Sabbatical coming to a close...

Dear all--
It is Saturday, July 10th.  Bob and I have traveled from Iona to Oban to Mallaig to the Island of Skye, to Aberdeen and are now in Glasgow, Scotland.  We've seen an extensive amount of countryside and a few castles.  In each place we've sought out artwork done by local people as well as visited art galleries and museums.  It has been a time of immersion in Scottish ways--both island and urban living.

We will head back to the States on Monday, July 12th.  I wanted to post some final pix of Iona and then a few from our trip since then.  It has been a rich, wonderful Sabbatical but I can honestly say that I'm ready to get back home to family, friends and St. Stephen's!

So enjoy the photos and comments with them...and I will be back in church on Sunday, July 18th.  :)  H+

From Iona, we went to an island called Staffa, about 45 minutes north of Iona.  It is known for Fingel's Cave and the unusual geologic formation of hexagonal basalt that forms the island.  Staffa is also a place where puffins nest along the cliffs.  When the boat landed there, we were able to get up on top of the island via stairs ('Get off the boat at your own risk' reads the sign!) to see the puffins.  Then we walked at our own risk down along the rocks into the cave.  

A view of the ring of rocks around the island--hexagonal balsalt!

A view from the top of Staffa.  The puffins swoop into their nests on the sides of the cliff.

David managed to get this good close-up shot of two puffins.  They are quite small and very colorful.

This is the rather dangerous passage to the cave.  The handrail is to the right.  It is there for most, but not all, of the journey into the cave.  And, fortunately, it was low tide for us so there was a longer way down to the freezing cold water in case of a fall.

Finally it was time to leave Tighshee.  David took this shot of the three of us--it was a bittersweet day!

Gwen and her friend, Anya, saw us off a few days later when we left Iona via ferry.  :(

The train from Oban to Mallaig took us through hill and dale.  You might recognize this viaduct from a Harry Potter film!

Mallaig (pronounced Mai leg) was a beautiful small port.  Lovely!

This is Seaview where we stayed in the B&B.

A view from country hike in Mallaig.  After two days in Mallaig, we took a ferry to the Isle of Skye and rented a car.  Skye was fabulous!  We visited local weavers (naturally dyed wool out drying in the sun), held our own against gale winds on a hike and basically settled in at another B&B.

Recently dyed wool drying in Portree, Scotland

Thatched cottages in the northeastern portion of Scotland.  Rocks are hung down along the sides to hold it in place with gale winds.

Old Man Rock:  Can you see the outline of his face?

The Anglican/Episcopal Cathedral of Aberdeen, Scotland

We are aware that in these last few days God continues to bless us with 'gems' through people and events.  Some people might call these coincidences.  We prefer to call them Godincidences.  

Let me give you an example--

On Thursday when we arrived in Glasgow, we decided to take the remainder of the afternoon to get a look at the Glasgow School of Art.  Bob and I were a bit late to jump into an ongoing tour of the school, so waited for the next one to start at 4 pm.  Lo and behold, the tour guide at 4:00 showed up speaking with a clear American accent.  Well, it gets better...He is from the Berkshires and just completed a two-year degree in Fine Arts at the Glasgow School of Art.  Today we went out to lunch together and learned more about his artistic process, his choice of media and future plans.  This is the sort of delight we have experienced throughout our trip!

Tomorrow we will visit some final places in Glasgow and have fresh seafood for dinner.  Then it will be time to fly home early Monday afternoon.

I cannot begin to thank you for all the prayer, good thoughts and support you have offered both Bob and me during these three and a half months.  It has been a once in a lifetime opportunity.  My gratitude to the Rev. Jennifer Gregg and the entire staff at St. Stephen's is enormous.  

I will want to have some significant time with the Sabbatical team as well as the Vestry in order to share our mutual experiences of this Sabbatical.  Prayerfully reviewing through the lens of the Holy Spirit will be our common work in the months to come.  Can't wait to see everyone!

Iona: Spirituality in all of Creation

Dear all--
Words hardly do justice to the palpable presence of Spirit on the Isle of Iona.  I found myself resorting to photography, art and walking in silence in order both to absorb and express the depth of the holy on such a small spit of land (as Gwen calls Iona).  It is hard to believe that the island itself is only three miles long and one mile across.  From north to south and east to west, every inch of coastline offers a distinct character.  As we explored the various beaches and cliffs we felt as if we had arrived in another country more beautiful than the one of the previous day's adventure.

Here is a little photo tour of the island.  We'll start with the Abbey toward the northern section of the island.
We worshipped there on Sundays along with hundreds of other people.  Gwen told us to be there at least 45 minutes ahead of time to get good seats!  On the first Sunday we sat right across the aisle from my best friend in seminary, the Rev. Hazel Glover, who was there with eight teens on a pilgrimage.  :)

-The inside of the Abbey-

There is no formal Choir so we were able to sit in the original Choir seats while able to watch musicians (piano, flute, vocal) play in an alcove on the other side.  All of the music was taught before the service and then led by a music team via sound system.

This is the outside of the Abbey, looking at its northern-facing side.  The scaffolding is set up for pointing that is being done to the stonework on the tower.

-After a Sunday morning worship service-

Walking north beyond the Abbey, there are sheep everywhere.  There is also a magnificent climb to the left up to Dun I which is the highest hill on the island.  Here are some of my favorite shots: of a ewe, a gathering of sheep in a front yard and then a look down from Dun I over an expanse of the island.

