Fr. Jacob's December 2015 Newsletter Message

Pilgramage

I've baptized hundreds of children with every sort of name you could imagine, but I have never christened a child named Willibald. William yes. Willibald, no. Yet it is only due to the changes and chances of time that one name survived and the other did not. Both were used by the Anglo Saxons.

In the eighth century AD, an Anglo Saxon Christian named Willibald, persuaded his brother Wynnebald and their father, to leave their lands and power in the west of England and travel. It was a hard business. The father died on the journey. The brothers were split up. They were imprisoned. Willibald went blind for two months. He was attacked by a lion. The journey took seven years and Willibald never returned home.

I feel a weird sense of connection with these distant English travelers. For like me, they left their family to go on pilgramage. Like me, they desired to see the Holy Land and to tread where Jesus trod. Like me, they travelled back through Constantinople. Like me they longed to see Rome, and bend the knee where Christians have prayed since the Apostles.

My journey will not take seven years. Instead I will be on pilgramage for two months. Two weeks in Israel, a week in Instanbul (what they used to call Constantinople), then Rome, then home to England and onwards to the USA. The bishop and the Vestry graciously granted me this sabbatical time and I appreciate greatly all those who made this pilgramage possible.

Whilst on pilgrimage in Israel I will be studying with St. George's College which is part of the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. I will be living in Jerusalem, close to the Old City, and visiting with them in Galilee, Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Jericho. I leave Jerusalem and fly to Istanbul. It's now the capital of Turkey but was once the capital of a great Christian culture. I am especially looking forward to praying in what was one of their greatest churches - Hegia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, From there I fly to Rome - city of martyrs and saints and thence onward through England and New York and back to Billings.

My Sabbatical begins Monday 28 December and ends Wednesday 2 March. During this time please support your parish. Fr. Jerry will be, as I say it, acting Rector and Rev'd Gretchen will continue to serve as Deacon. Please show them your love and support. Please be gracious and kind hearted to them. Please do show your supppor for your Vestry and Wardens.

Whilst I am on pilgramage there will be a single Sunday service at 9:15 am, from Sunday 3 January - Sunday 28 February. Saturday services will continue at 5:00 pm. All of the celebrants and preachers for the weekend services during my sabbatical will be listed on the noticeboard in Naumann Hall.

Willibald never returned to England from his pilgramage to Rome and the Holy Land over a thousand years ago. I however will be back, God willing, on 2 March. Please pray for me as I for you.

Much Love,

Fr. Jacob