• Wed. March 10th - Worship Services - Continue the third week of your Lenten journey by attending a worship service at 7:30 pm: Evening Prayer (Vespers) with a brief drama presentation each week on Prayers of the Passion.  Click here for more info about Lent.
• Wed. March 10th - WOW - Worship, Word & Witness
  • — Soup Supper @ 6pm, Confirmation/Learning/Music for children/Youth “It” and Adult Bible Study @ 6:30, Lenten Worship @ 7:30
  • — If you’ve taught a WOW bible study class or are interested in doing so, please click here to see the calendar for open dates and send an e-mail sign up for a shift (or sign up in the Narthex). Thanks for supporting the children & youth of HCLC.
  • — It’s time for WOW Spring meal/activity contributions. Please click here for more info or send an e-mail for details
• Thurs. March 11 @ 7pm - Holy Comforter Cottage Meetings begin - Click here for more info and other dates.
• Sun., March 14 @ 9:30 AM - Jennifer Cuthbertson presentation on ministry in Keyna and Japan
• Sun., March 14 - HCLC Blood Drive from 7:45 to 1:00pm. Sign up today to be a blood donor or if you are unable to donate, we always need refreshments for the donors and workers.  Thanks in advance for giving the “Gift of Life.”  For questions, contact our new Blood Drive coordinator, Joel LeFevre at 281-883-6103.
• Tues., March 23rd, at 7 pm - Compassion in Action (Being Effective in Emotionally Difficult Conversations) which shows the art of communication with people when difficult emotions arise.  Click here for more info.
• Sun. March 28 - Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion. Worship at 8:15 and 11:00 AM, with the children singing near the beginning of each service.
  • —   Wed., March 31, worship at 7:30 PM with drama presentation
  • —   Maundy Thursday, April 1, worship at 7:30 PM
  • —   Good Friday, April 2, worship at 7:30 PM
  • —   Easter Vigil Saturday, April 3, worship at 7:30 PM
  • —   Festival services of the Resurrection on Sunday, April 4, at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 AM, with leadership by choirs, brass, timpani, and handbells.
• Wed., March 31 @ 6:00 PM - First Communion Class, Dinner will be provided
  
• April 11 - First Communion Celebration
• April 16-18 - Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Assembly in New Orleans
• July 11-16 - Confirmation Camp at LutherHill

• Holy Comforter School would like to thank everyone who came out and supported our Night in Italy Fundraising Dinner.  The school raised over $2,500 towards new playground equipment.  Look for exciting, new playground structures coming this summer.

• Did you know that with another $155 we will fund a well for Water to Thrive. We look forward to next month to pay for a well. Thanks for your support!

• As you may remember, our budget for 2010 does not include funds for special musicians.  It has become our custom to have a professional brass quartet help lead and enhance our worship on Easter Day.  Funding for brass customarily has come from special gifts and budget.  If you would like to contribute to this endeavor, your gift will be appreciated.

• We congratulate Martha Circle for making all those beautiful quilts that were in the church last Sunday.  There are exactly 104 quilts that will be sent to Lutheran World Relief to be sent to various countries all around the world.  There were also 69 Health Kits that were put together by the Women of the ELCA that will go with the quilts.  Job well done!  What a life changing ministry to the world
• We have the white Lenten crosses that you see in many yards throughout the area available in the church office.  These crosses are a Christian witness to the community.  A $5 donation is suggested for each cross.  
• WE ARE GOING GREEN!!! Have you seen the Green Box in Luther Hall?  That is a part of our “Green” Campaign.  Please bring your recyclables, bottles, plastic, and aluminum cans to fill up the box.  Thanks to Michele Dykstra for her efforts in obtaining the Green Box from Kingwood Green.
  • — Also, we are no longer mailing a copy of The Stimulus by regular mail. Stimulus & Worship Ministry schedule now online. We will still have a few hard copies available of each publication for pick up at the church. Sign up in the left blue bar of the website to receive newsletters via e-mail!
• Pennies for Haiti, an HCLC Preschool Service Project.  Preschool students have been collecting pennies to help with Haiti relief and have collected a grand total of $360.  Thanks to IT/High School students for rolling all those pennies and a big thank you to Lori Snyder (preschool teacher) for coordinating this ministry and to the high school youth for participating.
• Gathering Place - The Gathering Place is celebrating its 4th year of service to our community.   We are currently looking for volunteers to help with this important community service. Click here for details.
• Keep the Pony Express moving along the trail.  Bring or mail your pledge card to church.
• Music Ministry Opportunities - Did you ever want to be a ringer?  We especially need handbell ringers in our bell choirs.  Both groups have openings.  Please consider whether God is calling you to music ministry at Holy Comforter.  Questions?  Contact Marsha Seale.  Join us!
• Worship Sacks - Worship Sacks are available in the church lobby for our younger church goers.  These bags are full of quiet distractions.  With personal donations, funds from the Media sale and help from the new Singles Ministry, our sacks have never looked better. Click here for more info.

