Well yesterday I wrote a blog post and added pictures, but something happened after posting the pics and all the text went away. So here goes a big catchup entry.
As previously noted, Oxford was wonderful and preaching in the chapel at Keble College was really something. It’s a beautiful, overwhelming space with a multi million dollar pipe organ being installed (so lots of scaffolding)! Jen has pics of the incredible mosaics behind the high altar, so will try to post them soon.
Also as previously noted, we missed our train to Paris due to a Eurostar mixup with the tickets. End result – they paid for a night in London and upgraded us to first class the next day. So Jen and I arrive at the train station Tuesday in plenty of time, are escorted to the first class lounge where we are pampered. We don’t know how to behave that way! They called for boarding and since no one else in the lounge got up, we didn’t either. So they called final call and we decided we better head down to the train. Of course, the elevator got stuck and we were a few minutes getting there, to learn the boarding had closed!ARRRGH! We begged and whined and they opened the doors to let us on. Whew.
The train ride was very fun and so smooth! Wish we had high speed trains in the US, it’s a great way to travel.
Our hotel in Paris is lovely, and we were put in a junior suite because our standard room was booked. It’s very nice with a great view of the square right down the street.
We are quite near the Louvre and other venues, so an ideal spot. Tuesday after arrival we were booked for dinner at the Eiffel Tower and a cruise on the Seine River. What fun! Although both events were with a lot of unknown to us tourists, we had a great time. Dinner on first level of the tower, then we rode up to the 2nd to look around. Astounding views! The top was closed due to congestion, so we skipped that and had a lovely hour long boat ride on the Seine.
Wednesday we just strolled around the river, a lunch on the Seine and just relaxed. It was GREAT!
Paris is ULTRA crowded, traffic is horrible and the lines for everything are very long. Thursday we rode an open top bus around town and saw a LOT of sites. We were scheduled to go on a bus to Versailles, but our open top tour got stuck in traffic and we missed it (do you see a pattern here?). They allowed us to swap to Friday, thank goodness. So we hopped back on the open bus to see another loop of town that we hadn’t seen before. There is SO much to do here.
Today (Friday) was museum day! We rode the bus to Versailles and toured the palace and gardens. Absolutely incredible. Then afterwards we took in both the Orsay and Louvre museums (Louvre is open late on Fridays). Both were amazing and overwhelming, but we were pretty exhausted afterwards, realized we had skipped lunch, and stumbled to a local cafe for a decent dinner.
Tomorrow we are on our own again, nothing formal planned. Will see a museum or two probably and perhaps another river-side picnic! Should be fun. Sunday we return to London.
I am not going to load pics this time so hope this post works. Blessings to all!
David

It’s Monday the 13th, Internet access has been limited since we arrived in Oxford, and today we leave England for Paris. Oxford has been a great stop. I preached last night in the Keble College chapel, what a great experience! Learned so much about Oxford University and all the various colleges. Keble is the largest of the colleges and a beautiful place. The chapel is amazing, will post pictures soon.
We arrived Friday after a long flight that included 2 hours on the runway in Atlanta waiting on weather to clear up in Boston before connecting for an overnight flight to London. We took a bus to Oxford and were met by my friend, the chaplain at Keble, the Rev. Jenn Strawbridge. St. Patrick’s folks will remember Jenn as she lead several volunteer groups to Camp Coast Care from her previous job at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA, one of our main adopting churches after Katrina. It was so great to see Jenn again and reconnect with her. She is the first female chaplain in Keble’s history, and her appointment was not without its detractors.
On Saturday we did an open bus tour of Oxford – really fascinating. Had fish and chips at the pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien used to hang out. Walked through Christ Church College with its beautiful cathedral and the dining hall where much of the first two Harry Potter films were made. Saturday the weather was beautiful, although a bit cool with some rain late.
Pentecost Sunday was another matter as it rained all day and was quite cool. Felt like England to us! I attended church with Jenn that morning at St. Mary Magdalene, a parish near the school. Very, very high church – it was a lovely service. The building is so pretty and quite old (old is a whole new perspective over here. As St. Patrick’s approaches her 50th anniversary next year, Mary Magdalene is the sight of a church for over 1000!).
Chapel Sunday night was at 5:30. The choir, composed of students of the college was amazing! They are installing a new pipe organ so we could not use the high altar but the service was really nice and the sermon well received. I think they even could understand most of what I had to say, without a translator! Dinner was in the dining hall where we sat with the Warden and his wife at the high table. It really was Harry Potter-ish! The dining hall at Keble is the longest in Oxford. No one eats until the Warden arrives and bangs a gavel, then once he begins to eat, the rest of us could. After a great meal and conversation, we stood as he said grace, and all the students stand until the Warden and guests walk out, then they can leave. Jennifer and I were fascinated.
I have to leave now for the train to London, then EuroStar to Paris. Much more later!

