Pilgrimages

Every year, Mayflower members set off on pilgrimages. The outward journey facilitates the inward spiritual journey. And while living together intensely for a week or two, we learn the joys and rigors of living in intentional Christian community.

Past pilgrimages have taken Mayflower members to the Philippines, Guatemala, Turkey, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota, and Ghost Ranch Spiritual Retreat Center in northern New Mexico.

Turkey In 2012
Team Lead Minister Rev. Sarah Campbell and former Mayflower Senior Minister Budd Friend-Jones will lead another pilgrimage group to Turkey in late 2012. See details here and full itinerary here. Some commonly asked questions are answered here.

Israel and Palestine Travel Seminar: June 18–July 2, 2012
Mayflower's own Rev. Dr. Eleazar Fernandez will co-lead an educational group to Israel and Palestine. The trip is sponsored by United Theological Seminary. The trip provides an opportunity for participants to see closely the Israeli-Palestinian context and listen to people's stories of survival, struggle, and hopes. Part of the trip will be to engage in conversations with individuals who have devoted themselves to the ministry of dialogue and peace-building. There also will be opportunities to visit holy sites that are central to the major religious faiths in the area.

Contact the travel seminar's co-leaders for additional information:
Dr. Eleazar S. Fernandez, Professor of Constructive Theology
Dr. Peter Makari, Area Executive, Middle East and Europe, Global Ministries

Trip fee: $3,445 (covers airfare, lodging, meals, and land transportation; does not include audit fee for non-degree students and tuition for degree students)
Registration fee for non-degree participants: $235.00
Tuition fee for degree students

Four Mayflower Members Join Pilgrimage To Haiti and Colombia
Rev. Karen Smith-Sellers, Rev. Richard Sellers, Thom Haines and Diane Haines spent ten days of immersion in the witness of United Church of Christ global mission partners in Colombia and Haiti in December. Karen is the UCC's Minnesota Conference minister; Dick is currently moderator at Mayflower. Thom is the Minnesota Conference representative to the UCC's Wider Church Ministries Board and the Common Global Ministries Board. Check out their blog here.