5.28 - I’ll be headed to Israel tomorrow afternoon where we’ll be
studying first century Jesus followers.  We are going to walk where the
man Jesus walked as He battled the enemies of God’s people:  the
empire, the devil, and death.  My hope is to chat with you all while
there via this blog.  (Please keep in mind that: I’ve never kept a blog
and I’m attempting this endeavor for the first time while abroad.
Forgive me if…..but praise be to God if I’m able.)  So keep an eye
out…..and please keep me and my travel companions in your prayers.

6.10
- I finally have limited access to a computer with internet.  All is
good here –  Israel and Palestine toured.  I even did a stint in the
Dead Sea.  In Jordan now headed to Petra in the morning.  Have lots to
share with you when I return.  Blessings. PB

6-11 –  Back where
I have internet access…and guess what…..I’m headed back to Houston
in about 2 hours.  I’m currently in Amman, Jordan (near Mt. Nebo–
Moses…wanderings…Promised Land and the like).  Our journey home
will take about 13 hours flying time and about 8 hours of airport
time.   Pray for our safe journey home. Watch this sight…..I’ll write
about the trip here when I get back……and it will be good. 

Peace, my friends.  PB

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For the past five years or so, I’ve been begging Pastor Marlin Wogstad (colleague and dear friend) to lead a study trip for pastors to the “Holy Land”.  Marlin has traveled extensively throughout throughout the world, is an incredible scholar, and a great man of faith.  Finally, after five years of nagging, Marlin relented, put together a fine itinerary with a fantastic New Testament Scholar Dr. Ray Pickett of Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (formerly of the Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest in Austin), and a fine group of theologians (myself included).

Before any of the Marlin and Ray Study Trips (of which now I’ve been on three–  Rome, Turkey, and Israel/Jordan) an extensive reading list is prepared and expected to be undertaken.  Not wanting to look dumb in front of my colleagues, I mean, always wanting to be prepared, I feverishly devour the list, or at least read enough to appear to be quite scholarly.  Seriously, it is refreshing to be directed by a current seminary professor and a retired seminary professor in academic pursuits again.  I feel I must continue to learn for the faithfulness and success of my ministry at Holy Comforter.

A few books titles for this trip included:  “Prophet and Teacher:  An Introduction to the Historical Jesus,” “Palestine in the Time of Jesus:  Social Structures and Social Conflicts, Archaeology and the Galilean Jesus,” “The Birth of Christianity:  Discovering What Happened in the Years Immediately After the Execution of Jesus,” “The Historical Jesus:  The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant,” “God and Empire:  Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now,” “The Holy Land:  An Oxford Archaeological Guide.”  We also utitlized a couple of journal articles including “The Galilean Fishing Economy and the Jesus Tradition” and “Jesus and the Renewal of Local Community in Galilee:  Challenge to a Communitarian Christology.”  Our primary text for the trip was, of course, the gospel of Mark while also comparing the Q document (from the German Quelle, “source”) a postulated lost textual source for the gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke.

