[Dialogue] Jewish, Christian, Islam dialogue opportunity

[george]

Dear ICA Colleagues,
I hope you will give serious consideration to joining Rev. Neal  
Christie and myself who will be co-leading the General Board of  
Church & Society UMC Pilgrimage of Peace to the Holy Land this  
November 7-16, 2006. The team will be an interfaith group of  
Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths.  Even if you have been to the  
Holy Lands before, this will be an opportunity to not only visit the  
historical sites of the Holy Land, but to also be a team of  
Interfaith participants who will dialogue together throughout the  
Pilgrimage as we visit the sites and meet with leaders of these  
faiths to learn and dialogue on peacemaking.  Hopefully this will  
also encourage interfaith dialogue on peacemaking upon the teams return.

The cost is $2, 281, but discounts are available for two or more.   
For more details on these discounts, email me of your interests.

Enclosed are some of the basics in this email .  I can provide you a  
promo flyer in PDF format, just email me..

Grace & Peace,
Wanda Holcombe
Peace with Justice Coordinator
Southwest Texas Conference
E-mail:  wholcomb at umcswtx.org
Phone:  512-619-3469

Objectives:
• To become familiar with the nature of Christianity in the Holy Land  
and the role of the church today
• To meet with leaders from Jewish, Islamic, and Christian Faiths to  
learn and dialogue on peacemaking.
• To gain understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its  
impact on neighboring countries, possibilities
for peacemaking
• To gain an overview of modern biblical scholarship, including the  
rudiments of archaeology, and its
importance for clergy and lay people
• To provide an overview of the geographical, social, historical,  
archaeological and cultural settings of the
Bible
• To promote personal and group spirituality
•  Worship in Nazareth & Jerusalem with indigenous Christians.
•  Dialogue on Peacemaking with leaders from Jewish, Islamic and  
Christian Faiths

The General Board of Church and Society, UMC
www.sbsedu.org ~ www.umc-gbcs.org
Co-Hosted by Rev. Neal Christie and Wanda Holcombe
Contact: Rev. Neal Christie by Phone: 202-488-5611 or E-mail:  
nchristie at umc-gbcs.org
Wanda Holcombe by Phone: 512-619-3469 or E-mail: wholcomb at umcswtx.org

Itinerary:
• Day 1-2 (Nov. 7-8, Tuesday)
Depart New York, JFK Arrive Amman, overnight in
Amman
• Day 3 (Nov. 9, Thursday)
Theme: Christian Origins in Jordan - Field trip:
Jerash (Mark 7:31), driving tour of Amman, TBA
visits with Jordanian Christians overnight in Amman
• Day 4 (Nov. 10, Friday)
Theme: Entering the Promised Land - Field Trip:
Madaba, Mt. Nebo (Dt. 34), Baptismal site, transfer
to King Hussein Bridge, Jericho (Joshua 5-7, Judges
1: 27- 36) overnight in Jerusalem/Bethlehem
• Day 5 (Nov. 11, Friday)
Theme: Bethlehem and its Environs at the Time of
Jesus - Field trip: Bethlehem, Old City walking tour,
Church of the Nativity (Lk 2; Mt 2), Herodion,
Shepherd’s Fields, Solomon’s Pools (time
permitting), 2nd Temple model PM forum: TBA
(Israeli speaker) overnight in Jerusalem/Bethlehem
• Day 6 (Nov. 12, Sunday)
Theme: Jerusalem and its Environs at the Time of
Jesus- Field trip: Mt. of Olives, Garden of
Gethsemane, Old city walking tour, Western Wall,
Temple Mount/Jarem esh Sharif, Lithostratos,
Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Mt. 27-28; John 20)
PM forum: TBA (Palestinian speaker)
overnight in Jerusalem/Bethlehem.
• Day 7 (Nov. 13, Monday)
Theme: The Judean Wilderness - Field trip:
Masada, Qumran, The Dead Sea, Ein Gedi (1
Samuel), M Wadi Qelt, St. George’s Monastery (Mt.
4: 1-11)overnight in Galilee.
• Day 8 (Nov. 14, Tuesday)
Theme: Jesus Ministry and Resurrection Around the
Sea of Galilee - Field trip: boat ride on the Sea of
Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha, (John 21), Mt. of the
Beatitudes, Jordan River (Luke 13: 10-21, Matt 5- 7,
11: 20- 24, Mark 4- 6, John 21) overnight in Galilee
• Day 9 (Nov. 15, Friday)
Jesus’ Ministry in Lower Galilee- Field trip: Caeserea
Maritima (Acts 10, 23-26), Sepphoris, Nazareth, W
Basilica of the Annunciation. (Matt 2: 23, Luke 1: 26-
38, 4:16- 30, 1 Kings 21, John 4: 46- 54) overnight in
Jerusalem/Bethlehem
• Day 10 (Nov. 16, Thursday)
Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport, departure and return
to USA