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The
Old City of Jerusalem, looking eastward toward the Mount of Olives. The
Dome of the Rock is visible in the upper right.
I n
our Journey to Adulthood program, the J2A group ends its life with a
pilgrimage - a journey to a place where people have found the presence
of God. Our J2A group had planned to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
at the end of July of 2006. But the conflict between Israel and
Hezbollah necessitated a postponement.
We now have rescheduled the pilgrimage, departing on November 17 and
returning November 26. The youth in this pilgrimage will include Allie
Boron, Olivia Chopra, Jordan Gibson, and Jared Northrup. The two J2A
leaders - Elizabeth Killian and Dan Morey - will accompany our youth,
along with Fr. Earle.
We give thanks to St. George's College, Jerusalem, who developed the
itinerary for our pilgrimage. The College also will be our guides and
will make arrangements for our room and board.
Our plan is to send photos and commentary each day of the pilgrimage,
with the commentary alternating among the pilgrims. Please keep
the pilgrims in your prayers.
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Here's a brief overview of the extremely full itinerary:
Friday, November 17
Depart Buffalo in the early afternoon
Saturday, November 18
Approximately noon - arrive in Jerusalem
Quick tour of the Old City and the Mount of Olives
Sunday, November 19
Arabic Eucharist at St. George's Cathedral
The Old City from the Ramparts
City of David excavations
Monday, November 20
Yad Vashem (The Holocaust Memorial)
Bethlehem and the Shepherds' Field
Overnight in the Negev Desert
Tuesday, November 22
The Masada
Qumran (The Dead Sea Scrolls)
Float in the Dead Sea
Wednesday, November 22
The Way of the Cross (through the streets of the Old City)
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Mount Zion area
The Dome of the Rock
The Western Wall
Supper - pizza with Palestinian youth
Thursday, November 23
Nazareth
The Sea of Galilee (including a boat ride)
Mount of the Beatitudes
Capernaum
Overnight at Tiberias (on the Sea of Galilee)
Friday, November 24
Mount Tabor (The Transfiguration)
Jericho
The Mount of Olives
Princess Basma Center for Youth
Bethphage (Palm Sunday start)
Garden of Gethsemane
Saturday, November 25
Abu Gosh (Emmaus)
Evening - flight back to the United States
Sunday, November 26
Anticipate return in time for 10:00 a.m. worship
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Control them, O God,
gently, pervasively, irresistibly, increasingly,
so that they walk the pilgrim way
steadily, and in a sure light.
Control them, O God,
so that they neither dally nor disobey,
nor slip aside, nor stand still, nor sink down.
Control them, O God,
by the pulse of your Presence,
by your brightness around them.
Control them, O God,
by the spur of spiritual longing
after your holy praise,
after the image of your Son.
Control them, O God,
so that they move onward and upward
with a song and melody in their hearts.
And then, O God, change control into embrace,
lest they ever deny your truest will,
so that they cannot forget or fall away,
so that the world cannot entrap them
and steal their glory.
Amen.
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