Sunday

Churches, churches everywhere - how does one decide? I went to the post office to exchange some money (no commission - fun to figure out the lines and process)- then wandered into the Old City. I ended up at the Franciscan Church of the Condemnation (second station on the Via Dolorosa) in the Chapel of Flagellation (marking the venerated place where Jesus was whipped as he carried the cross) - and joined a group from Singapore having a mass in English. This is a normal kind of juxtaposition here.
The theme for this 4th Sunday of Eastertide was The Good Shepherd and praying for clergy and seminarians, so I felt rather blessed. A young man asked if I were going forward to receive communion, and I said "No, I'm Protestant" so he handed me his camera and asked if I would take his picture when he received the cup - and I obliged.
After prayers and benediction - and a lovely rendition of "Amazing Grace," I decided to find a hostel and make a reservaton for May 7 when I return to Jerusalem later. I like the place called Petra - no problem was the clerk's reply to all my inquiries.
Lunch was back at St. George's College and then we headed for the town of Ein Karem, at the western edge of the city -an artsy little town connected with the birth of John the Baptist/Foreunner. We stopped to see two churches there which felt very European - and are more recently constructed than most we have visited. The murals and adornments honored Elizabeth and Mary meeting, and then there was the cave where John was born - it happened somewhere and it is good to remember that John and Jesus had real Jewish mothers.
Our pilgrimage was highlighted by stopping at a gelato stand - mint and halvah, two dips for me. We are now starting to recognize landmarks as we drive past - the Kenneset, the controversial Holyland apartment development, areas we have shopped, eaten, and visited. Back at home base, we met to get instructions for checking out, going home, not to draw attention to ourselves at the airport, etc...a reminder that we only have two more full days here.