You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6: 5—7
Going on vacation? Have you thought about seeking God as you relax and play? Here are some ways to turn your vacation into a quest for God. Please try some and let us know how you experienced God through them.Tell us about it.
How is a pilgrimage different than a vacation? On a pilgrimage we intentionally look for God’s presence in all the things we do while on vacation.
How do we make our vacation a pilgrimage?
Mark the beginning of your quest/vacation with a blessing or symbolic act.
Recite a psalm (e.g., 121 or 128 or 133 or 134)
Mark each other’s foreheads with a cross and say a blessing.
Tourists observe while pilgrims participate. How will you participate in all of God’s good gifts during your time away?
The gift of creation
The gift of leisure time
The gift of family and relationships
The gift of new experiences
How will you respond to these gifts?
Use the Four Keys
Caring Conversations
Use Faith Talk cards. These cards are a resource to initiate caring conversations. Faith Talk cards are available for adults/youth and children through the Youth and Family Institute and at Grace Lutheran Church.
Share your “highs and lows”.
Tell where you experienced God’s grace today/yesterday.
Talk about ways this experience is a quest.
Service
Seek out a helping ministry ahead of time in the community you will be visiting. Plan on doing something to assist them.
Show kindness to those who serve you during your time away.
Take care of campsites and other places you stay. Leave them better than you found them.
Devotions
Read from the Bible each day.
When necessary, ask for and offer forgiveness.
Rotate devotional leadership.
Use a daily devotional.
Use morning or evening prayer from the hymnal.
Write your own daily devotions to share with others when you return home.
Rituals and Traditions
Begin each day by marking the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead and saying “May you experience the presence of God today.”
Eat together and use some form of table grace at each meal.
Begin/end the day by making the sign of the cross on each other’s forehead and saying, “I see the image of God in you” or “May the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
When you return home, do something special to reflect upon and record experiences from your pilgrimage.
Things to Pack A few items to take along to help you with the Four Keys:
An age appropriate Bible for the various participants
Faith Talk Cards
A journal for recording written thoughts or special drawings or for keeping souvenirs of the trip
Crayons, markers, glue to help with the journal
Digital or disposable camera
A daily devotional book
Luther’s Small Catechism
A hymnal or songbook
Some prayers
For the use of leisure:
O God, give us times of refreshment and peace in the course of this busy life. Grant that we may so use our leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds that our spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (LBW, p. 45)
For a peaceful night:
Dear Jesus, as a hen covers her chicks with her wings to keep them safe, protect us this night under your golden wings; for your mercy’s sake. Amen. (ELW p. 86)
Before meals:
Jesus, bless what you have given.
Feed our souls with bread from heaven; Guide and lead us all the way
in all that we may do and say. Amen.
Whether you vacation at the beach, the mountains, on a dude ranch, at Disney World, or anywhere else in the world, make your vacation a pilgrimage. And if you need advice on how to do it, consult with any of these pilgrims, especially AIM Ellen. Contact: AIMEllen@GraceLutheranRaleigh.org
This information is adapted from materials written by Dr. David W. Anderson of The Youth and Family Institute, used with permission.