Having said all that, why were we going to the “Holy Land”?  Above I gave you a few of my reasons, and I’m sure my colleagues had a laundry list of their own.  As a study group, our purpose was, in part, to “See!  Walk!  Feel!  Think!”, I”m assuming Jesus (according to Marlin).  We were going there to examine what factors of society, geography, economy, and politics impinged on Jesus–  peasant, “community organizer”–  that color the gospel narratives.  We were going there to see what the walk, the sights, and the feel of the land would contribute to our theology, to our preaching of the gospel, and to our own self-understanding.  Huge endeavor, huh?

So over the next few weeks or so, I’d like to spend some time reflecting with you how this all went.  Keep in mind I’m still processing it all, and probably will be for years, But Jesus did something to me while I was there……and remember……”changed people change churches”.

More tomorrow………Peace, PB

One more thing:  THERE WILL BE PICTURES!! 

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6-30  The reflections Israel/Jordan continue….As I review the itinerary, I am reminded of the long lines at Bush Intercontinental Airport and the long flight from Houston to Frankfurt.  I wonder, “Why are some people so mean to others?  Pushing, shoving, ugly looks, all because of some self-imposed self-importance and the belief that “I” should be first.  No, I’m not just talking about my colleagues.  :)  Oh wait….the answer to that question is simply SIN–  where “I” am in the middle of it all.  “I, I, I.”  I am the sun and the universe revolves around me.  Me, my, and mine are the most used pronouns in the English language.  Oh, Where is Jesus?  I wish to see Jesus.

Now from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv.  We take a short van ride to Jerusalem.  Here is what I see…

“The trip of my dreams!! and I am actually here, in Jerusalem.  I can’t believe it.”  (Oops…”I, I, I.”)  During our stay in Jerusalem, Christ Church Guest House will be our home away from home.  It is a beautiful complex including an Episcopal church, living areas and gardens just inside the Jappa Gate, inside the Old City Wall of Jerusalem.  My room is tiny

but I have my own bathroom AND, almost as important, we are in the midst of it all in Jerusalem.

First impressions of Jerusalem….hot (over 100 degrees), lots of cars, lots of people, lots of commotion.  Could have been Houston except there was no humidity and there were thousands of Hasidic Jews rushing about everywhere.  Hasidic Judaism (also transliterated as Chasidic etc., from the Hebrew: חסידות , Hasidut, meaning “piety”, from the Hebrew root word חסד chesed meaning “loving kindness”) is a type of Orthodox or Haredi Jewish religious movement.  As compared with other Jewish movements, Hasidic Judaism tends to focus on the role of the Rebbe (or Rabbi) as a spiritual conduit of God.  Hasidic followers join worship groups associated with dynasties of Hasidic spiritual leaders.  Each dynasty follows its own principles; thus Hasidic Judaism is not one movement, but a collection of separate individual groups with some commonality.

The teachings of Hasidism are founded on two theoretical conceptions: (1) religious Panentheism, or the omnipresence of God, and (2) the idea of Devekus, communion between God and man.  ”Man,” says the Besht (Baal Shem Tov), “must always bear in mind that God is omnipresent and is always with him; that God is the most subtle matter everywhere diffused… Let man realize that when he is looking at material things he is in reality gazing at the image of the Deity which is present in all things.  With this in mind man will always serve God even in small matters.”  The tzaddik (righteous person) is in constant communion with God, even in their worldly affairs, since they also feel His presence in daily life.

A special form of communion with God for the Hasidem is prayer.  In order to render this union complete the prayer must be full of fervor, ecstatic, and the soul of the person who prays, must during their devotions, detach itself from its material dwelling.  For the attainment of ecstasy, recourse can be had to mechanical means, to enthusiastic bodily motions, to shouting and singing (hence the rocking that is seen at the Western Wall).   According to the Besht, the path to God is in sicerity and fervour, rather than cold intellectual reasoning.  (For more information about Hasidic Judaism, check out the world wide web.)

Back to Jerusalem….hot, busy, and lots and lots of different peoples from different ethnic backgrounds and differing religious beliefs.  I am amazed.  I am in Jerusalem.  And tomorrow begins the tour……So my friends…..more tomorrow.

