Iona Happenings

On top of Iona Dun overlooking north shore and youth hostel

Team building games at Iona youth hostel

Fancy dinner at Iona hostel where we hosted our Iona hosts, John and Michele

Catch-Up Narrative

July 15, 2010

Today’s another birthday:
This is Racheal's big day
so we drove to Holyrood Palace,
but the queen's guards turned us away.

We did have to stop
for the queen's motorcade to pass
Seeing all of her entourage
is a memory that will last.

The royal archers and knights
were everywhere we went
We saw quite a few
as our morning was spent.

Touring Edinburgh Castle
With Karen our guide
who distracted the St. Margaret’s Chapel guard
while we sang and prayed inside.

Then down to St. Giles
we walked all as one.
We entered Thistle Chapel
Just after the queen's service was done.

The weather was better
so off to Inchcolm, Iona of the East
We ate on the boat
with our replenished picnic feast.

Charles led an "umh" meditation:
find a note and hold it as long as you can;
but these music savvy youth
soon broke into "Ba-ba-ba-ba-barbara Ann."

The seagulls overtook Inchcolm
In the midst of their nesting season
So we couldn’t venture on some paths
(we were being divebombed is the reason).

Then birthday girl Rachael
And Elise saw a grassy hill
They decided to roll down it
And with bird do-do had their fill.

We went to a special Italian restaurant
To celebrate Rachael's birthday
Where we said goodbye to our friend Karen
Whom the youth with remember always.

Then back into town
To see a Scottish music show called Stramash
But across the street they all noticed,
“It’s the cemetery behind Rowling’s Café – oh my gosh!”

So these Harry Potter groupies
Ran across there with glee
There’s a guy called Tom Riddle
Whose grave they just had to see.

After the show
We allowed them to roam
After they finally found his grave
We then all walked back home.

Edinburgh AND Iona

Tuesday - July 13 (continued)


We arrived early in Edinburgh
(the traffic was light)
All the youth felt like grown-ups:
Independent apartments tonight!

Since the early arrival
Allowed for extra activity
We browsed and shopped the Royal Mile
For which these girls have an affinity.

A short stop at the grocery store
Just up the street
Where we purchased our in-room food,
3 days worth to eat.

Pizza, soup and salad
Followed by prayer in the group suite
Then all off for bedtime
(Finally – off of our feet!)


Wednesday – July 14

Most opted for cereal
For a breakfast bite in their apartment
Then we met for morning prayer
Before our morning appointment.

We met our guide Karen
(adult pilgrims: remember last year?)
Experiencing her lively personality,
The youth were glad she was here.

We drove to Rosslyn Chapel
And were treated so well
A private session with the education director;
Fiona had many stories to tell.

Then a tour of the Chapel
With Karen, Fiona, and the Rosslyn guide
3 experts at once:
So many chapel secrets to “unhide.”

We topped it all off
With the service at noonday
They allowed us to sing
And Fr. Marty to pray.

After a skip to the “loo,”
The Maid of the Forth telephoned:
The ship couldn’t dock in rough weather
So Inchcolm Abbey was postponed.

So we picnicked on our bus
On which to Dunfermline we’ll be ferried
Where St. Margaret was married,
And Robert the Bruce there is buried.

This had never been planned
An exciting twist in our plot:
For no other pilgrimage group
Had been even close to this spot.

Then back to Knight Residence
For an exciting event.
A progressive dinner to prepare:
To each apartment we went.

And not only that
But an additional surprise:
A murder mystery party
Complete with costume supplies.

So it was starters at one place
And salad at the next
Then the main course at Fr. Marty’s,
Finally, dessert for each murder suspect.

This was all a surprise planned by Debra
And the youth were shocked when they heard her:
For when she revealed the night’s agenda said,
“Tonight we will have: a murder!”

The look on their faces
Made us all laugh a lot
And the funny characters we all took on
Added to the whole plot.

A great way to celebrate together
and Demery’s birthday as well,
We’ll all come back to Boynton
With funny stories to tell.

Afternoon walk to iona abbey for spritual exercise

Demery with the iona locals

Edinburgh to Iona

Here are some pictures of Iona off the web so you can see what our Pilgrims are seeing. Click on the picture for a larger view. Also a couple of links if you'd like to know more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iona
Iona (Scottish Gaelic: Ì Chaluim Chille) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Celtic Christianity for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination. Its modern Gaelic name means "Iona of (Saint) Columba" (formerly anglicised "Icolmkill").

Iona Ferry

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/iona/ionaferry/index.html

Baile Mor, Iona from Fionnphort Ferry

Insel Iona

Celtic Cross in Iona

Iona Abby

http://www.isle-of-iona.com/abbey.htm

Iona Abbey Inside

http://www.ionahostel.co.uk/

Edinburgh

The Pilgrims enjoy another day in Edinburgh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh

Tomorrow... travel to Iona.

At the statue of Greyfrier's Bobby in Edinburgh

At the tomb of Robert the Bruce in Dumferline Abbey

Morning prayer in Edinburgh hotel

With Fiona, education director at Rosslyn Chapel

16th birthday girls blow out candles

Debra made the birthday cake with Donna and Nancy

Inside the chapter house at Inchcolm Abbey

With the queen's royal archers

On the pier at Inchcolm Abbey

Pilgrims at Inchcolm Abbey

Glasgow

In 2010

On July the twelfth,

We departed for Scotland

With all in good health.

The travel was easy,

Which made our burden light,

And thanks to coach seats on US Air,

The group felt “very tight.”

And a pilgrimage first:

A quick trip with no lags

And when in Glasgow we touched down,

So did all of our bags!

And like pilgrimages of old,

Angels came to our aid,

To assist as we needed

For a smooth trip to be made.

There was the unnamed man at US Air,

Who speedily checked us in for our flight

Then driver Ian and guide Aileen,

Both a delight.

At the cathedral of St. Mungo

Where we visited and prayed.

We sat near his tomb

Reflecting on the journey we’d made.

This group has prepared

An extra year more than the rest

They are smaller in numbers

But we pray – also the best.

We remembered John McKague

Our J2A facilitator back home,

Who due to his job commitments,

Could not with us roam.

We had free time in Glasgow

For shopping and for lunch

The youth “surprisingly” chose McDonald’s

(Which confirmed Fr. Marty’s hunch.)

Now we’re driving to Edinburgh

A 90-minute ride,

Some sleeping with I-pods

Others talking and playing cards.

Remember: pray daily for our pilgrims; Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1 (from Sunday’s epistle.) 

Love,

the Pilgrims

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Cathedral

Commissioning

This Sunday we commissioned our Pilgrims, and their leaders. Please follow along as they participate in this life changing event and allow us, their church family, to share the experience.