Primary photographer

2. It was an honor to have my sons, Joel and Adriel, accompany me on my professional development experience. Primary photographer

3. Naked Anabaptists & Celtic Clothes Reflections and pictures of my learning trip to London, England and Iona, Scotland April 28-May 16, 2011

4. Prologue: With the death of Christendom in the UK (and all Europe), there has been a profound shift in Christianity in recent decades. Layover in Iceland! April 29

5. They are searching for new models of radical faith that can help the church be relevant and authentic in this new era. Lava fields

6. There has been a rediscovery of some of their own past found in Celtic Christianity Steam geysers

7. As well as a discovery of radical movements on the continent, like 16th century Anabaptism caves

8. mountains

9. These movements can be a beacon of hope to all of us in the 21st century lighthouses

10. Part 1: London In the backyard at London Mennonite Centre

11. There were no Anabaptists in the UK between 1575 and 1950 when this was opened. We stayed in the guesthouse here and I spent some time reading and doing research, and even met a “naked” Anabaptist! April 29 – May 6

12. I found a mug with my personal motto on it

13. Some people in history have become overly radical! Highgate Cemetery close to LMC (inset, grave of Karl Marx)

14. London has its tourist sites where the rich and powerful establishment ran the British Empire and the Church of England. Buckingham Palace

15. Westminster Abbey I am not a royal watcher so we did not pay to go in to see the wedding decorations!

16. St. Mary’s Church (Henry VIII and other royalty buried here)

17. St. Paul’s Cathedral

18. The British Museum: Full of wonderful (and pillaged by the Establishment) items relevant to the Bible and ancient history, e.g. the Rosetta Stone

19. Gareth & Socrates: Any resemblance?

20. And then there were some establishments that traded one for another, and if they didn’t get their way they started over on another continent. Houses of Parliament with statue of Oliver Cromwell

21. A walk on the other side of the city where Anabaptists and other nonconformists lived and were killed The nonconformist graveyard…

22. where… …and other religious and political dissidents were buried

23. Anabaptists came over the channel from the Netherlands to preach the good news but met an early death Smithfield Common (where the last Anabaptists were executed in 1575)

24. The Society of Friends (Quakers) were an English radical group beginning in the 17th century Bunhill Fields, where Quakers worshiped and are buried

25. Founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers)

26. John Wesley also broke the status quo another century later as he proclaimed, “The world is my parish” The plaque on Aldersgate St. where he had his conversion experience

27. Traveling to all these places helped us to get to know the underground transportation system in London quite well. We also visited a few places of popular interest…

28. Abbey Road

29. View of the Tower Bridge from the London Bridge

30. Hamlet at the Globe Theatre

31. Peter Pan flying at Kensington Gardens

32. Part 2: Iona May 6-13 It was a pilgrimage just to get there… train from Glasgow to Oban

33. Celtic Christianity took root on the fringes of the Roman Empire in Ireland, Wales and Scotland. View from the train

34. Columba founded a monastery on the Isle of Iona in the 6th century that became a focal point for Celtic Christianity View from the train

35. ferry from Oban to the Isle of Mull

36. bus on a narrow one lane road across the Isle of Mull

37. Welcomed by the Iona community

38. The topic for the week- “Becoming Human, Becoming Spiritual: An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality” Celtic Christianity is characterized by: Bay at the Back of the Ocean

39. 1. Monasticism The ancient monastery where we slept, ate, learned, worked and worshiped.

40. Daily Schedule: • Rising bell • Breakfast • Morning worship • Chores • Teaching Session • Lunch [1 PM] • Afternoon walk • Tea time! • Supper • Teaching Session • Evening Worship • Lights out

41. 2. Local liturgies The altar in the chapel

42. Part of the group taking a break on a pilgrimage around the island

43. 3. Martyrdom St. Martin’s Cross at dusk

44. Martyrs’ Bay

45. 4. Focus on Creation “A thin place”

46. Panoramas of the island

47. Marking an important spiritual experience at Columba’s Bay

48. Epilogue: Driving on the other side of the road illustrates an alternative way of being Christian  Driving from Glasgow to London May 14-15

49. Wall of the Empire Hadrian’s Wall, 122 CE

50. Hiding place of a dissident