PB

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We try again to enter the tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Once again, after patiently waiting at the door of the tomb, we are turned away.  Took advantage of the time there and snapped a few more photos.

Way up to Golgotha

Tomb of Jesus

(Pictures 268 - 286)

We now head to Masada through the wilderness passing the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth. (Pictures 287 - 318)  On to Qumran, where Essenes lived and where Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Many ritual baths found here and they held all things in common.  Scrolls were hidden after fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  40,000 fragments found.  (Pictures 319 - 327)  Now a dip in the Dead Sea. (Pictures 329 - 334)

We see Tel of Jericho which is the oldest city in the world of 10,000 years and lowest city on earth. (Picture 340)

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This is an absolutely breath-taking view.  Think of the history this place has seen.  Think of the lives, the deaths, and the new beginnings that have taken place here.  Notice the “pointy” steeple to the left of the Dome of the Rock (golden dome to the right of the center in the picture).  This is the steeple of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (ELCA).  More on the Temple Mount and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer later.

We now visit the Chapel/Mosque of the Ascension which is located at the highest point of the Mt. of Olives.

Tradition says that it is here that Jesus ascended into heaven.  There is a rock inside with an imprint of his footprint.

This site has been a place of worship for centuries beginning first in a cave located here.  The first building was erected in 392.  The present building dates back to Crusader times and was remodeled by Muslims in 1200.

Now on to the site of the Sanctuary of Eleona (translation, olive tree) built by Helena (mother of Emperor Constantine) in 333.  Here is located the Pater Noster (Our Father) Chapel where tradition says that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray.

Halfway between Bethany and Jerusalem is Bethphage.  Tradition says that here Jesus borrowed the donkey for His ride into Jerusalem (on Palm Sunday).

At this site is a rock from the road on which tradition says Jesus rode.

From Mt. of Olives is incredible view of the Eastern Wall of the Temple Mount.  Between the Mount of Olives and the Temple Mount is the Kidron Valley which is filled with Jewish cemeteries  (a.k.a. Valley of Jehoshaphat believed to be where humanity will one day be judged by God).

We then walked the Palm Sunday route down the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem through the Garden of Gethsemane–  Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which was probably Jesus poking fun at the Empire and their war celebration processions.

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus taught and rested and retreated.  Here is the Church of All Nations.  Tradition holds this as the sight where Jesus cries for His Father to take the cup from him.  This building was erected in 1924 but has been a site of worship since 379.

We now move on to the cave where, tradition says, Mary, the mother of Jesus was buried (Transitus Mariae) and where Jesus and His disciples slept in the Garden, and where the kiss of Judas took place.

We hop into our bus for the short trek over to the Lion’s Gate where just inside is the Church of St. Anne where Mary was born to Anne and Joachim.

Nearby are the Bethsaidia Pools for cleansing sheep for Temple sacrifice and for healing.

We now walk the Via Dolorosa–  the way of the cross.  Tradition says this is the way Jesus walked to Golgotha.  It is also noted that this path is defined by faith and not by history.

Thousands upon thousands upon thousands of believers make the pilgrimage each year to walk the way of the cross, the Via Dolorosa.

Along the route are numbered plaques, shrines, chapels, and churches to indicate places for adoration, worship, and prayer.

Station 1                Chapel of Flagellation

Station 2                Chapel of Condemnation

Station 3                Jesus falls

Station 4                Jesus sees His mother

Station 5                Simon of Cyrene helps        (Picture 71)

Station 6                St. Veronica wipes brow     (Picture 72)

Station 7                Jesus falls

Station 8                Jesus tells Jerusalem women

to cry for selves not for him

Station 9                Jesus falls third time

Station 10              Jesus stripped of garments

Station 11              Jesus nailed to cross

Station 12              Jesus dies on cross

Station 13              Jesus taken from cross

Station 14              Jesus laid in tomb

Stations 11 through 14 are located inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

In 326, Constantine built the first church on this site after removing a temple built by Emperor Hadrian in 135.  The original site was destroyed by Muslims in 1009.  Restoration began in 1012 and have been various building projects thereafter.  This Church is “cared for” by the Latin Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Orthodox Syrians, Copts, and Ethiopians.    The enormous tomb monument was built in 1810.

