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The Bethel Travel Group began in 1982 to encourage religious and educational travel.
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Another goal has been to provide "fun" travel opportunities for church members and their friends.
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Fellowship with one another is an important part of the Christian life and the sharing that has happened
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on our trips has been wonderful.
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FOOTSTEPS OF OUR LORD
MARCH 24 - APRIL 2, 2008
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Ruth & Pastor Ed at the Sea of Galilee
Monday
- 
March
24:
| Depart from New York area and fly NON-STOP to Tel Aviv, Israel. Supper and Breakfast served aboard. |
Tuesday - March 25:
|
We will be met in Tel Aviv and transferred to the 4 Star Tulip River Jordan Hotel in Tiberias located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee for dinner, welcoming meeting, and overnight. |
Wednesday -March 26:
| Travel to the village of Capernaum and visit St. Peter's House and the Synagogue of Jesus' Day; proceed to the Mt. of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount; visit the Church of the Primacy and Tabgha, the place of the feeding of the 5000; view a 1st century fishing boat discovered in the Sea of Galilee in 1986; take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Tiberius; enjoy lunch (not included) at a restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where you may order "St. Peter's fish". After lunch travel north, passing through Hazor, stopping at Dan to view the Ancient gates; thence to Caesarea Philippi – also viewing Mt. Hermon; return to Tiberius passing through the Golan Heights, if time permits, also passing through Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. Return for dinner and evening meeting in our Hotel in Tiberias. |
Thursday- March 27
|
Travel to Nazareth through Cana (where Jesus changed water into wine), visit “Nazareth Village”; visit Mary's Well and the Basilica of the Annunciation; take a lunch stop (not included) at the Restaurant of the Nof Tavor Hotel; travel to and tour Megiddo, located in the Valley of Armageddon. Continue on to the top of Mt. Tabor (the traditional place of the Transfiguration); travel to and visit the Jordan River; return to our Hotel In Tiberias for dinner and our evening meeting. An optional visit to the Caprice Diamond factory will be possible tonight. |
Friday- March 28
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Depart from our hotel and travel to the Mediterranean coast. Our first stop is the underground Crusader city at Acre (Akko); continue to Haifa, the Carmel City, ascend Mt. Carmel to visit the Carmelite Monastery commemorating the prophet Elijah and view the harbor; Drive along the Mediterranean to the ruins of the ancient Roman capital - Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in 22 B.C. – visit the aqueduct, the Herodian port, the marble street and the great Roman theater, visit “Mini-Israel” then on to Jerusalem and our hotel, the Renaissance Hotel – the Royal Wing where we will stay the next four nights. Hotel Web site: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage.mi?marshaCode=JRSRN |
Saturday - March 29
|
Depart Drive to the Mt.
of Olives (via Mt. Scopus), passing the Lutheran Hospital, to
visit the Chapel
of the Ascension, and the Pater Noster Church; view the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives, possibly take a group photo; walk the Palm Sunday road down from the Mt of Olives visiting Dominus Flevit Church and the Garden of Gethsemane, where we will celebrate Holy Communion. Visit the Church of All Nations, then after a quick lunch (not included), we enter the Old City through St. Stephen's Gate and follow the "Way of the Cross" (Via Dolorosa). We'll see: the Pool of Bethesda, St. Anne Church, the Chapel of Flagellation, the Chapel of Condemnation, the ancient cistern and the Ecce Homo Arch, the Stations of the Cross, the observation tower of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Return to our Hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and our evening meeting. |
Sunday - March 30
 This is a free day with no scheduled touring. I encourage you to take cabs with me (or we will arrange mini-buses) to the Old City to attend the 9am English Service at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and then to enjoy walking on the walls of the Old City, shop in the Bazaar; have lunch in the Jewish Quarter, or see places where you would have liked to have spent a few more moments the previous day. I will be glad to offer suggestions. Dinner, meeting and overnight in our Hotel in Jerusalem. |
Monday - March 31
|
Depart from Jerusalem to visit the shore of the Dead Sea - the deepest point on earth (1300 ft. below sea level); visit the Ahava Laboratories and see how creams and lotions are made with minerals from
the Dead Sea (there is a factory store as well); visit En Gedi (1 Samuel 24:1-2); tour Masada, taking a cable car to the top. Have lunch on your own at Mineral Beach on the Dead Sea and enjoy the option of a short swim in the Dead Sea and/or a soak in the Hot Springs (showers and lockers available). Drive to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls where discovered. View (not visit) Jericho, then ascend the Judean Hills and view the Mt. of Temptation. Return to our Hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and our evening meeting. |
Tuesday - April 1
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Travel to nearby Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, Christmas Lutheran Church (passing the Shepherds’ Fields), and have time for shopping and lunch; drive to Jerusalem and the Old City for a brief tour of the Jewish Quarter, including a visit to the Temple area, the "Wailing" wall and the Dome of the Rock; then visit St. Peter Church (built over the High Priest, Caiaphas', House), Mt. Zion, King David's tomb, and the Upper Room of the Last Supper. We will conclude our pilgrimage with a visit to the Garden Tomb and Calvary and there share in Holy Communion. We then have our farewell dinner followed by our departure to Tel Aviv Airport, leaving Jerusalem in the late evening for our flight to the USA. |
Wednesday - April 2
|
Arrive at New York area airport for transfers to home. |
EXTENSION TO EGYPT AVAILABLE
A 5 Day/4 night optional Egypt extension is offered,
with a minimum of 15 travelers, for $800.00.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE COST
The trip includes: Our own custom itinerary prepared by Pastor Voosen; Round-trip tourist class air fare on Continental Airlines to Israel; Morning and afternoon site-seeing in luxury coaches with a top English speaking guide always in attendance; All entrance fees of places visited; Israeli breakfast & full supper daily; 4 star hotels; Tipping of reception, porters, guide, driver, maids and food service; experienced tour hosts, Pastor Ed & Ruth Voosen; a copy of the book: ”Israel: A Biblical Tour of the Holy Land”; pre-trip planning sessions; and the airport and Israeli security and departure taxes ($321.00).
