Sardis, Pergamum and Beyond

Today as we left Izmur, we were to see two of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation (Rev 1:11), the church or Sardis and the church of Pergagmum. All seven churches are located in the western part of Turkey and each is addressed individually in Chapters 2 & 3 of Revelations. All the scripture passages to the seven churches mention words of praise but point out that they are not yet ready and more preparation needs to be done for the second comining of Jesus. At the sites we read the scripture passagees for the churches from Revelations and we prayed. Grace has been flowing at each destination and this day was no different. Walking along and placing ourselves among these ruins and the church history that connects us has been a very moving experience.

Walking Along the Road

It was another day of amazing grace walking in the footsteps of St. Paul. Our first stop the ancient city of Ephesus. St. Paul spent three years here, so I was mindful of my steps today. Some were uneven and some may have been a bit off balance, but with each one I continued to lift each of your intentions. The city was an incredible sight, as you can see from the pictures I've included. I made sure to visit the best stops along the way, the Beverly Hills of Ephesus terraced houses up along the hillside, and the library that housed 12, 000 scrolls on heated shelves (I was really missing my students and colleagues at home).

But one of the most deeply moving experiences was my walk toward the sea. I really felt the intercession of St. Paul, and a closeness with the Lord as I contemplated this part of the journey. There was much discussion going on and though I did walk along with everyone, I was stepping deeper and deeper into prayer every inch of the way.

I was reminded even from the begining of our walk along this road today that this was the way to follow the Good Shepherd, from the readings throughout the day, to the shepherd tending his flock along the hillside as we entered the ancient site. One small sheep followed along a bit behind the others, and I heard within me, " I am the Good Shepherd." As this thought entered my mind, I recognized it as invitation from Jesus to follow him, and as I reflected further, I remembered that just before arriving we prayed Morning Prayer together and cried out with Psalm 5:

To my words give ear, O Lord, give heed to my groaning.

Attend to the sound of my cries, my King and my God."

I knew with an expectant faith that the Lord was inviting me to come deeper, and to carry you along with each step, whether smooth marble or uneven stones were beneath me, Jesus supported my feet, an assurance and a hope.

Biblical Antioch of Psidia, Laodicea, and then to Pamukkale

Well, today was another grace filled and Spirit filled day. Our morning journey took us to Antioch of Psidia located 1Km northeast of the modern day town of Yalvac. Antioch of Psidia was a capital city for many different cultures because of the economic, military and religious activities of the region. St. Paul gave his first sermon to the Gentiles here (Acts 13:13-52) and visited the city once on each of his missionary journeys helping to make Antioch a center of Christianity in Anatolia. As we approached the city it was apparent this was going to be a special day. We walked on the streets where Paul most likely walked and as we looked down you could see the grooves in the stones of the streets from the chariots and carts of that day. Then we walked to the theatre and listened to the reading from Paul to the Galatians, it was a powerful moment of reflection and grace. Though Paul probably preached in the synagogue, I could only imagine what it might have been like when Paul spoke.
As we approached the end of our walk we came to the Great Basilica (church of St Paul) and gathered for liturgy. What a powerful moment to celebrate the sacred liturgy on the site where St Paul walked. God was truly with us as we broke bread together and shared in the body and blood of Jesus. We are very blessed pilgrims to celebrate the liturgy together in this place.
Our entire day was filled with treasures and grace as we continued on to the city Laodicea and on to Heirapolis where we saw more excavated ruins and saw the famous Pamukkale hot spirings. I will share with you more about these in the entries to come as well as our future sites. Thanks for your prayers and May God's Blessings be with you all.

Today was again busy but oh so blessed by the sweetness of the Lord's love. We were off for Tarsus today, the home of St. Paul, and we were able to see the site of an ancient Roman road, ruins, and the well of St. Paul. It's amazing to reflect on life at the time of Paul walking on that road. The service that he provided after his conversion and formation in the Lord, and the love and commitment he had for God and the people on his journey, how passionately he surrendered all.