Addendum:
Rode the train to London from Oxford. When we got to the Eurostar station our reservations were not there! It was five am New York time, so by the time we reached our travel agent the train was gone and all other trains today were booked. Travel agent confirmed Eurostar messed up so we are on first class to Paris tomorrow and a free night in London hotel tonight. We will still spend five days in Paris and will shave one off our London return, no big deal.
Tomorrow dinner at Eiffel Tower!

We arrived home from Israel about 1 am Thursday morning. Jet lag was in full swing as we had been traveling for almost 24 hours. I must say the security procedures in the Tel Aviv airport were impressive, nor did they take long either. They know how to do it!

The flight home is longer than the flight over there, I guess due to going against the winds. Our seats were taken by a sleeping baby, but the flight attendants helped relocate us and took great care of us on the way home – thanks Kevin!

Before leaving for Israel, I had been plotting a surprise party for Jennifer’s 50th birthday. Mackenzie took on all the hard work and hosted the party at her new apartment in Jackson. A lot of our old Jackson friends, from pre-seminary days, were there, along with Chelsea and John and Mackenzie and Wynne and Mackenzie’s roommate, Brooke. Jennifer was totally surprised. We got her good! That was Friday night in Jackson, then Saturday morning I took a small sabbatical detour to celebrate with Clelie (and four others) her ordination to the Transitional Diaconate. I had told her I would be out of the country for the event, so surprised her as well. It was a great service and the St. Pats acolyte crew was fantastic!

Played golf with John, Chelsea’s boyfriend (and former St. Pats youth minister) Saturday afternoon, visited a local church Sunday morning, and headed to Hattiesburg. Monday was a mixed day as Jennifer had an ortho appointment. Her knees were horrible on the Israel trip, very swollen and painful. An MRI showed major arthritis and some new cartilage tears. Doc says only surgical option is total knee replacement in both knees! UGH! It never ends for the Knights. But we are trying some other remedies in hope we can avoid the replacements for quite awhile. Poor Jen cannot catch a break. Afterwards had a great visit with my parents before heading home.

At home we are doing the laundry thing, mowing the yard, and getting ready for the next trip. We leave early Thursday morning for London / Oxford / Paris / London. Will post again from the other side of the pond!

Part of my spiritual discipline during the Sabbatical is a focus on some daily prayer disciplines. I thought I would share these with you and invite you to join me.
In addition to saying the Daily Offices (I have the BCP and lectionary on my phone and Kindle, easy for travel), I am using some other materials as well. Phyllis Tickle is a popular Episcopal author and her Divine Hours series are excellent. Using the ancient practice of praying the office hours throughout the day used in monasteries and convents for centuries, she provides prayers with included Scripture readings, Psalms, and hymns for the various hours. She has books for different seasons as well as a smaller, more generic traveling version (which I am using on my Kindle).
While on our tour a new friend I met who was also on board recommended a book of daily devotions called Jesus Calling by Sara Young, and I have included that reflection the last few days.
I pray for our staff, Fr. Ted and Lynne, and vestry and wardens daily, and have divided the church directory so that I pray for each member once a week. I hope you are praying for me and my family as well. I also hope some of you will commit to daily prayer of some form or fashion and will share with me when I return how that was for you.

God bless!