DAY 1, Sunday, December 1, 2019 – We depart from the Miami Airport for our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel on El Al Airlines. M

DAY 2, Monday -After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we visit Jaffa, one of the oldest towns in Israel, where Peter had a vision that led to the first baptism of the Gentiles. We then head north along the Mediterranean coast toward Caesarea, once the capital of the Roman province, where we visit the Roman and Crusader remains including the ancient theatre and Hippodrome.  We visit the harbor from which St. Paul was taken as a prisoner of Rome. We continue to The Caesar Hotel in Tiberias overlooking the Sea of Galilee for our “welcome to the Holy Land” dinner and overnight. D

DAY 3, Tuesday -After breakfast, we visit the fertile valley known as the plain of Megiddo, which has been the scene of horrible carnage and almost constant strife. Legend portrays this area as the stage for the final battle of history: Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).  The excavations at Megiddo have uncovered a fortified city built by Solomon (1 Kgs. 9:15).   We continue to the Roman city of Tsipori (Sepphoris) where Jesus would have spent much of his early life and then to the Old Quarter of Nazareth, home of the Basilica of the Annunciation.  We return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 4, Wednesday -We start our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum.  We walk in the ancient synagogue and see St. Peter’s house. We visit Tabgha, where Jesus did much of his preaching, to view the mosaic of the Loaves and Fishes. From there, we move to the Mount of Beatitudes to rehear the Sermon on the Mount. We continue to Korazin (Mt. 11:21), and then we walk along the mouth of the Jordan River where we may renew our Baptismal vows. We return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 5, Thursday - Today, follow the footsteps that Jesus and his family would have taken as they made their way from Galilee to Jerusalem. We begin at the Mount of Transfiguration where we visit the magnificent church and gardens. We continue toward Jerusalem, stopping to visit Beth Shean, the best-preserved Roman-Byzantine town in Israel. We proceed to Jericho, the oldest human settlement in the world. From the vantage point of the site in Jericho, we enjoy a spectacular view of the “Mount of Temptation.” Driving up to Jerusalem, we view the setting for the Parable of the Good Samaritan and St. George’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, literally carved out of a cliff. Once in Jerusalem, we find a site high above on Mount Zion or the Mount of Olives in order to orient ourselves. We check into the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem, our home for the rest of our pilgrimage, and enjoy dinner and overnight.BD

DAY 6, Friday - We walk the same route that Jesus would have walked on Palm Sunday.  We visit the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony. We walk the Via Dolorosa, winding through the busy markets of the Old City, and praying at the Stations of the Cross. We end our walk at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, scene of the Crucifixion and site of the Tomb.  We go to The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, also known as the House of Caiaphas. Tradition holds that this is where Christ said to Peter, “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Mark 14:72). Below this modern church are ancient caves where, it is said, Christ spent the night before being taken to Pontius Pilate. We enjoy dinner together and then a chance to visit St. Andrew’s and Pal Craftaid, a fair-trade artisan market whose mission is to bring compassion, hope, and healing to all Palestinians started by the Rev. Elizabeth Knott of the Presbyterian Church. BD

DAY 7, Saturday - We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada and ride the cable car to the top. We explore this vast mountain top fortress that was built as early as the 1^stcentury AD and then expanded by Herod the Great who built two enormous palaces here. During the first Jewish Zealot revolt in 66 AD, less than 1000 Jews held the fortress for 2 years before the Romans finally breached the walls. We have the opportunity to walk down a winding path or ride the cable car back down the mountain. We drive to Ein Gedi for a walk to a spectacular oasis and waterfall where David hid from Saul; then on to the Essene Center at Qumran. It is here that the famous Dead Scrolls were discovered. We then proceed to the Dead Sea to float. We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.BD

DAY 8, Sunday - Through St. Stephen’s Gate to the Holy City, we walk to St. Anne’s Church, standing on a property facing the Temple Mount just as the crusaders built it. Nearby, we visit excavations, which speak to us of Jesus’ healing at the “pool with the five porticos.” We walk together to the Temple Mount Dig, theDome of the Rock, the Western Wailing Wall, and the Jewish Quarter. Next, we are off to Bethlehem for lunch at Two Mustaches (a wonderful Arab restaurant). Then, we visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.  We return to Jerusalem for dinner at our hotel. BLD

DAY 9, Monday -Today, we visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and the see the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament. We visit the Israel Museum, which houses the Shrine of the Book. Our afternoon is free for exploring our favorite sites in the Old City on our own. We enjoy a gala farewell dinner together before our transfer to the airport for our overnight flight back to Miami. BD

DAY 10, Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - We arrive in Miami. M

B-Breakfast  L -Lunch  D- Dinner  M - Meal onboard aircraft

Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion of the leaders.

Price is based on double occupancy:

15-19 participants              $3499.00

20-24 participants              $3299.00

25-30 participants              $3099.00

Single room supplement  $799.00

*Price excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges currently estimated to be $98.00 and are subject to change. Any change will be reflected on your final invoice. Optional activities and sites visited during your free time are not included in the cost of the pilgrimage and are to be paid for at the time of your visit.

Non-refundable deposit of $300.00 due by August 1, 2019 per person with the application and a copy of passport

Final Payment Due October 1, 2019