The next part of our day was a surprise of love, and amazing grace, a witness for us all. We left the site of the well of St. Paul where we went on to the Church of St. Paul in Tarsus, opened most often as a museum. But during this year - the year of St. Paul, the Sisters have allowed it to be open for pilgrims to have Mass there. When we arrived at the convent just minutes after leaving the well, we were filled with the water that only God can provide. Since there was already a Mass going on in the church, they had made another space for us in the convent itself. Watching one of the three Italian sisters care for all the details of attending to making the space ready, and providing hospitality for us, was touching. They are the only Catholics in Tarsus, and they stay to witness Christ's love for His people. How tenderly they hold and care for the people of God and how passionately they surrender all. What a loving witness!

The sister even stayed to celebrate the Mass with us, what a beautiful anointing of grace we received during our liturgy and fellowship together. Answering the call to serve we were moved to encourage and support their work in Tarsus. And so we try to continue to be open to the journey, open to the call of the Holy Spirit, and to follow the Good Shepherd.

Later on in the day, we were on to the sites of two other ancient cities that are merely mounds right now, because excavation has not officially begun. Derbe and Lystra two other places that Paul spent time preaching and healing. Interestingly enough, we needed to be guided back in the right direction by a young shepherd boy herding his flock of sheep back home from the pasture. How many times do we need to be guided back onto the right road by the Good Shepherd himself and to come back to the well to which we are called, the well of living water. Only then can we be refreshed and restored to live, to love, and to serve. Only then can we receive the love and healing that we need.

Letting in the Light

Today was a day of letting in the Light. We had an early morning wake-up call at 4:15AM and where was the light? As we stumbled on our way through morning routine and onto the road we wondered about the light of this day. What would it bring us? We were excited but our journey from Istanbul to Adana and Antioch had just begun. Our drive to the airport became a maze of maneuvers routed around the May Day labor movement blockades and police patrols, turning a bus around in a narrow street, not to mention going the wrong way down a one way street. Through it all there was a peace covering and filling us. What was this day to bring?

In the airport we encountered other small stumbling blocks of misplaced tickets, and items that had fallen out through the security check points. Yet through it all again there was a presence of presence of peace covering and filling us. Our one hour flight to Adana proved to be a gift of the Holy Spirit and a letting in of the Light.

All of us found our seats and were looking forward to continuing our morning fellowship aboard the short flight to Adana, but Kathy ended up on the other side of the aisle from Dr. W, Fr., and I. She was at first disappointed, but what a gift was to come. Before the flight took off, two Young Turkish women sat down in the seat next to her. I was glad to see that she wasn't going to be alone, but I hoped they would be able to speak English.

After the flight was underway, I looked over to see the most amazing sight. She had here bible open and was talking excitedly to them both. Then she asked Fr. and Dr. W. about a reference to St. Paul in Tarsus. And we all began praying. And there was a letting in of the Light. As I watched her looking for the reference in the Acts of the Apostles, the young woman sitting next to her actually found it first and began pointing to it on the page. What a beautiful witness took place and her eyes were opened. She couldn't believe that the home town of her father, Tarsus, which was also the home town of St. Paul, was actually there in the bible. The conversation delightfully unfolded and we knew that the hand of the Lord was guiding us, and the Holy Spirit was with us.

When she told us about the story, she was overcome with emotion. This was another intention for all of us to lift in prayer today. We were being called to prayer by the Lord, just as if it was prayer time near a mosque, the melodious voice of the Lord rang out in the Light of the day.

We continued on our way to the site of ancient Antioch, currently Hatay, and onto the site of St. Peter's Grotto. Along the way it was drawing us more deeply into prayer. We all felt it, there was a buzz of energy in the air, then we saw them the prayer caves of the monks upon the side of the hill. What a blessed time for us in this holy place. Kathy even managed to make her way into one of the prayer caves. What a powerful presence of God we felt there, as the Light streamed in from the window and door covering us, drawing us, filling us.