The trip cost is all-inclusive $2700.00 Single Supplement is $350. Our Tour price is based on traveling in our own private coach with a driver and guide throughout. This is an excellent travel value for this top-grade trip.
You will find other trips for less cost but they will not be this all-inclusive and of this quality. We could reduce the cost by not using 4 star hotels, or by not using the very best guides, or by not flying directly to Israel (crossing the border from Jordan with hours of delays), or by not traveling in Easter (when the weather is usually excellent for touring) and by not having our own custom itinerary where we have complete control – our experience with 8 previous pilgrimages leads us to not compromise on quality for such an important trip. It’s just not worth it.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST
Seven Lunches in Israel (normally obtained at self-serve restaurants where you can choose to eat as you wish) with a general cost between $8 and 15.00.
Optional Trip Tour Insurance Protection Plan covering trip cancellation, interruption, baggage loss, Emergency Medical & Dental, Travel Delay Coverage, Missed Connection Coverage, and more ($169.00).
TRAVEL TO ISRAEL IS SAFE!
We have led 8 trips to Israel in 3 decades (1982 to 2007) and have felt safe and secure in Israel. In the event that travel to Israel appears to be a major problem at the time of our trip the U.S. government will not let us travel (as was done during the Gulf War) and Journey's Unlimited will give us a full refund. When in Israel you will feel secure because of the excellent security measures.
PAYMENT
A deposit of $750 saves your spot.
Total payment is due Jan. 1, 2008
OPTIONAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE
If you wish you may remit 4 payments on the following schedule:
Initial Deposit: $750.00 as soon as possible
Payment 2 of $650.00 by June 1, 2007
Payment 3 of $650.00 by Sept. 1; 2007
Payment 4 of $650.00 by Jan. 1, 2008
Make checks to:
The Bethel Travel Group and return to:
The Bethel Travel Group
92 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Auburn, Mass., 01501
Questions? Contact us by letter, call, email or fax
Phone: (508) 832-6667
Email: voosen@charter.net Fax: (508) 267-1094
Thank you! Pastor Ed & Ruth Voosen, Pilgrimage Hosts
Return the below form as soon as possible to save your place.
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR PAYMENTS (LESS INSURANCE)
ARE REFUNDABLE IN FULL until Jan. 1, 2008.
ENROLLMENT FORM ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE - MARCH 24-APRIL 2, 2008
Name _______________________________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________________________________ State_________ Zip______________
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Day Telephone Evening Telephone
_________________________________________________________
Email Address
□ I am enclosing a $750.00 deposit and will participate in the
payment schedule noted below.
□ I am enclosing a $750.00 deposit and I will pay the remaining
balance by Jan. 1, 2008
□ I am enclosing $169.00 for Optional Trip Tour Insurance
Protection Plan. This must be paid, if desired, with the initial
deposit and is non-refundable.
□ I am interested in the extension to Egypt - send more information.
- SWEDISH Horse, Rooster, Pig, Clock, Welcome plaque?
All items are from the Nils Olsson. handwork shop of Nusnas, Sweden. The plaque is 11 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches and has a brass chain attached for hanging. All plaques are hand-painted with the name you desire. They are usually available in red, black or white. The cost is about $22, depending upon the strength of the dollar and the Swedish Value Added Tax. An order is sent to Sweden when the total order reaches about $400 or on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 every year. Above is a picture of a "Welcome Plaque" and below are Swedish horses, roosters and clocks. A list with pictures of available items is available from the Church Office or see our order form. This service is provided at a "cost" basis but if there are any profits they go to the ""Camp Calumet Building Fund" (a big expansion is on the way!)". Prices are very, very reasonable.
For More Info Contact:
