A Snow Day at Saint George's Cathedral and College in Jerusalem

St. George's Cathedral Jerusalem--With a Rare Covering of Snow

The College Garden

Canon Henson Improvises to Clear a Path

The College Garden

Great Snowball Snow

Today was supposed to be the second day of the Annual Clergy Retreat for the Diocese of Jerusalem.  There is a wonderful saying, "If you want to make God smile, just tell him your plans." With nasty weather predicted, the decision was made yesterday to postpone the retreat to a later date.  We woke up this morning to 4 inches of snow and a winter wonderland.  We had to get out first thing to take a few photos.  All the major roads in the area are closed, validating the decision.  The folks in the North Eastern US will be amused at the shut down for so little snow--but please note in the picture above that the Sacristan of the Cathedral is shoveling snow with a piece of ply wood.  This is only the second snow since the beginning of 2014, and the first that Judy and I have seen.  This storm has brought major snow to Mount Hermon, which is the primary source of water for the Jordan River.  The Clergy Retreat may be postponed, but abundant water for the summer seems assured.
Thanks be to God!

For as rain and snow fall from the heavens

and return not again but water the earth,

Bringing forth life and giving growth,

seed for sowing and bread for eating,

So is my word that goes forth from my mouth;

it will not return to me empty;

But it will accomplish that which I have purposed,

and prosper in that for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

2015 Begins

Judy and I have begun our second year at Saint George's College Jerusalem.  I remain the College Chaplain, and Judy has become the Course Assistant.  We both feel privileged to be part of the team that opens the Holy Land to so many Christian pilgrims each year.  Together with the college's Course Director, the Rev. Rodney Aist, PhD of the UMC, we are anticipating another year of meeting and greeting 300+ folks from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world.

The year began with a wonderful group that was mostly from Virginia Theological Seminary.  There were 31 in total, almost a full course.  This year the Palestine of Jesus course has been "tweeked"to follow the chronology of Jesus's life a bit more closely.  We track the Incarnation from its beginning with the Annunciation all the way to its conclusion with the Ascension.  We spend a little more time at the Sea of Galilee.  (It was great to see our young future clergy embrace the lake where so much of Jesus's ministry took place.  They have so much energy, and are so spiritual!) We also make it a point to worship with one of the Christian congregations of the Diocese of Jerusalem away from Jerusalem.  This first course of the year worshiped in Nablus at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

The course was blessed with much better weather than one can count on at this time of year--especially when you think of the weather back in New England.

Each course we have speakers from the faith traditions of the Holy Land.  This first course our Muslim speaker spoke touchingly to the life of Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem.  When asked, "What can we do to help?,"  his answer was to pray for justice in the Holy Land, for without it there can be no peace.

We've had a small group in the college for the past few days--members of a larger interfaith dialogue group from the US.  They represent Christian, Jewish and Muslim Americans.  When they asked the same question, our scholar pointed them to the plight of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem who live under the threat of loosing their residency for a variety of reasons.  Since 1967 over 14,000.  He asked them to write their Congressional Representatives, Senators and the President, and ask that America do its part to end the practice.

Our second year is off and rolling, and promises to be as much a blessing to as as was our first.  Thanks be to God.

Mike+