ELCA Deacons Holy Land Trip with Deacon Erin Power & Deacon Chris St. Clair

Day 1: Departure from the USA

Depart from Chicago,for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.

Day 2: Arrival – Tel Aviv

We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and depart to our hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight

Day 3: Be Rooted
Cana – Mt. Arbel – Valley of Doves – Sea of Galilee

We start our day with a visit to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle. return to the Sea of Galilee via the Golan Heights with a stop overlooking the Road to Damascus. On to Mount Arbel, where we overlook the ancient road from Nazareth to Galilee with a possible hike on part of the Jesus Trail. We then carry on to the Valley of the Doves and travel along the ancient road that leads from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee along the Via Maris. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 4: Equip the Baptized
Caesarea – Mt. Carmel – Nazareth  – Tiberias

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where the Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We will have a Bible Study at this sacred site. We see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. We visit Mount Carmel, Muhraqa (the Place of Fire), and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. Afterward, we go to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Gathered Community
Sea of Galilee – Magdala – Capernaum​ – Mount of Beatitudes​

We start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Then we visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, and see the 1st-century synagogue, the oldest synagogue discovered on the shores of Galilee, with a stone-carved replica of the Temple and Menorah. We then take a short drive to Capernaum, the biblical village and hometown of Jesus. Capernaum is closely associated with Jesus and His ministry as described in the Synoptic Gospels. There we see the house of the mother-in-law of Peter and an ancient synagogue that dates back to the time of Jesus and where much of His teaching took place. After a lunch of St. Peter’s fish, we drive to Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. We then visit the site known as “Peter’s Primacy” where Jesus appeared to His disciples for the third time after His Resurrection. Later we continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. We enjoy the view of the enchanting gardens and reflect on Jesus’ sermon. We also have time for prayer and reflection. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.                                                                                                                    

Day 6: Stewardship
Jordan Valley – Jacob’s Well – Shepherds Field – Bethlehem – Speak & Shop 

After breakfast, we drive through the Jordan Valley and on to Bethlehem to visit Shepherd's Fields, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of the Book of Ruth. After lunch, we travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the place where Our Lord was born. We check in at our hotel and enjoy dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.                                                      

Day 7: Advocate
Augusta Victoria Hospital – LWF – Mt. of Olives – Mt. Zion 

We start our day at Augusta Victoria Hospital to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation in health and education. Later, visit the Vocational Training Program (VTP). Then we enjoy a panoramic view from the top of Mount of Olives,  We continue down to Dominus Flevit and St. Mary Magdalene Church. We pray at the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. In the afternoon, we visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Jesus was denied by St. Peter. Then we visit the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 8: Speak Publicly
Dar Al Kalima College – Rev Dr. Mitri Raheb  – Wadi Qelt – St. George Monastery – Baptismal Site – Jericho – Qumran – the Dead Sea                         

Beginning the day in Bethlehem, we will visit Dar Al Kalima College and the Culture Center and meet with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb to learn about the Palestinian Christians.Then we depart Bethlehem, traveling through the Judean wilderness where Jesus fasted for 40 days, and along the ancient road passing the good Samaritan inn. Upon reaching Wadi Qelt, we enjoy a view of St. George’s Monastery nestled in the wilderness. We carry on along the ancient road toward Jericho, passing by Herod’s Winter Palace, where the infamous King died in the year 4 BC, and which was likely the background setting for the parable of the prodigal son. On the way to Jericho, we head to Bet Arabah where John baptized Jesus. The site is also known as the “Place of Crossing” of the Israelites. From Bet Arabah, we drive to the city of Jericho. We see Tel Jericho, the old town of Joshua, to see the excavations of the ancient city and the Mount of Temptation. We then drive to Qumran and visit the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were accidentally found and the buildings that formed the public center of the Essenes. Then we proceed to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy a dip in the relaxing and healing waters. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9: Participation and Accompaniment/Wider Ministry of the Gospel
The Old City of Jerusalem – Meet with Rev. Gabi Aelabouni & Rev. Dr. Megan Aelabouni who represent the ELCJHL - Meet Bishop Azar 

Meeting with the local Church leaders, Visiting the Lutheran School in Beit Sahour                                                     

Day 10: Temple Mount – Pools of Bethesda – Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulcher –  Old City of Jerusalem

This morning after breakfast, we walked the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There, we visit Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We then visit the Jewish Quarter and go to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. We then ascend to visit Temple Mount itself, where the Jewish temple stood until its destruction in 70 AD, and see the Dome of the Rock, a possible location of the Holy of Holies. We then visited St Anne’s church and the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where the healing at the pool took place. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.           

Day 11: Departure from Tel Aviv to the US

Check-out and departure from our hotel for the return home. We arrive on the same day.

NOTE: The schedule is subject to change due to various factors and at your Tour Leaders’ and Guide’s discretion.