VT – Grace Lutheran Church Israel 2020

Afternoon departure from JFK with TURKISH AIRLINES

10:00 AM  Check-in at TURKISH AIRLINES counter, terminal 1
12:30 PM TURKISH AIRLINES flight TK# 4 leaves JFK for Istanbul.

5:05 AM Arrival Istanbul
06:40 AM Connecting flight TK # 784 leaves Istanbul
8:50 AM Arrival Ben Gourion airport in Israel

Assistance and transfer to go to your hotel with sightseeing en route

Drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, a city built by Herod the Great.  In Acts 10 Peter visits and receives the first Gentile converts to the Faith by baptizing the centurion, Cornelius and his household in Acts 25:23ff St. Paul is tried before King Agrippa here, making a famous defense and being imprisoned for 2 years.  The visit includes stops at the Roman Amphitheater, the Hippodrome and the Aqueduct. Arrive at our Hotel, Nof Ginosar adjacent to the Sea of Galilee. Check-in at the hotel for 3 nights.

Check-in at the hotel for 3 nights.

We begin with Eucharist by the Sea of Galilee before breakfast and sailing for Capernaum, the site of a 2nd Century, CE, synagogue.  The bus will carry us to Tabgha, where according to the Gospels, Jesus miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes.  We will visit St. Peter’s Church, the place where in John 21 Jesus said to Peter three times, “Feed my sheep.” Next is the Mt. of the Beatitudes, where in Matthew 5 Jesus preaches his famous sermon. Returning to Tiberius for lunch takes us past Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene.  Enjoy some “St. Peter’s Fish!” It’s now off to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home, to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (Luke 1 the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she will give birth to Jesus), the Church of St. Gabriel, Joseph’s Workshop, and Mary’s Well. Overnight in Tiberias.

We travel to the site of the Wedding at Cana. Onto to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and walk through the ancient “souk” for shopping. Heading to Meddigo, we visit a site where 20 layers of civilization has been excavated.  It is one of Solomon’s Chariot Cities, where many battles have been fought. In Revelation, the last great battle between Good and Evil is fought at Armageddon, the mountain of Megiddo. Overnight in Tiberias.

Check-out from Nof Ginosar and departure after breakfast

Driving south along the Jordan River Valley, we will visit the ancient synagogue of Beit Alpha, where in 1929 a beautiful mosaic floor almost 1,500 years old was uncovered nearly intact.We continue south to Jericho. The oldest inhabited city in the world, to visit its ruins.  To end the visit we take a cable car up the Mount of Temptation, where in Matt 4 and Luke 4, Jesus encountered the Devil.We continue on to overnight in Jerusalem. Check in for 7 nights at Hotel Olive Tree or Knights Palace adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City and many of the city’s holy sites. Guests will enjoy first-class accommodations in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

We begin with an overview of the Holy City from the Mount of Olives.

Descending the Mount, we stop at the Chapel of the Ascension, the Pater Noster (Our Father) Church, the Dominus Flevit (The Lord Wept) Chapel, the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Free Time through the evening.

Free day

Worship opportunities:

● Lutheran Church of the Redeemer: 9:00 English, 10:30 German

● St. George’s Anglican Cathedral: 08:00 Holy Eucharist (E); 10:30 Holy

Eucharist (A&E); 18:00 Evensong (E)

● We enter the Holy City through the St. Stephen’s Gate to walk to the Pool of Bethesda, where in John 5 Jesus heals a man paralyzed for 38 years on the Sabbath.visits continue at Pilate’s Judgement Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation

and the Ecce Homo Arch.

● We approach Mt. Moriah along the Western Wall to visit the Dome of the Rock and Aqsa Mosques.

● Following the Via Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross), we will reach its final station in the holiest shrine in the Christian world, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

● We visit Mt. Zion and the Upper Room of the Last Supper.

● Free late afternoon with optional visit to the Garden Tomb, also known as Gordon’s Calvary.

● Overnight is in Jerusalem

● Grab your bathing suit for the descent 1,298 feet below sea level to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. There will be an opportunity to float in its salty water.

● Along its shore we will take the cable car or walk the Snake Path to Masada, the fortress where 900 Jewish Zealots committed suicide rather than be taken by the Roman army.

● On the return trip to Jerusalem we will pause for refreshment at the beautiful Oasis of En-Gedi, where in 1 Samuel 23 David hid for safety from King Saul.

● One final stop at the intriguing excavation of the Qumran Community, the authors and keepers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

● Overnight in Jerusalem.

● Leaving Jerusalem again, we head to Bethany, where in John 11 Jesus goes to visit Mary, and Martha and raise Lazarus from death. We will visit the church built over the site of their home and his tomb.

● We then visit the home of John the Baptist at Ein Karem.

● Finally, we end at the beginning of things in Bethlehem, visiting the Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, the Milk Grotto, St. Jerome’s Chapel and the Shepherd’s Fields.

● Overnight is in Jerusalem.

Mid morning departure to go to ben Gurion airport

11:30 AM Check-in at TURKISH AIRLINES  counter
14:15 Flight TK # 795 leaves Israel
4:40 PM  Arrival Istanbul
6:35 PM  Flight TK # 11 leaves Istanbul
10:30 PM Arrival JFK