Who do you say that I am? A journey of discovery in the Holy Land

Transcription

1 Who do you say that I am? A journey of discovery in the Holy Land Led by The Revd Dr Sally Welch May, The official and preferred pilgrimage partner for the Diocese of Jerusalem -

2 Who do you say that I am?: a journey of discovery in the Holy Land A journey to the Holy Land is a transformative experience. The opportunity to walk in Jesus footsteps, to experience the landscape which he knew, to visit the sites where he lived and taught, changing peoples lives and sharing God s love, is a delight and a challenge. It is a delight because we bring a new understanding to our faith, seeing in reality those places which were previously only names on a page. It is a challenge because now as then, Jesus calls us to a new way of living and thinking, responding to his sacrifice by dedicating our own lives to the coming of his kingdom. As we travel from Jerusalem to Galilee, visiting Nazareth and Bethlehem, our journey will become a pilgrimage as we explore not only the landscape of Jesus but his effect on the lives of those he met. Led by an experienced guide, we will learn about the sites and their connection to the life of Christ. We will also hear something of the lives that he touches today, as we enjoy the hospitality of Christian hotels and restaurants and visit Christian charities and institutions. Finally we reflect on our own lives, as we try to discern our personal and individual answer to Jesus question: who do you say that I am. I invite you to join me as we journey together to discover and explore, reflect and pray, experiencing just a part of what this wonderful land has to offer. Sally Welch Lightline Pilgrimages support the work of Friends of The Holy Land and a contribution is made on behalf of each and every pilgrim that travels to the Holy Land

3 Day 1, Monday 13th May We meet at the airport for our non-stop flight to Tel Aviv. On arrival we will be met by Lightline s Airport representative and led to our waiting guide and coach to drive us up to Jerusalem. We will drive to the summit of Mount Scopus for a breathtaking view of Jerusalem, the Old City and its magnificent medieval walls before checking in to our hotel within the Old City. Time to relax before dinner. Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Gethsemane and the dark and brooding Church of All Nations where we recall Jesus agonized prayers prior to his arrest and reflect on the failure of his closest friends to keep awake and watch with him. We then proceed across the Kidron Valley to visit Mount Zion and the traditional site of the Last Supper, and Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu and view the recently excavated Roman pathway and steps that lead up from the Old City. Return to our hotel in good time to relax before dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 2, Tuesday 14th May After breakfast, we drive to the summit of the Mount of Olives to recall the Palm Sunday route and visit places associated with particular events in the gospels as we slowly make our way downhill. We start at Bethphage, the traditional starting point of the procession of palms and in the course of our journey will visit the church of the Pater Noster, where we recall Jesus teaching of the Lord s Prayer to his disciples and the church of Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over the fate of the city. Finally, we reach the Garden of Day 3, Wednesday 15th May This morning we drive around to St Stephen s Gate and then make our way to the beautiful Crusader Church of St. Anne overlooking the Pools of Bethesda. Visiting the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, built on the foundations of the Antonia

4 Day 3 continued Fortress, the Roman Garrison of Jerusalem we view the recentlyexcavated first century stone pavement (Gabbatha in the Gospels) and then follow the Way of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary enshrined within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After a break for lunch, we drive over to West Jerusalem to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial museum and park. We return to our hotel in good time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Rock. Late morning we leave Jerusalem and drive down to the Dead Sea Basin to visit Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and the remains of an Essene Monastery where the scrolls probably originated. After a break for lunch we will have an opportunity to bath in the unique mineral -laden waters of the Dead Sea. Leaving the Dead Sea we make our back up the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives and continue through the check-point in the nine-metre high separation wall into the town of Bethlehem and check-in to our Franciscan guest house on Manger Square. Dinner and overnight stay in Bethlehem. Day 4, Thursday 16th May After packing our bags and breakfast we begin our days programme by visiting the Western Wall, a section of the retaining wall of King Solomon s Temple and Judaism s holiest site and if permitted we will ascend Mount Moriah to visit the Temple Area and view the Dome of the Day 5, Friday 17th May Today will be devoted to discovering more about incarnation and the gift of life in all its abundance. We will visit the Shepherds Fields in Beth Sahour and the Church of the Nativity, as well as some remarkable institutions run by the Christian community of the little town. We hope to visit the St Vincent Creche/ Orphanage - the only facility of its kind in the West Bank, offering Christian love and compassion to over forty abandoned babies and small children and the Dar-al Kalima College created by Revd Dr Mitri Raheb, the Lutheran pastor of Bethlehem. We then return to our guest house in good time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight stay in Bethlehem.

