Pilgrimage of Friendship

Kia ora! 

That's a Maori greeting that means "may you be well." It's used like "aloha" is in Hawaiian as a versatile greeting or farewell. 

The Pilgrimage of Friendship to New Zealand is underway. The crew of 31 people has been meeting and fundraising for over a year ... and the time has finally come to head to the Southern Hempishere. Thank you to the SOV congregation for your support of this journey. 

Why call it a pilgrimage? Our SOV trips are not mission trips or service trips. We do our best mission/service work locally, within our own community. Our trips more closely align with pilgrimages. A pilgrimage is essentially "an intentional journey in response to the stirring of the Spirit." We spend time together in prayer and devotion, learn about the local culture, and explore. We seek "thin places" where the boundary between heaven and earth is barely discernible. Granted, Juneau itself can be a thin place, heaven on earth. But travel away from home also helps us leave our comfort zones.

Why is this trip a "pilgrimage of friendship?"  Pastor Tari came up with the friendship theme partly because Peter Jackson, the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy, is from New Zealand. The movies were also filmed there. Of course the movies are based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien. Themes throughout the books involve personal growth, friendship, adventure, belonging, and loyalty.  

You will see these themes and more in the devotions over the next 13 days. Written by members of the group, these devotions will be used in their daily small-group gatherings. The group will look at friendship through their personal faith lenses to discuss and explore this lovely and life-affirming gift from God. 

Photo credit: The Day after Waitangi Day. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata! 6 February 2011. Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Digital cartoons. Ref: DCDL-0017011. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22703273