February 1 - Final Preparations
Welcome to my "blog!" Actually, I hope to "journal" some of this amazing experience I am about to have, but I cannot promise an on-going "blog." Since I have no control over my schedule once I arrive in London, I do not know if I will have access to the internet, or time to journal if I have the access. Suffice it to say my goal is to make an entry AT LEAST from each city that we visit. Hopefully, there will be time and internet access to share more with you as I go along.
First stop is London, where we are scheduled to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is the "head" of the Church of England - otherwise known as the Anglican Church over there and the Episcopalian Church here in the US. We will get to tour the Church House, which is their "headquarters" as well as participate in a Service of Evensong (Evening Prayer) at Westminister Abbey.
Then we're off to Istanbul, Turkey. There we will meet with the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, Bartholomew. Since Turkey is a Muslim country, our visit there will be somewhat different. I am looking forward to adding to my collection of icons, as the Orthodox (Greek, Armenian, Russian, etc.) are very devout in their use. We'll visit a monastery there, and the seminary where Orthodox priests are trained.
Third stop: Rome. After Pope Benedict XVI completes his weekly public appearance in St Peter's Square, we are to have a private audience. I have no idea what happens there, but I'll know alot more after it happens! While in Rome we will visit St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican museum (including the Sistene Chapel) as well as the catacombs beneath the Square. We will visit ancient churches where Peter and Paul walked, and sit with many representatives from the Vatican who work in the field of ecumenical dialog (with Lutherans as well as other Protestant groups.)
Finally, our trip concludes in Geneva, Switzerland, where we will meet with leaders from the Lutheran World Federation (doing wonderful work right now in Haiti) and the World Council of Churches. These days will be filled with working sessions, and we will get to share some ideas with ecumenical students who are studying in Geneva at these organizations.
Then I will return to Kansas, just in time to be with you for Ash Wednesday services. It will be good to be back with you for the beginning of the Lenten journey - and you can be sure I will bring many new stories to share.
Meantime, I ask for your prayers to accompany our delegation of 16 as we journey near and far and make new friends from other Christian expressions around the world.
Take good care of Pastor Roger while I'm gone!
Blessings, Pastor Susan