5 Day 6, Saturday 18th May This morning we begin our journey to Galilee. From Bethlehem we drive down to the oasis city of Jericho, to view the traditional Sycamore tree and Quarantal Monastery on the Mount of Temptation. Late morning we continue to Qasr al Yehud on the River Jordan and the site believed to be close to where John baptized Jesus and where we will have an opportunity to renew our baptism vows. After a break for lunch we drive up the Jordan Valley and across the Jezreel Valley (the biblical scene of Armageddon) to Mount Tabor and ascend to the summit to visit the Church of the Transfiguration. On descending Mount Tabor we will proceed to the Sea of Galilee and our guest house on the shores of the lake. Dinner and overnight stay by the Sea of Galilee. Day 7, Sunday 19th May After breakfast we drive to Nazareth, the town associated with the beginning of the gospel message, to see how the Good News is both remembered and lived out today. We will begin by joining the local Christian community for worship at Christ Church. Late morning we will visit the site of the only spring in town, where Jesus mother will have drawn water, the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Synagogue Church. After a break for lunch we will visit Cana, the site of Jesus first sign, before we return to our guest house in good time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight stay by the Sea of Galilee. Day 8, Monday 20th May We begin our day with a visit to the recently excavated site of Magdala, the home town of Jesus friend Mary Magdalene. The excavations have revealed an early synagogue and the remains of a fish smoker. We then travel up to the summit of the Mount of Beatitudes which overlooks the sites of Jesus Galilean Ministry. We then have

6 Day 8 continued the option of either walking or driving down to our guest house on the Sea of Galilee. After a break for lunch we will sail on a modern-day version of the kind of After a break for lunch we will have the option of walking along the Sea of Galilee along part of the Jesus Trail. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay by the Sea of Galilee. boat used for fishing at the time of Jesus and also see the remains of a similar boat which dates back to the early first century. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay by the Sea of Galilee. Day 9, Tuesday 21st May We will devote the day to a leisurely exploration of the area that was the base for Jesus ministry by the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. We will visit sites associated with the call of the first disciples, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount and the village of Capernaum. Day 10, Wednesday 22ndMay The morning will be at leisure to relax. After a celebration of the Eucharist we leave Galilee and make our way to Tel Aviv s Ben Gurion airport stopping at Caesarea Maritima for lunch and a brief view of the city s famous twin water aqueduct. We finally drive down to Tel Aviv Airport and our check-in for our return flight to London. Please note this complex touring programme may be subject to minor local amendments

7 INCLUSIVE HOLY LAND TOUR COST All Lightline tours are carefully calculated to include all items necessary to complete your tour at the advertised price. Choice of flights from London (Heathrow / Luton) Easyjet from London Luton Airport (Low cost - No frills carrier) London Luton / Tel Aviv EZY :15/14:15 Tel Aviv / London Luton EZY :55/22:45 British Airways from London Heathrow Airport** London Heathrow / Tel Aviv BA :10/15:00 Tel Aviv / London Heathrow BA :40/20:05 ** British Airways flight supplement Please note the above flights and time are approximate and subject to change All airport departure & passenger taxes (UK & Israel). Accommodation at following selected guest houses & hotels: All hotels and guest houses are fully air-conditioned with en-suite facilities Galilee - Pilgerhaus (Benedictine Guest house by the Sea of Galilee) Bethlehem - Casa Nova Palace (A Franciscan run hotel by Manger Square) Jerusalem - Gloria hotel (within the walls of the Old City). Full Board (Breakfast, lunch & dinner throughout). All entrance fees and local government taxes. Qualified English speaking guide throughout the tour. All touring in modern air-conditioned tourist coaches. The only items not included in the price are: Single room supplement (limited availability) 545, travel insurance, gratuities 85, and any items of a personal nature (laundry & drinks etc).

8 TRAVELLING ON YOUR OWN A large proportion of our passengers travel alone and object to expensive "single room" supplements. Please indicate this on your booking form (share twinbedded room) and we will accommodate you with a person of the same sex also travelling alone and would also like to share a room. If we are unable to accommodate you in a shared twin, we will place you in single room at only half the cost (50%) of the usual single supplement. If you require Single accommodation (if available) you should request this when booking and the appropriate supplement will apply. PASSPORTS, VISAS & HEALTH A full valid 10 year passport is necessary for all our tours. Check NOW that it is valid for the duration of your tour and validity runs for a further 6 months after your return to the UK. British passport holders will be issued a visa free of charge on arrival in the Holy Land. Holders of other passports please contact Lightline Pilgrimages on for advice. No inoculations are required, however we advise you to consult your doctor regarding your own personal requirements. TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR Please read the booking conditions and complete the enclosed booking form and send it, with a deposit of 250 and insurance premium (if required) per person to: Lightline Pilgrimages Ltd Coopersale Hall Farm Epping CM16 7PE Telephone: The official & preferred pilgrimage partner for the Diocese of Jerusalem - Coopersale Hall Farm Epping CM16 7PE Tel: info@lightline.org.uk Web: FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND PEACE OF MIND Lightline Pilgrimages Limited holds an Air Travel Organiser s Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority - ATOL The flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure is financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to:

9 BOOKING FORM Please complete this form in BLOCK CAPITALS THE HOLY LAND - Who do you say that I am A journey of discovery in the Holy Land Led by The Revd Dr Sally Welch May, 2019 PASSENGER DETAILS. Please insert Lead Passenger details in Blue Box Section. TOUR REF: WELC8HLHR Title Given names as Surname Nationality Date of Birth Passport No: Expiry date Mr/Mrs appears in passport dd/mm/yyyy dd/mm/yyyy LEAD PASSENGER DETAILS (All correspondence is sent to lead passenger) Address: Post Code: Tel: (day) Tel: (eve) Tel: (Mobile) (Please tick box) I have read and agree to the booking conditions and Insurance conditions on behalf of all the travellers that are named above. And at the time of booking no circumstances and known which are likely to lead to cancellation or the curtailment of the pilgrimage by any person. I would like all correspondence to be sent to my address. Future special offers and pilgrimage - If you do not wish Lightline to retain your information after your have completed your current pilgrimage please tick this box and we will remove all details. Signature: Date: ACCOMMODATION ( Please tick appropriate box ) Twin / Double Bed Room Shared Twin Room Single Room (Incurs a supplementary cost) REMARKS / SPECIAL DIET / ETC. We will take every possible step to ensure that our hotels and restaurants are advised, but special diets of any kind (including vegetarian, vegan, coeliac etc ) can seldom be catered for adequately and we cannot guarantee we will be able to meet your requests. AIRLINE OF CHOICE Easyjet from Luton British Airways from Heathrow ( 120 supplement) TOUR PAYMENT Deposit (per 250 = Travel insurance (per person up to = Travel Insurance (per person over = Total Enclosed = Please send the completed booking form together with your cheque to: Tel: LIGHTLINE PILGRIMAGES LTD Unit 10, Coopersale Hall Farm, Epping, CM16 7PE info@lightline.org.uk We accept the following Debit Cards

10 All bookings are subject to our full booking conditions which appear on our website at: A copy of these can be posted to you on request. By asking us to make your booking, please make sure you tick the appropriate box confirming you have read our booking conditions. The booking conditions provide for the payment of cancellation charges if you cancel or fail to make payment when due. They also include limitations and exclusions of our liability to you. For international travel by air, sea or rail, our liabilities are limited and excluded as if we were a carrier within the applicable international convention or EU regulation (for example, the Montreal Convention, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability and the Athens Convention). A surcharge may be payable in limited circumstances where certain costs increase after booking. Your contract will be with Lightline Pilgrimages Limited. This contract comes into existence when we dispatch our confirmation invoice to the person who makes your booking. All Lightline flight and flight-inclusive holidays are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be supplied with an ATOL certificate. Please check and ensure that everything you booked is listed correctly. For more information about the ATOL certificate please visit: Or see our full booking conditions. British citizens require a British passport in order to travel to the destinations we feature. This usually takes less than six weeks to obtain, unless you are over 16 and have not held a passport previously, in which case you need to allow a minimum of at least six weeks. Please ensure you have at least six months validity on your passport from the date of your return journey to the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website: which you are recommended to consult. In the event of any flight delay or cancellation at your UK or overseas point of departure, the airline is responsible for providing such assistance as is legally required by the Denied Boarding Regulations. The ferry, tunnel or rail operator is similarly responsible in relation to any delayed or cancelled sea crossing or international rail departure. Except where otherwise stated in our brochure or on our website, we regret we cannot provide any assistance in such circumstances other than information and advice to the extent we are in a position to do so. Data Protection Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. If you travel outside the European Economic Area, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your tour travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as any disabilities, dietary or religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we will be unable to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons).