My Itinerary

January 25 - 26 DEPART Liberty International in Newark for our overnight flight to TelAviv. We enjoy dinner, breakfast and the movie of the evening on the plane. Upon arrival in the afternoon we transfer to your hotel for dinner. The brief evening orientation affords us time to rest up for the inspirational sites and stories of the days ahead.

January 27: JERICHO/BEIT SHEAN/NAZARETH
We see the ancient site of Jericho and the Mount of Temptation before traveling north through the Jordan Valley. Visit Beit Shean, the only Decapolis city in Israel. In Nazareth, we visit the Church of the Annunciation, then travel to Cana and hear the story of Jesus ’first miracle. We spend the next two nights in Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

January 28: GALILEE
Begin the day hearing the Sermon on the Mount on the site where it is believed to have been spoken by Jesus. We also visit the Church of the Loaves and Fishes and hear the story of Jesus’ post-resurrection words to Peter, "feed My sheep," at Peter’s Landing. In the afternoon, we see the recently discovered First Century boat before boarding a Galilean boat to hear the Sea of Galilee stories. In the biblical city of Capernaum we visit old synagogue, house of Peter's motherin-law, and hear the stories of Jesus’ early ministry. At the Jordan River we take time to renew our baptismal vows.

January 29: MT CARMEL/MEGIDDO/CAESAREA
We hear afresh the story of the prophet Elijah atop Mt. Carmel and cross the Valley of Armageddon to visit Tel Megiddo, en route to Jerusalem visiting the Crusader City at Caesarea and the ancient Roman Aqueduct. In the afternoon travel to Mt. Zion, King David’s Tomb and visit the Upper Room and hear the stories that are set there.

January 30: OLD CITY - JERUSALEM
We begin at the mournful site of the temple’s Western Wall,vvisit the Temple Mount and see the Dome of the Rock. On the Via Dolorosa we hear the story of Jesus’ suffering. The stories abound as we visit the Pool of Bethesda and do some singing in St. Anne's Church. Next it’s Pilate’s Antonia Fortress where we hear the story of the crown of thorns and take time at the Stations of the Cross for prayer and reflection. In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre we find the site of the empty tomb. Visiting the House of Caiaphas, the High, we hear of Peter’s denial of Jesus.

January 31: MT of OLIVES/BETHLEHEM
The day begins standing on the Mt. of Olives overlooking the Kidron Valley and the walled city of Jerusalem. We walk the Palm Sunday path to the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations, hearing the stories of the Passion. In the afternoon we travel to Bethlehem and visit Shepherd’s Field to hear the Christmas stories and sing “Glory to God in the Highest.” We visit the Church of the Nativity and kneel at the star which marks the birth of our Savior.

February 1; Day 8: DEAD SEA/MASADA/QUMRAN
This morning we travel to Herod’s ancient fortress of Masada, built high atop a mountain on the edge of the Dead Sea and hear the moving story of the people’s suicide. Then on to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave. We end the day with time for relaxation along the shore of the Dead Sea and hear a vision from Exekiel.

February 2: BETHANY/DEPART
We enjoy a free morning in Jerusalem or optional visit to the Israeli Museum. In the afternoon we visit the tomb of Lazarus and hear that story. We worship together at the Garden Tomb, celebrating communion together. After a Farewell dinner we travel to Tel Aviv to board the overnight flight to the USA.

February 3: Arrive home with a treasure of memories and prepare to preach on Sunday, February 7.