Near the entrance of the church is the Unction Stone (stone where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.  Pilgrims place items (rosaries, oils, etc.) on the stone for blessing.

More on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre later.

Now a quick stop at the Western Wall Plaza (Haram esh-Sharif).  This is a portion of the retaining wall for the Temple Mount that was built by Herod in 29 BC.  The purpose of this part of the wall was to support the Temple.  Today the Western Wall is venerated by Jews as the sole remnant of the Temple.  It is the closest permitted accessible sight to the holiest spot in Judaism.

Be nice….I just wanted to touch the rock.

Lots and lots seen today.  I have a few reflections from the day….but we’ll save those for tomorrow.  Peace, PB

—-

July 2…More…Rather than jumping on to the next day of the tour, I’d like to reflect a bit so far.  The day spent on the Mt. of Olives, Kidron Valley, Via Dolorosa, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre was eye-opening, or at least piety jarring.  In one day, we had visited the places I longed to see, so what would be the point of the rest of the trip.  I was done; except that while at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we were not able to go into the Tomb of Jesus.  The line was too long.  We decided that we would return another day.  So now I had my reason for the tour to continue.

More later….

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TOUR DAY TWO

July 2nd - On the next day of the tour we drove the short trip to Bethlehem (approximately five miles).  Before entering the town of Bethlehem we have to cross a checkpoint at the dividing wall where Palestinians cannot cross over into Jerusalem and Israelis cannot cross into Bethlehem.

We stop at the Chapel of the Shepherd’s Field where tradition says that the angels spoke to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of the messiah.

Shepherds hung together.  Shepherds rested in caves with their sheep.  They slept during the day while the sheep grazed and were safe from predators.  Shepherds guarded their sheep at night, when it was most dangerous, by coraling sheep in caves while they guarded the entrance.

As mentioned earlier, these traditional sites have, for centuries upon centuries, been sites of worship and devotion.  Here at there Shepherd’s Field are ruins from 3rd to 5th century monastery.

Now on to the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem–  a Lutheran presence in Bethlehem since 1901.  Me with the Pastor and others from this church and school.

The next stop on our tour is the Milk Grotto where tradition says an angel appeared to Joseph instructing him to take his family to Egypt to escape Herod.  Before they left for Egypt, Mary fed her infant son Jesus in this cave and drops of her milk fell onto the floor.  Many say this is a site of miracles.

Now on to the Church of the Nativity.

The current entrance is from the Crusader period.  Tradition says that it is here that Jesus was born

and laid in the manger

Other areas of this site enshrine the traditional house of Mary.

Now to Herodium located in the Judean desert.  Built by Herod between 24 and 15 BC.  Here he entertained Agrippa, son in law of Augustus in 15 BC.  Herod’s tomb is possibly located here.

Now head back to Jerusalem.  On way are Solomon’s Pools (where King Solomon swam).  This was the major watersource for Jerusalem.  Aqueduct was built by Herod.

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We go to Hebron.  This is where the Tomb of the Patriarchs are located within a synagogue/mosque.  Today Hebron has a population of about 500,000.  We first stop at the oak of Abraham.  There to greet us is the keeper of the oak.  He is a Muslim man with 4 wives and 33 children (from 38 years to 6 months).  The oak of Abraham, tradition says, is where God told Abraham that he would have a son, and later, to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice.

We now head to the Tomb of the Patriarchs –  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their respective We go through a market area.

Market in Hebron

Alongside is an Israeli settlement.

Israeli settlement in Hebron

We then hit another checkpoint with high security.  We now enter the mosque side of the tomb.  In Mosque (Picture 240) area, where I had to wear covering (Picture 240) are tombs of Sarah, Rebekah and Isaac.

Tomb of Sarah

Tomb of Rebekah

Tomb of Isaac

Only one way down to the tombs.

