Amsbry United Methodist Church issued the following announcement on Oct. 12.
Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi will lead an Educational Opportunities Alpine Odyssey Tour, including a visit to the Oberammergau Passion Play, from Sept. 19-27, 2022.
Since 1634, the most famous Passion Play in the world has been taking place in Oberammergau. All of the members of the 2000 person cast must have either been born in or lived in this village at the edge of the Bavarian Alps for at least 20 years.
Through a partnership with Olmsted Manor Retreat Center, Western PA Conference clergy are eligible to apply for a scholarship to cover half of the cost of the trip for themselves and their spouse. Funds come from Olmsted’s Russell E. and Evelyn June Perry Educational Trust. Details and an application for funding are available on Olmsted’s website at olmstedmanor.org.
| Click the image to download trip brochure. |
“I remember clearly the day that I heard about Oberammergau,” the Bishop said. “I was sitting in my office in Calvary UMC in Annapolis, MD in 2010. I was enthralled and uplifted by the story of the villagers who, because they were spared the devastation of the Black Plague, made a covenant with God to produce the passion play every ten years. Since 1634 the people there have been providing a living testimony to the grace of God.
“In the spring of 2010 I was ordained and made a list of things that I wanted to do in light of my ordination – a sort of elder bucket list. Becoming a bishop was NOT on my list. Seeing the passion play at Oberammergau was,” she said.
The Bishop said she was delighted when Educational Opportunities asked her to lead a tour in 2022. Because of the the coronavirus “plague” of 2019, the play is two years off schedule.
In addition to the Passion Play, the tour group will explore Salzburg, the city of Mozart’s birth; see where the Sound of Music was filmed, and visit historic churches and castles. Bishop Moore-Koikoi will provide context and uplifting teachings along the way. There are optional extension tours to Switzerland and Italy.
The Bishop has toured with Educational Opportunities many times before and said she has always found their tours to be well worth the financial investment.
For details of the tour, download the brochure above or visit the tour webpage.
Original source can be found here.
