September 26 - October 8, 2007

 

Wednesday & Thursday, September 26 & 27

Evening departure from Newark International Airport, Newark, New Jersey, with arrival in Tel Aviv on Thursday afternoon. We will travel on to Nazareth to Ha’maayan Hotel where we will stay for three nights.

Friday, September 28

After a good night’s rest, we will be ready to visit Nazareth Village, a re-creation of a first-century village as it would have been in Jesus’ day. We will take a Parable Walk and hear Jesus’ parables in a setting where the parables may have been given. This Christian interpretive centre gives witness to Jesus Christ and makes the Bible come alive. Enjoy a first-century lunch in a Bedouin tent at Nazareth Village. After a visit and conversation with Father Chacour at I’billin, we will go to Cana where Jesus turned water into wine.

Saturday, September 29

On Saturday, we will go to Caesarea where Peter went to meet Cornelius and baptized him and his family. We will go up Mt. Tabor overlooking the Megiddo Valley. In the afternoon, we will take a walking tour of Nazareth to sites including Mary’s Well and the Basilica.

Sunday, September 30

Today we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and hear the story of Jesus and his disciples and their experience on this sea. We will go to the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum where Jesus spoke in the synagogue, Hazor, Bethsaida, Church of the Primacy of St. Peter and the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. See a first-century boat at the boat museum by the Sea of Galilee.

Monday, October 1

We will cross over the Sheikh Hussein Bridge into Jordan and visit Jerash, one of the most magnificent and best preserved cities of the Decapolis. Then we will travel on to the city of Amman where we will have an evening conversation with MCC personnel to learn about their program in Jordan.

Tuesday, October 2

Visit Madaba and stop at the Church of St. George (Greek Orthodox) that has an ancient mosaic map of the Middle East on the floor. From there, we will go to top of Mt. Nebo, where Moses had a view into the Promised Land. Take the King’s Highway south to Petra by way of Kerak. Lodging in Petra.

Wednesday, October 3

Today’s highlight is taking a horseback ride through the wadi canyon (Siq) to the ancient ruins of Petra for an indescribable view and experience. Petra was the capital city of the Nabatean people, who flourished over 2,000 years ago along this area of a major trade route. Then we will drive north and have an opportunity to swim (float) in the Dead Sea. Sleep by the Dead Sea tonight.

Thursday, October 4

Before crossing the Jordan River, we will visit where it is thought Jesus was baptized. Then it’s on to see Jericho, the lowest city on earth which we remember as the city whose walls crumbled down without a blow; the Mt. of Temptation; Qumran, to learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls and their discovery, and to the high fortress of Masada to learn about a dramatic and symbolic act in Jewish history. We will be lodged in Jerusalem.

Friday, October 5

There is so much to see in Jerusalem. We will start by visiting the Mt. of Olives, St. Peter in Gallincantu Church, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations, the Upper Room and the Pool of Siloam.

Saturday, October 6

This morning in Bethlehem we will visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field and remember our Savior’s birth. We will also visit the Bethlehem Bible College and meet and have conversation with Mennonite Central Committee workers at their office in Bethlehem. Back in Jerusalem, we will see the Jerusalem Model which depicts a reconstruction of the city at the time of the Second Temple.

Sunday, October 7

This morning we will attend the worship service at the Garden Tomb. Next Easter, this service will come to your remembrance as you celebrate Christ’s resurrection. A walk on the Via Dolorosa will be meaningful as we take a walking tour of Old Jerusalem. We will have a farewell dinner together.

Monday, October 8

We will depart very early this morning for our return to Newark. As pilgrims, we will have sung and prayed together and will have become friends as we traveled and experienced the Bible in Israel and Jordan.

Your Tour Leaders

Ron and Ruth Guengerich live in Archbold, Ohio. Ron taught Old Testament at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Hesston College and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He has pastored fulltime for the past 20 years, first at Whitestone in Hesston, Kansas, and presently at Zion Mennonite in Archbold. Ruth is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio. She presently works for Shalom Ministries as a counselor and for Sauder Woodworking’s employee assistance program. Ron and Ruth have led previous tours to the Middle East where their family lived for a year, and they look forward to returning and introducing you to the countries of Israel/Palestine and Jordan.

For further information regarding the complete tour fare, please This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . We would be happy to be of assistance.