Dianne is returning from a day of pastoral visits on the Isle of Mull, quite a different experience than in Arlington Heights! Transportation is taking a ferry and a bus and then walking from place to place. No GPS is needed (basic equipment at home), or even addresses for that matter. Everyone knows everyone and where they live, so getting around just involves telling someone who you want to see.  No dressing up - raincoats and walking shoes are the order of the day.  And no need for lunch before going, either.  We can count on tea and scones at every stop!

This is Iona Abbey.  It has been a destination for pilgrims for centuries and is the reason thousands of visitors come to the island each summer.  The Abbey was founded by St. Columba who came to Iona in 563 and who is credited with bringing Christianity to Scotland.  Restoration of the ruins began in 1905, a vision of the Duke of Argyll who owned the island at that time and was committed to restoring the Abbey for public worship. Today it is in the care of Historic Scotland.  The Abbey is in daily use by the Iona Community, an ecumenical movement for peace and justice, who have members around the world as well as resident staff here on the island who conduct morning and evening worship services. Jerry, Rose, and I attend these services whenever we can as they are a wonderful way to begin and end the day.  The worship is a rich and meaningful combination of traditional and contemporary.  It is reflective, yet participatory, and is supported with outstanding music. The Iona Community publishes their worship resources, so I may need to purchase another suitcase! Actually, many are available on Amazon if you are interested. :)

It is lambing season on Iona.  Most of the "crofters" (farmers) on the island raise sheep. There are dozens of baby lambs playing in the fields which we are enjoying watching everyday as we walk.  The lectionary passages the past two Sundays have been about shepherds and sheep, e.g. Jesus telling Peter to "feed my lambs" (John 21), the 23rd Psalm, and Jesus telling the people that his sheep hear his voice and follow him (John 10).  Thinking about those passages as we watch the lambs is like seeing a sermon!

Our congregation on the Isle of Mull meets in two different locations.  The top photo is the church in Bunessan.  It is nestled between businesses on the main street in the heart of town. On Friday mornings the congregation hosts coffee for the community at the Bunessan church as both an outreach and fundraiser.  It is a great opportunity for us to get to know people and also visit the community.

Sunday services alternate between Bunessan and this lovely old small rural church, St. Ernan's in Creich, overlooking a beautiful bay.  It is a little less than a mile from the ferry and is a nice walk in good weather. The building is only used for the alternate Sunday services these days, but it is very important to the congregation and has a special place in their hearts. I think it will have one in ours too!

Today was our first Sunday preaching and leading worship.  Rose and Dianne did a 2-part sermon on John 21.  Jerry served as liturgist.  The weather has been "wild and woolly" the last couple of days - rainy, chilly, and windy.  But shortly before the service this morning the sun came out.  Amazing! Most of the regulars were able to make it to church as well as some visitors.  The Sunday services at different places of worship here on Iona are staggered, so that one can do a morning of "progressive worshiping."  The Episcopal service at Bishops House is at 8:00, Catholic House of Prayer has mass at 9:30, worship at the Iona Abbey is at 10:30, and worship at Parish Church is at 12:00 noon.                                                                                                                                                     

Following the service at Parish Church we caught the ferry for Mull for the service at the church in Bunessan at 2:30.  The wild and woolly weather had returned by this time which made for an interesting ride.  Two members of the church met us and drove us to the service.  Both congregations, though small, love to sing, which is a delight.  They enjoy many of our familiar hymns, though often to different tunes. Tea and cake were served following the service.  On Mull the services alternate weeks between two locations, the church at Bunessan where we were today and St. Ernan's church in Creich (pronounced "cree") where we will be next week.  The ferry had a difficult time landing on our return and our feet got drenched as we needed to wade ashore.  But we are safely back in our lodgings warming up with hot soup after a full and remarkable day!

This is the bank on Iona!  The Bank of Scotland sends a "bankmobile" to the island via the ferry each Wednesday afternoon at 2:00.  It is here for about an hour.  Jerry is coming out the door.  (Notice his new Harris tweed Scottish tam!)  The island has a small grocery store and a general store where most of the necessities are available.  There are also several craft, book, and gift stores which, of course, we visit frequently!  We just need to remember that one Scottish pound is equal to about $1.50 US, so what seems like a bargain probably isn't.

This is a view of the coastline from North Beach, about a mile from the manse and bothy.  We have spent much of each afternoon walking and soaking in the breathtaking scenery. The road along the shore from north to south is about 3 miles. Only residents are allowed to bring cars onto the island, so there are very few and everyone pretty much walks everywhere. The residents mainly use their cars for when they leave the island.  The majesty of God's creation is everywhere and one feels deeply here our connection to the earth. May we all learn to take more seriously our responsibility to honor and preserve and care for it.

This is our new home on Iona! Not really.  This building, built in 1824, was the church manse.  Quite palatial lodgings for the time!  When the Iona church formed a single parish with another on the Isle of Mull, the manse there in Bunessan became the minister's home.  The near wing of this building has been leased to Historic Scotland and is now the site of the Iona  Heritage Center.  The far wing has become a tea room called the Garden Cafe. Proceeds from both support the church. However, the church has preserved a small apartment on the second floor in the center of the building which is Jerry's and Dianne's new home away from home. 
  

Nestled under the trees to the left of the manse is this building called a bothy (pronounced "bawthy").  It is a typical 1800's Scottish cottage, perhaps the minister's servants' quarters as well as shelter for the animals.  This is Rose's home while we are here. (You can imagine the fun she is having teasing us about that!)  You can see some nests in the trees above which are home to dozens of loud squawking crows.  Thank goodness for Rose who loves all God's creatures.  She has made friends with them and adopted them as pets!

We arrived safely to Iona by ferry Thursday evening.  It was sunny and sparkling - absolutely beautiful!  Everyone is telling us not to get too used to this kind of weather though.  They say that more often it is rainy, cold, and windy. But regardless of what is to come, it has been a spectacular welcome!

The tourist season is just getting started but already the ferry was packed with visitors. The islanders seem to have sort of a love/hate relationship with the tourists.  They depend on them economically, but often find the intrusion into their idyllic home difficult. Many people come for a pretty boat ride, to eat excellent seafood, and shop for souvenirs, without appreciating the spiritual significance of this special place. There are others, however, who truly do find Iona to be holy ground, one of those "thin places," where the barriers that separate us from God dissolve and we experience the sacred in profound ways.

We leave for Scotland tomorrow with our friend Rose Taul.  Rose and Dianne have a wonderful opportunity to serve as pastors for 3 months for the Parish Church on the islands of Iona and Mull.  What a treat!  Jerry will help with worship, visiting, and maybe lead a bible study. Scotland is the birthplace of Presbyterianism, of course, and the Church of Scotland founded the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria where we plan to volunteer beginning in September.  Do you think God is up to something?  Getting to Iona is an adventure in itself - 2 planes, a train, a ferry, a bus, and another ferry.  But getting there is half the fun, right?