Later in an added side trip to a House Church in Antioch not far from the Cave of St. Peter's, we listened to Word of God from the Acts of the Apostles and again the Light of the Holy Spirit touched us all so deeply. On the road to Damascus, "a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him," Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-20. There on the road to persecute more Christians, he met Jesus. We too had the experience of seeing Jesus in the Light, in our fellowship, in our prayer and worship, in the breaking of the bread at the table, in the Light filling us in the cave, and as one young women whose eyes were opened met Him there in the witnessing of the Word, Jesus himself the Light of the World, touched us all .

"We are a pilgrim people, we are the church of God." - One Spirit One Church

The Pilgrims Were Sent

"So he got up and set out." Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40.

Today was a day of travel and setting out on the road. Not knowing exactly what the Lord had in store for us after our overnight flight to Istanbul. We had time to get to know each other and to become accustomed to the time difference as we walked a bit blurry-eyed through the streets of Takism Park Square to find our way to the house of the Lord. Along the 2 mile road we marvelled at the wonderful mix of modern and ancient culture in the people from the traditionally clothed women in long dresses and scarfed heads to the innocence of youthful school children costumed in their Turkish dance clothing; we marvelled at the wonderful mix of modern and ancient culture in the buildings from the high rises changing the distant new city skyline to the 2nd-4th century aqueducts and old stone city walls; and we marvelled at the wonderful mix of modern and ancient culture in the food before us from the American influence of McDonalds and Burger King to the Turkish Delight, Turkish Kebobs, and Turkish pancakes. From all around us the heartbeat of the people seem to say as one man along the street said to me, "Welcome to paradise." But Paradise is not of this world, so what was the Spirit of God speaking to us today.

It truly is a place of coming together! Mostly I just marvelled at the Lord. He led us down this amazing street that about 2.5 million people a day walk and our destination was St. Anthony's Church. When we found it, we went inside to pray and rest in the Lord. And truly we did find it, we all felt a coming home. Surely this is the Paradise the Lord is drawing us to, a coming home in Him. Just before we left the church after lifting up all of our prayers and yours before the Lord, I met a woman who told me a bit of her story. She introduced herself to me a an Ethiopian refugee. She said she has been here in Istanbul for a year, but that it is hard for her. She said the people at the church were helping her. I felt the warmth of God, and assured her of our prayers. So we all went on our way, and I spoke of her need to the members of our group that were with us.

Later in the evening the rest of our group arrived in time to share a meal together and then to have Mass, the real meal, as we joined in our hearts with Jesus sharing in his Word and in the breaking of the Bread. Sitting there hearing the Word of God from the Acts of the Apostles, I understood just how present the Holy Spirit was with us today. In the reading Philip was sent out to minister to an Ethiopian eunuch to share the Word with him, life through Jesus, and he baptized him. Philip was taken up by angels as the Ethiopian went away rejoicing. God revealed himself to us through the witness of the Ethiopian woman taking refuge in Istanbul and being helped by the church.

As a group we lifted up her need as well as yours.

And our prayers rise like incense before us!

So we pilgrims have set out on the road with the warmth of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and the hand of the Lord himself to lead us to Paradise, as we too are drawn deeper into His heart sharing His love with the travellers on the road before us.

"We are a pilgrim people, we are the church of God." The Servant Song

Prayer Postings

We would love to take you all with us, but our suitcases are definitely a bit cramped already.
The next best thing is to pray for you and your intentions, so that we can be together in spirit. We will be lift your up daily asking that you will be blessed with abundant grace as you take this journey with us. If you have a specific intention please send it to us, so that we can pray for your needs as we join our hearts together with our fellow pilgrims.

We love you all and are grateful for each of you in our lives. Please pray for the grace God desires for us as we follow the footsteps of St. Paul.