A long-awaited part of my sabbatical leave is an upcoming pilgrimage and study course in Jerusalem at St. George's College. The Learning
Objectives are:
- Integrate contextual
biblical study with theological and spiritual reflection
- Reflect on some of the
contemporary issues in Israel and Palestine
- Explore the nature of
Christian ministry and Anglican identity in the context of Israel and
Palestine
- Engage with Jewish and
Muslim perspectives
- Return home renewed in
faith
I wanted to share the highlights of the itinerary, hoping in a small way that you all might share this journey with me. It will be my first trip to Israel and Palestine after many years of preaching -- trying to imagine the landscape of the many Bible stories.
Sunday,
March 8 Arrivals
Monday,
March 9 O, Jerusalem!
10:00 Board bus to Nebi Samuel (Tomb of the Prophet Samuel; only if
weather is fair)
Vistas into Samaria and Judea
Second Temple period ruins
Crusader period fortress and
ruins
(If weather is inclement) Visit the Museum of the History of
Jerusalem in the Citadel
13:30 Briefing: Geography
and Topography of the
Lands, Lecture
Room
14:30 Visit the City of David.
Walk through Israelite excavations and Warren’s Shaft through the dry
tunnels. Visit Pool of Siloam. Return to Temple Mount SW corner via
underground passageway.
Tuesday, March 10 Herod the Great and the Holy
Child
8:30 Depart
for Bethlehem
The Wall of
Separation
Church of the Nativity
Tomb and
Chapel of St. Jerome
St.
Catherine’s Church
13:00 Depart
for the Herodium
Visit interior and exterior ruins of Herod the Great’s palace and
fortress
15:30 Depart
for the Israel Museum
Model of
Jerusalem in 66 CE
Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls and Aleppo Codex)
Wednesday,
March 11 Into the Wilderness
8:30 Depart
for Judean Wilderness
Monastery of St.
Euthymius
Kasr al
Yahud: Jordan River site of the
Baptism of
Our Lord
Renewal of
our Baptismal Vows
13:30 Visit
to Tel el-Sultan (ancient Jericho)
14:15 Depart
for Qumran
Film and visit to
excavations of the
Essene community
Overview of Cave IV
and Dead Sea
Thursday,
March 12 The Great Sea and On To Galilee
7:15 Depart
for Caesarea Maritima
Morning Prayer
on the bus
9:45 Visit
Caesarea Maritim
Meeting
Herod the Great once again
Caesarea in
the New Testament
Roman and
Christian (Byzantine) Caesarea
12:15 Picnic
lunch near the Mediterranea Sea
13:15 Depart
for Nazareth
Walk through
the Old City
Friday,
March 13 From Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee
8:00 Depart for Caesarea Philippi (Banias
National Park)
Visit to the
Shrine of Pan
13:30 Depart
for the lakeside
Tabgha (Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes)
Mensa Christi
(Peter’s Primacy; opportunity
to wade in the Sea of
Galilee)
Capernaum
Saturday,
March 14 Transfiguration; Facing Jerusalem
8:30 Depart to Mt.
Tabor
Sunday, March
15
A “Holy Week” Begins
10:00 Eucharist in the
Cathedral with the
Arabic/English-speaking
congregations
13:00 Depart for the Mount of Olives/Palm
Sunday walk
Bethphage
Mt. of
Olives descent
Church of
Dominus Flevit
Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations
Monday,
March 16
7:45 Walk the Way of the Cross (meet outside College front door)
9:15 Devotional
visit to the Holy Sepulchre
Tuesday,
March 17 Heading home
You have come to the Holy City, and now return
home in peace. Travel safely, and may . . .
The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make his face to shine upon
you,
and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up his countenance upon
you,
and give you peace.
The Priestly Blessing
from Numbers 6
