations with a couple of gentlemen -- both British expats. But the real treat for me was the worship.
It was utterly familiar, yet had some different accents. They had a few wonderful and appropriate additions to the liturgy in light of the fact that we were celebrating the falling of the spirit on the apostles in the cosmopolitan city of Jerusalem. Athens can say the same thing. I couldn't help but hear in my mind, as we were hearing with our ears the list of all the peoples who saw the apostles speaking in each one's own language, a modern version. Instead of "Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Cappadocia . . ." I was hearing "Greeks, Brits, Americans, Frenchmen, Syrians, Liberians, Kenyans, Afghanis . . ., all hearing the Word afresh in their own languages. The setting was wonderful for such a re-hearing. And a terrific reminder that Scripture is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword...
The city of Athens is huge and sprawling. Apparently half the country's population lives here. There are many sections that are dirty and infrastructure is lacking--for instance the sidewalks are a mess, broken, uneven, neglected. Given the incredible stresses on the Greek economy right now, and the austerity measures imposed by the EU, things are really stretched. Apparently there are hundreds of thousands who need to avail themselves of feeding programs. Add to this the fact that there is a huge stress on things from the volume of refugee need...this place is stretched. Perhaps even in an economic depression.
I'm glad we can add just a little to the economy here. They really need tourists here more than ever.
Our guided program starts this evening-in about a half hour. Tomorrow we see the Parthenon and the Akropolis Museum, then leave for one of the islands--Tinos--a traditional site of Greek Orthodox pilgrimage.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Not too ineffable but a whole lot of fun--for Meredith
Hi Meredith, I thought you might get a kick out of this one...a storefront in Lyme Regis. Thanks to Roy and Frances for the tip to visit Lyme Regis!
The Desire to Reunite--take 2
Nature mysticism--sensing God or the Divine or the Ineffable through nature--is as old as the human soul, apparently. So here's one magnificent place we walked today--the destination is the natural sea arch to the east of Weymouth.
This was spectacular enough, but on the way back we encountered this magnificent site--which in itself was quite the invitation to worship.
This was spectacular enough, but on the way back we encountered this magnificent site--which in itself was quite the invitation to worship.
The desire to reunite
Yesterday we began our short stay in England to adjust to European time and decompress. We experienced the usual issues with fatigue from jet lag, but nonetheless have settled in nicely. We are in Dorset, near the coast of England. We're in the little town of Chickerell, west of Weymouth.
We drove past Stonehenge--we were there first about 28 years ago, when a person could actually walk between the stones and touch them. Now it's all roped off...So here's a look from the road; not too bad a picture considering we were going about 50 miles an hour... Then we stopped at Salisbury Cathedral--beautiful, majestic, constantly repaired. When we were first here those years ago the scaffolding was by the west doors--the main entrance. Now it's around the apse in the east. I guess that's progress.
Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral--two manifestations of the human desire to retouch our roots--where we came from--that divine DNA or pattern in whose image we were made, according to Genesis 1. This drive pushes us into our own souls and up to the heavens--or at least to the moon at this point. It pushes our days and gives them meaning. Purpose.
We drove past Stonehenge--we were there first about 28 years ago, when a person could actually walk between the stones and touch them. Now it's all roped off...So here's a look from the road; not too bad a picture considering we were going about 50 miles an hour... Then we stopped at Salisbury Cathedral--beautiful, majestic, constantly repaired. When we were first here those years ago the scaffolding was by the west doors--the main entrance. Now it's around the apse in the east. I guess that's progress.
Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral--two manifestations of the human desire to retouch our roots--where we came from--that divine DNA or pattern in whose image we were made, according to Genesis 1. This drive pushes us into our own souls and up to the heavens--or at least to the moon at this point. It pushes our days and gives them meaning. Purpose.
Stonehenge from a good deal away, and going past at 50 mph.
Below, the interior of Salisbury Cathedral, done in the high Gothic style. Magnificent.
Thursday, May 5, 2016
On the Eve of the Leave, Thursday, May 5, 2016
It's been only 5 years since last sabbatical but it feels like a very long time. Winding down toward leaving I'm reminded how complex the work is in a full time parish position. And I know it will be a similar feeling at the return time in August. The goal is to relax enough to enable good and deep learning in this upcoming sabbatical. It's amazing how stress interferes with that!
We are looking forward to hiking in Greece to monastery destinations and ancient ruins. I'm especially looking forward to being at Yale again for 2 courses for pastors: Leading God's People (based on the book by the same name, a study in how the Church Fathers and Mothers inform our sense of being pastors) and a class that takes us behind the scenes at the Yale museums and various book collections to see ancient artifacts that relate to life in Biblical times. I am hoping for some practical knowledge to inform preaching.
But for now the parish work continues toward Sunday--Mothers' Day, the baptism of a new, beautiful toddler, and a celebration of our Confirmands. Also included will be the very bittersweet time of saying goodbye to a parish couple who have been wonderful members. And life goes on...sadly sometimes.
So here's a photo that reminds me of the Genesis account of the Spirit moving over the chaos of the deep and bringing order. It's Barry's stuff on the bed in the guest room. Good thing there are no guests right now! And like the bringing of order from chaos biblically, I know there will be order emerge from this particular chaos, too. And it will all fit into a duffel bag.
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