A view from Dun I

Along the path toward the northern shore, there is an ancient cross to the right.  It was dedicated by the Duke of Argyll to his wife.

At the end of the path to the north, there are white beaches and sea grass.  Beautiful!

Compare this with the southern tip of Iona called Columba's Bay.  It is rocky and swimming is not allowed because of the rip tide.  From the northern shore to Columba's Bay, it takes approximately 1 1/2-2 hours to hike.  The portion of the climb to and from Columba's Bay is particularly difficult.

Here I am combing the beach at Columba's Bay for green stone.

On the hike coming back up from Columba's Bay.  Whew!

To the east of Columba's Bay is the former Iona marble quarry.  This is a photo taken from a sailboat ride we took around the island.  The quarry work ended when it became too difficult for boats to get close enough to load the marble aboard due to rough seas.

The western coast of Iona has one of the most beautiful beaches called Port Ban.  It is where most people go swimming when it is warm enough (is that ever possible???).  However, Bob did brave it one day and was able to swim about ten strokes before becoming numb and getting out of the Atlantic.

The western coast also boasts difficult hikes/climbs on the hills.

David and I hiked up the second highest peak, my favorite view of Iona.

David, our son, came to spend the final week in Iona with us.  It was a good break from his role as a State Trooper in Rhode Island but the constant sunlight and bleating of sheep challenged a good night's sleep!

Finally, to the eastern shore of Iona you will find the jetty for the ferry and moored boats.  To the south, on the eastern coast, though, is another spectacular beach with many unusual seaweeds, kelp and shells.

Hope that helps give you an orientation of Iona through some visual images.  God, through creation, is everywhere.  

Blessings to you all--

Hannah

Iona was amazing; now we are on the Isle of Skye in Scotland!

Dear all--
We were far away from computer access while on the Island of Iona.  While I could have gone to the local hotel to post a blog, I had no access to my pictures (nearly 500 of them!), so I waited until we were settled in a B&B on the Island of Skye.

Bob and I traveled with Gwen Sears from Boston to Iceland to Glasgow, Scotland via Icelandic Airlines.  We then took a bus to Oban, a ferry to Craignure, another bus to Finnaport and another ferry to Iona.  Once there, we stayed nearly two weeks in a cottage that we rented called Tighshee.

Gwen on the bus to the airport!

Bob and I are ready for the adventure to Iona.

Our ferry into Iona

On the road from the ferry to our 'home.'

 It was roughly a mile from the downtown portion (very tiny) of Iona so that meant a lot of walking for all of us.  Gwen was a real sport and kept up quite well.  The best part of being on Iona with her was meeting all of her friends (the locals) who would pass us on the road, slam on the brakes, back up and poke a head out the window and say, "Gwen, is that YOU???"  The word was out quickly that she was on the island.  Gracious with her introductions, we were included in the 'inner circle' of island life with some of the contacts which made all the difference in the world.

Tighshee!

These were our closest neighbors who were up til sunset (11:30 pm) and awake again upon sunrise (3:30-4 am).  

The Abbey on a foggy morning.

Downtown Iona.  

Amazing ruins of the Nunnery.

I will post more pictures tomorrow after we get a good rest tonight.  All is well.

Gwen is reunited with daughters Deb and Nancy and is en route to England to visit family.  Bob and I stayed in Mallaig for two nights and caught a ferry to Skye this morning.  We rented a car and have each had a turn at driving on the opposite side of the road.  (Pray for us.)

Cheerio!

Hannah

Coming up out of the silence to say a few words...

Dearest friends,
Oh, what an indepth experience I have been through during these last thirty-five days!  And now we are entering what is called the 'Appropriation Days' when we take all of our experiences into prayer and small group sharing to further integrate the learnings for everyday life back home.  The sixteen of us have grown so close to one another as we have eaten meals, shared the hallways and walked the land in silence.  Now we are able to speak with each other in greater detail.

Artmaking and creativity have continued to lead the way for me in this process.  The Ignatian Exercises have led me not to discern what to do in life because it is clear that I am an artist-priest, but HOW to be.  This is important for all of us, but for me as a creative, contemplative soul I am keenly aware of how my daily life needs some reordering in order to live from that basis.  The time with Jesus has led me to clarity around my personal vocation:  To give myself to beauty and delight through creativity.  I look forward to returning to St. Stephen's and begin prayerfully living into this deeper truth as I encourage others to find their authentic, God-given selves.

Here are some pictures of the land as spring gave way to summer in full bloom and intense heat!  Also a bit of my artmaking.

Bob will come to pick me up on Thursday, June 11 and then we are off with Gwen Sears to Iona within a few days!

Much love and deep, abiding faith,
Hannah

Newly plowed field and mountain lupine/poppies growing in another field.

Beautiful poppy!  So lovely and fragile.

A small 2" cross made of eggshell pieces that I painted/decorated.  I made 15 of them, one for each classmate during third week of the Passion/Crucifixion of Jesus.

On left, a watercolor resist done of a stylized poppy.  On right, Hilda sitting on the top of an altered book that I made during my time here...inside are painted/resist covered eggshells waiting to be turned into interesting creations.

Stylized poppies painted on eggshells collected from breakfast over weeks!

My classmates collected them, too, and I've painted about 60 of them.  :)

A close up of some paper fabric made with items from the Guelph land.  I've made each spiritual director a small gift using this fabric.  Much fun!