Israel/Palestine Pilgrimage
In late January and early February of 2009, twenty-two First
Church members and friends participated in a pilgrimage to the Holy
Lands. After flying into Amman, Jordan and spending a couple of days
in that country visiting the ancient Nabatean capital of Petra and
learning about Christian origins in Jordan, the group traveled to
Israel/Palestine. Time in Israel/Palestine included visits in and
around Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jericho, Jerusalem, the Jordan Valley,
the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, Qumran, Capernaum, Masada, the
Judean wilderness, Cana and Ibillin. Preparation for the pilgrimage
included reading a variety of books, participating in introductory
classes related to Judaism and Islam, presentations from guests
who’ve lived and traveled in the region, and fellowship during class
times and shared meals. There were many hoped-for goals for this
experience including: an overview of the geographical, social,
historical, archaeological and cultural settings of the Bible; an
overview of modern biblical scholarship including the rudiments of
archaeology; to learn about Christians, the nature of Christianity
and the role of the church today in the Holy Land; to promote
personal and group spiritual formation; to gain understanding of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, its impact on neighboring countries,
and the possibilities for peacemaking; and to offer hands-on mission
support to teachers and students connected with Mar Elias
Educational Institutions. Throughout the pilgrimage travelers took
turns writing in our daily on-line journal. Those journal entries
and some photos are posted here. If you have questions, concerns or
ideas about FUMC’s on-going connections in the Holy Land, feel free
to contact Rev. Tina Lang.
©2003 First
United Methodist Church
203 Wisconsin Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Contact: chimes@fumc.org