Maysville First Presbyterian: In the Footsteps of Jesus

Depart CVG on Delta 2698, departing CGV at 1:35pm. You connect in Atlanta, then Paris, arriving in Tel Aviv at 2:05pm on March 21, 2023

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv on Air France 962 at 2:05pm. We’ll travel to the Galilee in a deluxe motorcoach, arriving in time for orientation and dinner.

Today we explore Jesus’ adult ministry in Galilee led by a Palestinian Christian guide. Highlights include the Mount of Beatitudes, the churches at Tabgha, the ruins of Capernaum (home of Simon Peter), a lunch of “St. Peter’s Fish,” a museum with a 2,000 year-old boat, and a sunset boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Return to our Galilee hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations.

Begin the day with a visit the Mar Elias Educational Institute in Ibillin, dedicated to educating Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Druze youth in the ways of peace. Meet with students who are eager to practice their English language skills. After a traditional Palestinian lunch, enjoy an “off the beaten path” tour of the Arab-Israeli city of Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, commemorating the angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary. Visit the historic Synagogue Church and the White Mosque. Return to Galilee for dinner and overnight accommodations.

This morning, we depart the Galilee and follow the Jordan River Valley south, arriving at the Jordan River Baptism Site. We will then travel up to Bethlehem, visiting the Church of the Nativity and Shepherds’ Field. In the late afternoon, you’ll meet our friend Ashraf, an artisan who works with olive wood. Olive wood carving is traditionally a Christian industry in Palestine. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

After a morning visit to the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of Jesus’ birth, we’ll learn how to cook (and eat!) a traditional Palestinian meal with the women of the Noor Women’s Empowerment Group and learn more about the Palestinian people. In the late afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel with some free time before dinner. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Attend morning worship with the English-speaking congregation of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City of Jerusalem. In the afternoon, visit the Israel Museum, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, artwork, Judica, and an impressive model of Jerusalem. Next is Yad Vashem, the Israel Holocaust Museum. We’ll finish the day with dinner at our hotel inside the Old City Walls, where we’ll stay for the remainder of the pilgrimage.

Today we will take a deep dive into ancient Jerusalem from the time of the Israelite kings all the way up to Herod and Jesus. We start the day atop the Temple Mount complex for a tour with our Jewish guide before proceeding to the Western Wall and the Southern Steps. After lunch we will tour the modern Jewish Quarter of the Old City including a visit to an active synagogue.

Today, we go down to the Jordan River Valley again, this time heading for Masada and the Dead Sea. Masada was the site of the final stand of Jewish rebels opposed to King Herod. After learning the history of the site and touring the top of the mountain, we’ll visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We’ll finish the day in the Dead Sea, where you’ll float like a cork because of the highly saline water. Make sure you bring your bathing suit! We return to Jerusalem for dinner at our hotel.

Begin in the morning with a walk down the Mount of Olives, visiting several churches along the way and arriving in Gethsemane. After lunch, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of Jesus’ tomb and resurrection. You are then free to wander around the Old City, shop, or just relax and take in the city. We’ll enjoy an early dinner and a bit of rest before departing for Ben Gurion Airport at 2:00am.

We depart our Old City hotel around 2:00am for Ben Gurion Airport. We fly to Paris on Air France 975, connecting to Air France 688 to Atlanta. You return to Cincinnati on Delta 2248, arriving at 8:58pm

We depart early for Jordan, crossing the Allenby Bridge into Jordan, where we meet our private guide. We travel towards Petra, stopping along the way at Jerash for a guided tour of the Roman ruins. We arrive in Petra in time for dinner.

We’ll spend the entire day in Petra, touring the ancient city of the Nabateans. Our expert guide will be with us all day, but you are welcome to explore parts of the city on your own; just make sure to stay hydrated! We’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel on our final night in Jordan.

We depart early, visiting Mt. Nebo and Madaba before catching our evening flight home. Mt. Nebo is the traditional site of Moses’ view of the Promised Land. At Madaba, we’ll see the mosaic map of Jerusalem at the Byzantine Church of St. George. The group departs Jordan, crossing back to Israel and arriving at our hotel.

You depart on Delta 243 to Boston at 11:30am, arriving at 4:15pm. In Boston, you connect to Delta 2209, departing 7:59pm and arriving in Cincinnati at 10:21pm.