Pilgrims on a Journey

Contemplating the role of pilgrim in a conversation with the Lord, these words from The Servant Song were brought to mind:

"We are pilgrims on a journey.
We are travellers on the road."

And on the road we will be to the following cities:

• April 30 Istanbul
  
• May 1 Adana
  - Drive to Antakya, Biblical Antioch, & St. Peter’s Grotto
  
• May 2 Konya
  - Depart for Tarsus, St. Peter’s well, drive to Biblical Derbe, Biblical Lystra, and then to Konya (ancient Iconium) for the night.
  
• May 3 Pamukkale
  - Yalvac, Biblical Antioch of Psidia, Laodicea, and then to Pamukkale.
  
• May 4 Kusadasi
  - Aphrodisias, Miletus, then on to Kusadasi for the night.
  
• May 5 Izmir
  - ancient ruins of Ephesus, Basilica of St. John, Temple of Artemis,
  and the house of Virgin Mary, then on to Izmir.
  
• May 6 Assos
  - Sardis, Asklepion and Acropolis of Pergamum & Asclepion, then on
  to Assos.
  
• May 7 Istanbul
  - Assos, Alexandria Troas,and Troy, then on to Istanbul where we
  will stay until departure on May 10.

Preparation and excitement for the journey ahead arise within us as we read and pray with the life and the words of St. Paul. The following passages from Dr. W have been a guide to us:

Acts 13-20 Paul’s missionary journeys. The narrative into which all these cities fit.

Galatians Possibly written to the first set of cities we’ll visit in Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe,
and visited by Paul on all three of his journeys.

Colossians Written to a city in the Lycus Valley that was evangelized by one of Paul’s
coworkers. The other cities in this area are Laodicea and Hieropolis.

Ephesians The letter that bears this name was probably written to the entire region of Roman
Asia of which Ephesus was the capital.

1 Timothy Paul wrote this letter from prison to Timothy, who was acting as the “bishop”
overseeing the church there. It depicts Paul’s instructions for the church of
Ephesus

2 Timothy Ditto, except this one focuses less on the church in Ephesus and more personal
advice for Timothy.

Rev 1-3 This contains the prophetic messages to the seven churches, five of which we will visit: Ephesus, Pergamon (Bergamon), Sardis, Laodicea. and Smyrna (Izmir).

May you be blessed as you walk with us!

"We are called to help each other walk the mile,

and bear the load." The Servant Song

Blessings and peace to you,

The Pilgrims