Pilgrimage # 5: What you need to know

Daily schedule

Each day, with the exception of Sundays, will follow a schedule approximately as follows:
8 a.m. - Morning Prayer at the overnight stop
Noon - Mid-day Prayers on the route
7 p.m. - Evening Prayer at the overnight stop
8:30 p.m. - Pilgrims’ quiet time
(Subject to change for some days.)
All are welcome to join Bishop David for morning and evening prayer as well as the special worship services. See the route for the location of overnight stops and specific service times.
Each day’s journey will begin after Morning Prayer. All are welcome to walk with the bishop, but please note that the pace is expected to be 3-4 km/hour.

• • •
Tentative route (subject to change):
Thursday, May 30 - Saint John: St. Luke’s; St. John (Stone); St. Mary and St. Bartholomew; Mission Church at Outflow Ministry Shelter

Friday, May 31 - Saint John: Church of Christ the King; Trinity; Catapult Coffee & Studio

Saturday, June 1 – Kingston: Diocesan Council; evening concert at Trinity, Kingston (their 230th anniversary)

Sunday, June 2 - Kingston Peninsula: Trinity; St. James

Monday, June 3 - Kingston Peninsula to Rothesay: St. Paul’s White Head; All Saints, Clifton Royal; St Paul’s, Rothesay

Tuesday, June 4 - Rothesay to Renforth: St. Augustine’s; Rothesay Netherwood School; Villa Madonna; Saint James the Less

Wednesday, June 5 - Gondola Point, Quispamsis and Hammond River: St. Luke’s; St. Augustine’s; Holy Trinity

Thursday, June 6 - French Village to Smithtown to Upham: St Andrews, French Village; Holy Trinity, Smithtown Rd; St Peter’s, Upham

Friday, June 7 - Barnesville to Upham; Jeffries Corner to Sussex: St. Barnabas, Barnesville; St. Peter’s, Upham; All Saints, Jeffries Corner; Trinity, Sussex

Saturday, June 8 – Waterford: St. John the Evangelist

Sunday, Day of Pentecost, June 9 - Sussex Corner and Sussex: St. Mark’s, Sussex Corner; Trinity, Sussex; Church of the Ascension, Apohaqui

Monday, June 10 - Highfield to Belleisle Creek: St. John, Highfield; St. Simon and St. Jude, Bellisle Creek

Tuesday, June 11 - Belleisle Creek to Springfield; Bloomfield to Hampton: St. Simon and St. Jude; Trinity, Springfield; Christ Church, Bloomfield; St. Paul, Hampton

Wednesday, June 12 - Hampton to Lower Norton to Gondola Pt.: Travel by boat to Church of the Ascension, Lower Norton; travel by ferry to St. Luke, Gondola Pt.

• • •
The diocese strongly suggests you check this site before setting out to join the pilgrimage so you have the most up-to-date route details and information: https://nb.anglican.ca/the-bishop/bishops-pilgrimage

From the bishop: Ready to walk 2019
This year the pilgrimage is in the Saint John and Kingston-Kennebecasis Archdeaconries. There will be a great contrast between the urban and the rural. Please join Trevor and me as we walk. A timetable for our journey can be found on the Diocesan website. If you cannot walk, then come to worship.

As I write I am packing my gear for the next two weeks. I have to think through what is to go. This year there are a number of exciting events along the way, such as the anniversary service in Kingston and the Commissioning of Erin Hodge into Threshold Ministries at St. Paul’s Rothesay.

I am missing Janet as I prepare, because she would tell me what I have not packed. I apologize in advance if I turn up in the wrong place with the wrong thing.

This will be the fifth pilgrimage, and over the four years of doing them, I have come to value the journeys more and more. Not only do they mean that I meet many people along the way, but also I have time to reflect upon living life as a follower of Jesus. The pace slows, people tell me fascinating stories and the natural world inspires.

Since Janet’s death, I have been able to think more deeply about what it is to be a Christian. Theologians such as N. T. Wright have had a great impact upon my thinking. I have particularly reflected upon the ideas of some of the early church Fathers about the nature of being human.

I am coming to the conclusion that it is easy for me to be a synthetic human rather than authentic.
Let me try to explain. Something that is synthetic is essentially made up of components. In human terms this may be who our families say we are, who people we know say we are, expectations laid upon us by ourselves and others. In scripture we are told that being authentically human is to be the image bearer of God in the world.

During my time on pilgrimage this year, I am going to spend time thinking and praying about this further. My conclusions will form the basis of my presentations at our Deep Roots gathering in June.

Anyhow, it is now back to packing. I must remember soap, pillows and a towel. I look forward to seeing some of you on the way.
+David