Join Rev. Dianne Loufman and Rev. Mark & Marcia Holman, First Lutheran Church, Duluth, MN, for a unique and meaningful pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our tour will include visits to biblical and historical sites. We will have numerous worship and devotional opportunities during our travels throughout the Holy Land. We will learn about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) vital relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL), and our connection with Lutheran World Federation (LWF), through Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH). We will also hear about and witness first-hand, the stories of the Living Stones, the people of this Holy, and yet very troubled, Land.
Beginning spring '23, our First Lutheran Church Holy Land group will gather monthly, in-person, and via zoom. We will study, read, learn, and prepare together, for this rich experience. We trust that this pilgrimage will deepen our faith and our understanding of this Holy Land and its people. We are excited to share this experience with you.
Salaam, Shalom, Peace!
Pastor Dianne Loufman and Pastor Mark & Marcia Holman
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PRICING:
- $3,790 per person based on double occupancy - space is limited
- Land arrangements only: $2,690 (if you wish to book your own flight)
- Single room supplement: $890
- Jordan Excursion: Oct 29 - Nov 1: $790
- Deposit: $300 per person with registration to secure space
- An additional $1,000 payment is due on or before May 20, 2023
- Balance due on or before August 1, 2023
- Register by mail? Please enclose a copy of your passport and a deposit of $300.00 per person, made payable to: Elias Tours. Mail to: Elias Tours; 4941 Chalden Ln NE; Marietta, GA. 30066
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Download the Registration Form
FLIGHT SCHEDULE:
UA 1551 20OCT MSP - EWR 1:47P 5:25P
UA 90 20OCT EWR - TLV 11:05P 4:20P
UA 526 01NOV AMM - IAD 1:15A 6:30A
UA 6067 01NOV IAD - MSP 8:30A 10:16A
* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.
What is included in the tour
- Airfare from Duluth, MN. - Other cities available
- 8 nights in 4-star hotels (Double Occupancy)
- Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner daily
- Entrance fee to all sites
- All ground transportation in a private tour bus
What is NOT included in the tour
- Gratuities for Guide and Driver
- Personal Expenses
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is required and not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through Travelex Insurance Services. For questions, quotes, or to purchase travel insurance, visit Travelex Insurance or call (800) 228-9792 and use the code 26-0057 for Elias Tours.
- Participate in the Olive Harvest on the Mt. of Olives
- Meet with Bishop Ibrahim Azar, ELCJHL
- Meet with Reverend Doctor Mitri Raheb
- Optional Petra/Jordan Post-Tour Extension
- Worship at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer; Old City, Jerusalem
DAILY ITINERARY
First Lutheran Church - Duluth, MN
October 20 – 29, 2023
Day 1, Oct 20 (FRI): Departure from Duluth, MN
• Depart on your overnight flight - Meals are served on board
Day 2, Oct 21 (SAT): Arrival, Tiberias
• Arrive in Tel Aviv, Meet your guide, Drive to Tiberias via coastal plains
• Dinner and Overnight at hotel in Tiberias
Day 3, Oct 22 (SUN): Carmel, Tabor, Nazareth, Cana
• Mount Carmel
• Mount Tabor – the Transfiguration
• Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Church, Mary’s Well
• Wedding at Cana of Galilee – Site of Jesus’ first miracle
• Dinner and overnight at hotel in Tiberias
Day 4, Oct 23 (MON): Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes
• Tabgha, Site of the Multiplication of Loaves & Fishes
• The Mount of Beatitudes - Sermon on the Mount (Communion Service)
• St. Peter’s Primacy • Capernaum • Magdala
• Dinner and overnight at hotel in Tiberias
Day 5, Oct 24 (TUE): Jericho, Jordan River, Dead Sea, Bethlehem
• Mount of Temptation (Jericho)
• Jordan River - Remembering our Baptism
• St. George's Monastery
• Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem
Day 6, Oct 25 (WED): Ein Karem, Bethlehem, Shepherd's Field
• Church of the Nativity
• Shepherd’s Field in Beit Sahour
• Dinner at a local restaurant in Beit Sahour
• Overnight in Bethlehem
Day 7, Oct 26 (THU): Jerusalem: Old City, Yad Vashem
• Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Meet with Bishop Azar (ELCJHL)
• St. Anne’s Church, Pools of Bethesda, Palm Sunday Walk
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• The Western Wall (Western Wall Tunnel Tour)
• Yad Vashem
• Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem
Day 8, Oct 27 (FRI): Mt. of Olives, Augusta Victoria Hospital, Caiaphas House
• Augusta Victoria to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation in health and education
• Participate in the Olive Harvest on the Mt. of Olives
• Dominus Flevit, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, Mt. Zion
• Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu
• Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem
Day 9, Oct 28 (SAT): Bethlehem: The Living Stones
• Dar Al Kalima College and Cultural Center
• Meet with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, Insights from a Palestinian Christian
• Visit the Evangelical Lutheran School in Beit Sahour
• Meet with Parent’s Circle/Family Forum
• Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem
Day 10, Oct 29 (SUN): Worship in Jerusalem - Old City, Depart Tel Aviv to the US
• Sunday worship at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Old City – Jerusalem
• Old Jaffa – An ancient port city in Israel, south of Tel Aviv
• Dinner in Jaffa
• Transfer to the airport for your flight back home
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXCURSION TO JORDAN
Day 10, Oct 29 (SUN): Worship in Jerusalem – Old City, Jordan, Mt. Nebo, Petra we will drive to the border of Jordan, Once in Jordan, we will visit Mt. Nebo, where the prophet Mousa (Moses) gazed over the Promised Land before he died with overlook views of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. We continue towards Petra, stopping to experience a traditional Bedouin dinner, and overnight in Petra.
Day 11, Oct 30 (MON): Full day Petra – Amman
After breakfast, we will visit the site of Petra. It is a 2000 year old Nabatean city that was highlighted in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. We will walk through the narrow passageway up to the Treasury, which is a massive Royal Tomb carved out of the solid rock. If time permits, we will visit the Traditional Tomb of Aaron (Moses’ brother). In the afternoon, we continue on to Amman to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 12, Oct 31 (TUE): Amman – Jarash
After breakfast, we will explore Jarash, which is north of the capital city of Amman. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, it is known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa, which is one of the cities of Decapolis. These ruins include the 2nd century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian Columns of the Temple of Artemis, and the huge Forum’s Oval Colonnade. We return to Amman to meet with local ELCJHL leaders, and then back to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Amman.
Day 13, NOV 1 (WED): Arrive USA
After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our flight back to the USA.
NOTE: The schedule is subject to change, due to various factors, and at your Tour Leaders and Guide’s discretion.
