Pere Marquette Lodge

Pere Marquette was a French Jesuit explorer who founded the first European settlements in Michigan and explored much of the upper Mississippi. He's a big name in this region.We spent the night at Pere Marquette Lodge, about an hour northwest of our home. It is just across the road from the Illinois river and about an hour northwest of our home. Children, more than serious adult players, love the giant chess set.       

Renewal

It's an old observation that spring is a time of renewal, the season when the earth starts another cycle. Something like that is happening in our home: it is Mrs.C and my 44th anniversary. Two people from about as different backgrounds as Americans could have, a farm in Kansas and an apartment in New York, have held together a long time. We are looking forward to many more years together.

The two of us, our daughter and our granddaughter, are taking a quick weekend trip to Pere Marquette Lodge in Illinois, on a bluff overlooking the Illinois and Missouri rivers. Photos starting tomorrow.        

Almost Like Being In Japan

Except that I could read the signs. We've been to Japan a few times and the only characters that stuck in my head are the words men and women (as in restrooms), entrance and exit, Tokyo and Kyoto, and oddly, the symbol for the possessive because it looks like the Western @ sign. The Japanese garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden is large and gorgeous, particularly on a cloudy early-spring day.         

Water Tower - Village of Spanish Springs, The Villages

Mosaics of the Magdala side chapels

.
Greetings to the many Orthodox Christians who are celebrating Easter Monday today.
It might be the right day to give you the final installment of my description of the new Magdala Center on the Sea of Galilee.
(My previous posts are under Magdala.)

Thank you, people of Singapore, for donating this side chapel.
In the reflection is the main Boat Chapel.

I will quote the descriptions from the official website, since they explain it best.
You can click on the photos to greatly enlarge them and enjoy the details of the wonderfully colored tesserae.

Each of the four chapels are home to a mosaic that illustrates events from the public life of Jesus and each mosaic is an open window inviting us toward the infinite love of God in the Gospel. Each chapel has enough room for up to 30 people and an expressive mosaic depicting a biblical event near the Sea of Galilee. They are realistic representations in dialogue with the original sites and invite us to meditate the Gospel scene in its authentic context.
The first chapel facing the lake is the Walking on Water Chapel, representing the story in Matthew where Peter’s faith was tested by walking on water with Jesus. “‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?'” Matthew 14: 29-31 NIV

The second chapel facing the lake is the Fishers of Men Chapel, representing another story in Matthew where “Jesus Calls His First Disciples”. “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”    Matthew 4: 18-20 NIV

The other is dedicated to the daughter of Jairus. This holds great significance because she was the only woman whom Jesus raised from the dead. In this we see the Magdala messages woven together. “He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.”     Mark 5: 41-42 NIV

 

You might enjoy the story of Jerusalem's 1867 school called Talitha Kumi.

Our tour group was in such a rush that I somehow missed the fourth important chapel, so you will have to see the photo at the Magdala website.

One of these chapels is of course the Mary Magdalene Chapel, where we remember the story in Luke of Jesus casting out demons. “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out.” Luke 8: 1-2 NIV

Magdala is a Catholic spiritual center being built by the Church of Mexico.
They are doing a really good job.   Do stop in if you are in Israel.
.
(Linking to inSPIREd Sunday, Monday Mural,  and Our World Tuesday.)
.