Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

May 4, 2023 Nigel Elderkin No comments

David and Mel – Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

By the time you read this we will already be in Israel. Every year (though paused during the Pandemic) the diocese takes a group of curates on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The trip is primarily funded by the diocese through a trust fund that was set up with a vision that every curate should have the chance to see and experience the biblical locations they will be speaking and teaching and preaching about throughout their ministry. However, we also want to thank the Springfield PCC for generously responding to the diocese’s request for a church contribution towards our time in Israel.

Our hope is that being in the places that we have read so much about in the Bible will:

bring us new insights and revelation to build and strengthen our personal faith.
deepen our knowledge and understanding and equip us to share more powerfully and accurately in our teaching and conversations in church activities and with all that we meet.

We also hope that it will be a good time of connection and community with the other curates and the Bishop and diocese team. Father Paul, friend of Springfield and Bernadette who is the new Vicar of St Pauls and St Michaels will also be on the trip!

Below is the full itinerary for the week – too much info for some of you! – possibly interesting for those that have been asking what we are going to see.

The traditional names of each place might not mean much to you but note the bible verses referenced next to the places as a clue to what happened there 😀

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement as we head off and we look forward to sharing our experiences when we return.

David and Mel

Itinerary

Thursday, May 4

22:00 Flight arrives at Ben Gurion airport

Late evening arrival to the College

Friday, May 5

07:00 Eucharist (Cathedral)

07:30 Breakfast (Guest House)

08:15 Opening Session (Lecture Room)

Welcome and Greetings / The Land / The Pilgrimage Journey

09:45 Depart by bus for Ein Kerem

The Church of the Visitation

Reflection: The Visitation / Magnificat (Lk 1:39–56)

Depart for Bethlehem (11:40)

The Israel–West Bank Separation Barrier

12:45 Lunch in Bethlehem (Aida Refugee Camp)

15:00 The Church of the Nativity (Mt 1:18–2:12, Lk 2:1–7)

Reflection: The Nativity of Jesus

Return to College (18:00)

19:00 Dinner (Guest House)

20:00 Group Debriefing (Lecture Room)

21:00 Compline (Lecture Room)

Saturday, May 6

07:00 Breakfast (Guest House)

08:00 Depart by bus for the Mount of Olives

(Morning Prayer on the bus)

Overview of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives / 8:30

Walk down the Mount of Olives / 9:00

The Dominus Flevit Church (The Lord Wept) / 9:15

Reflection: Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem

The Garden of Gethsemane (The Church of All Nations) / 9:45

(Mk 14:32–51, Lk 22:39–53)

10:15 Walk from Gethsemane to the Holy Sepulchre (via Lion’s Gate)

11:00 Introductory visit to the Holy Sepulchre

11:45 Return on foot to the College

12:30 Lunch (Guest House)

13:00 Watch the Coronation of King Charles III (Lecture Room)

15:00 Thanksgiving Service (Cathedral)

16:00 Reception

18:00 Small Group Conversations (Guest House Garden) / tbc

19:00 Dinner (Guest House)

19:45 Evening Speaker (Lecture Room): EAPPI / tbc

21:15 Compline (Lecture Room)

Sunday, May 7 (Overnight in the Galilee)

Bring your passport, medications, and all necessary personal items for Galilee.

06:30 Breakfast (Guest House)

07:15 Depart by bus for Nazareth

10:00 Eucharist at Christ Church Anglican (Nazareth)

Brief fellowship time with congregation following the service.

12:00 Lunch (Casa Nova Guest House)

13:30 Basilica of the Annunciation (Lk 1:26–40)

14:30 Depart Nazareth for the Sea of Galilee

16:00 Capernaum (Mk 1–2, Jn 6)

Reflection: Jesus Calls the Disciples (Mt 4:13–25)

17:00 Check into Pilgerhaus

19:00 Dinner (Pilgerhaus)

Optional service(s) with the Benedictine community at the Church of the Multiplication

(see notice board at Pilgerhaus).

Monday, May 8 (Overnight in the Galilee)

07:00 Breakfast (Pilgerhaus)

07:45 Depart for Caesarea Philippi (via Bethsaida)

(Morning Prayer on the bus)

Visit Banias / Caesarea Philippi

(Mt 16:13–20, Mk 8:22–26, Lk 9:18–27)

Reflection: Peter’s Confession of Christ

Leave for the Sea of Galilee (11:45)

13:00 Lunch (Mount of Beatitudes Guest House)

The Church of the Beatitudes (Mt 5–7, Lk 6:17–26)

Time on the Site / 14:00–15:00

15:30 Boat Ride on the Galilee (Mt 8:23–27, Mt 14:22–36)

Reflection: Jesus on the Sea of Galilee

Return to Pilgerhaus

19:00 Dinner (Pilgerhaus)

Tuesday, May 9

07:00 Breakfast (Pilgerhaus)

Free morning on the Sea of Galilee

Visit The Church of the Multiplication (on your own)

(Mt 14:13–21, Mk 6:31–44, Lk 9:10–17)

Visit Mensa Christi / Peter’s Primary (on your own)

(Jn 21)

11:00 Galilee Eucharist (Pilgerhaus)

12:00 Lunch (Pilgerhaus)

13:00 Depart by bus for the Jordan River (1:45 hour journey)

15:00 Reaffirmation of Baptism Vows at the Jordan River

(Mt 3:1–17, Mk 1:1–11, Lk 3:1–23)

16:30 The Judean Wilderness (Wadi Qelt Overlook)

Time for personal prayer and silence.

Return to Jerusalem (18:15)

19:00 Dinner (Guest House)

Wednesday, May 10

06:30 Breakfast (Guest House)

07:15 Depart on foot for the Way of the Cross / Via Dolorosa

Return visit to the Holy Sepulchre

Free time in the Old City

Return to the College on foot (on your own)

12:30 Lunch (Guest House)

Pay any outstanding fee to the College.

13:50 Depart for Emmaus (Abu Ghosh)

14:30 Emmaus Eucharist (Lk 24)

(Crusader Church @ Abu Ghosh)

Return by bus to Jerusalem

17:30 Final Course Reflections / Certificates

18:45 Reception

19:30 Final Dinner (Guest House)

Thursday, May 11

07:00 Eucharist (Cathedral)

07:30 Breakfast (Guest House)

Free time

13.30 Depart by bus for airport

17.20 Flight departsCategories: Announcements