(Picture 247)  In synagogue area (Picture 253) are tombs of Abraham, Jacob and Rachel.

Tomb of Abraham

This was Herod’s monument to the patriarchs, but now is divided in two.  On outside is tomb of Joseph just inside checkpoint.

Tomb of Joseph on left under archway

(picture 252)

We head back to bus via Israeli settlement rather than market.

Israeli settlement in Hebron

One position

Israeli settlement in Hebron

Division between the two

(Pictures 254 - 261).  Here’s graffiti from the other side. (Picture 262)

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Travel Log | Foreword | Arrival Day | Tour Day 1 |
Tour Day 2 | Tour Day 3 | Tour Day 4 | Tour Day 5 |  Tour Day 6

Below you will find reflections on my journey to the Holy Land. The original goal was to keep an online travel log (or blog) as the trip progressed, but internet service was sporadic, so my entries were few and far between. However, upon returning, I’ve been able to transcribe my notes about the trip and provide tour details, photos and reflections about my amazing journey to the holy land. You may read entries chronologically below and click “MORE” links for each entry that include additional information and photos, or you may peruse the links above at your leisure.

Thanks for listening friends, PB

TRAVEL LOG

5.28 - I’ll be headed to Israel tomorrow afternoon where we’ll be studying first century Jesus followers.  We are going to walk where the man Jesus walked as He battled the enemies of God’s people:  the empire, the devil, and death.  My hope is to chat with you all while there via this blog. MORE>

FOREWORD

6-29 REFLECTIONS ON THE TRIP TO ISRAEL AND JORDAN NOW THAT I’M HOME…I begin this morning by pondering the simple question, “Why did I want to go to the “Holy Land”?  Traveling to Israel has been a dream of mine since childhood. MORE>

—

ARRIVAL DAY

6-30  The reflections Israel/Jordan continue….As I review the itinerary, I am reminded of the long lines at Bush Intercontinental Airport and the long flight from Houston to Frankfurt.  I wonder, “Why are some people so mean to others?  Pushing, shoving, ugly looks, all because of some self-imposed self-importance and the belief that “I” should be first. MORE>

—–

TOUR DAY ONE

July 1st - The first day of the tour begins with a short bus ride from Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives.  On the way we get a great view of the Temple Mount. This is an absolutely breath-taking view.  Think of the history this place has seen. MORE>

TOUR DAY THREE

??? MORE>

TOUR DAY FOUR

We go to Hebron.  This is where the Tomb of the Patriarchs are located within a synagogue/mosque.  Today Hebron has a population of about 500,000.  We first stop at the oak of Abraham. MORE>

TOUR DAY FIVE

We try again to enter the tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Once again, after patiently waiting at the door of the tomb, we are turned away.  Took advantage of the time there and snapped a few more photos. MORE>

TOUR DAY SIX

Today we head to Nablus (Shekem).  On way we see Mount Gerazim where Abraham was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God and where Jesus was tempted. (Picture 346) We visit Jacob’s Well where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman. MORE>

Now to Sebaste (Greek for Augustus) built by Herod.  Also where John the Baptist was killed. (Pictures 370 - 380)

We then attempted to go to Mt. Gerazim but had to go through Samaritan Village.  It was the Sabbath so the site was closed.  We were “greeted” by a troop of Samaritans only to be swept into the house area of a Rabbi.

Reflecting again 7/7 on Tour Day 5

We try again to enter the tomb of Jesus at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  Once again, after patiently waiting at the door of the tomb, we are turned away.  Took advantage of the time there and snapped a few more photos.

Way up to Golgotha

Tomb of Jesus

(Pictures 268 - 286)

We now head to Masada through the wilderness passing the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth. (Pictures 287 - 318)  On to Qumran, where Essenes lived and where Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Many ritual baths found here and they held all things in common.  Scrolls were hidden after fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  40,000 fragments found.  (Pictures 319 - 327)  Now a dip in the Dead Sea. (Pictures 329 - 334)

We see Tel of Jericho which is the oldest city in the world of 10,000 years and lowest city on earth. (Picture 340)

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