DAYA Enews -August 2009 Article

Reflections From Our Pilgrimage

“New York City? Did you say New York City? For a pilgrimage? … I’m in.” As a relatively new member of the Episcopal Church, received in October, I have been eager to take advantage of opportunities to learn more about the church and to meet other young adults who share my faith. The New York pilgrimage met both of those goals plus a lot of fun and an opportunity for personal spiritual growth. Lauren Woody did an amazing job organizing the trip to allow for a good mix of sightseeing, service to others, spiritual growth, two performances, and even an entire day of connecting with several departments at 815 Second Avenue including an hour and book signing with the Presiding Bishop Katherine.
Wednesday was my favorite day. Lauren, Elizabeth, David, Tiffany, and I all went for an unexpected subway tour of the Bronx after we missed our stop. Later that we morning, we strolled through the amazing park surrounding The Cloisters, which is a primarily religious art and architecture museum own by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After lunch, we traveled to the actual Met. Lauren had scheduled for us each to have audio tours at both museums so while we stayed together as a group, we were also each able to take our time and select the exhibits most meaningful to us as individuals. I particularly enjoyed the American art wing at the Met.
This relaxing time surrounded by history represented in so many beautiful things allowed me to process all of the meetings at 815 Second Avenue the day before. As I studied the different and similar ways civilizations have understood their world and worshiped their gods throughout the centuries, I felt more able to connect my experiences and my understanding while glimpsing the very small role my life plays in humanity’s tapestry. To top the day off, we worshiped at Smokey Mary’s for 12:15 p.m. Eucharist and ate lunch with a couple of the congregation members. This break in the day allowed me to re-center on the purpose of pilgrimage and further connect my faith and the modern Episcopalian order of worship to centuries of church worship.
For all of you were unable to join us, you missed not only one of the best deals on travel for the season, but an amazing time learning about American and Episcopal Church history and yourself. Most importantly, you missed a wonderful opportunity to connect with some amazing young adults in the Diocese of Atlanta and with the community of New York’s Manhattan. Please consider the DAYA trip opportunity next year even though I doubt Broadway’s Lion King and an opera called Shakespeare Comes to America will be on the agenda. ;-)

-Alayna Price