Clergy Familiarization Trip 2010

Mount Tabor rises by itself in the Jezreel Valley. 

At the peak of Mount Tabor is the Church of the Transfiguration. This is a mural of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah in the church.

A lone morning fisherman on the Sea of Galilee.

Basilica of the Annunciation 

Church of St. Joseph 

.

The Wedding Church

The site of the water into wine. Weddings do take place there. There is a store that sells wedding wine. 

Church and monastery -- site of the Feeding of the 5,000.

Church of the Beatitudes and convent 

Craig on a "Jesus" boat

Site where Jesus said to Peter, "On this rock, I will build my church."

Background: Church over the site of Peter's house. Foreground: excavated homes. 

Remains of a a third century synagogue. It was partially built over a first century synagogue where Jesus would have preached.

This is a supposed site of Jesus' baptism by John. The actual site is in Jordan, north of the Dead Sea. This site is run by a Kibbutz. Here two of our party, Revs. Julie and Kesha baptize a woman from Brazil. 

.

Of course, there is a church on the site of the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. 

Bethany is on the east slope of the Mount of Olives. The wall that separates Israel and the West Bank is on the summit. 

When the Arabs controlled Bethlehem, many centuries ago, they would occasionally ride their horses into the Church of the Nativity. So the church doors were made much smaller. 

The site of Jesus' birth 

Shepherds of the Hills Church

The Church of Peter Noster is over Caiaphas' house. In the dungeon down below there are jail cells. 

Gethsemane has 2,000 year old olive trees.

Chapel of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives: this is the window behind the altar with the Old City of Jerusalem in the background

Dead Sea Scrolls museum

Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

The reputed site of the Last Supper. It was interesting to see the electrical outlets on the walls. 

King David's tomb

Anglican Cathedral of St. George

Dome of the Rock (Temple Mount)

Site of the Temple? (Temple Mount)

Our pilgrimage group at the Western (Wailing) Wall. Craig is in the middle.

Jesus' crucifixion site (Church of the Holy Sepulcher) 

Jesus' tomb (Church of the Holy Sepulcher)