August | 2017 | Robert Lawrance

I would like to invite you to join me and The Reverend Gary Birchall on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2018.

You can find a Brochure here: HOLY LAND BROCHURE 2018

Like many Christians before us, we’ve found that pilgrimage has nourished and stimulated our faith in a unique way. We will be going to places you have read and heard about in the Bible. Starting besides the waters of the Sea of Galilee we will visit sites such as Nazareth and Capernaum, others where you will discover intriguing connections with Jesus and faith. Then we will journey south through the hills of Samaria, down to the Jordan valley passing places where John the Baptist worked, visiting Jericho before ascending up through the hills of the Judean desert and over the crest of the hill to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born and where we will spend two nights. We then proceed to Jerusalem and stay within the mediaeval city walls, within walking distance of key places and we will explore the Jerusalem sites of Jesus life and death and resurrection. Inevitably, the hills and landscape are little changed, but the modern towns and cities, and the huge challenges of the contemporary political and religious debates will also be there in front of our eyes. We will learn more of the history of the last hundred years as well, which also has huge impact for many making this pilgrimage. We hope to hear from people committed to work for peace in the present “realities”. We are delighted to say that we will be travelling with Lightline Pilgrimages, a Christian travel company who work exclusively with Christian pilgrim houses, restaurants, and tour guides, and which is the “official and preferred” pilgrimage operator for the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem. This isn’t the cheapest option, but we believe it’s the most ethical way to travel: not only does it support our Christian brothers and sisters in a very practical way, but also through its partner on the ground, Lightline can open doors to the different communities we will encounter.

To find out more, please email robert.lawrance@newcastle.anglican.org and see below for some images… do join us!

Robert Lawrance

Vicar of St Francis High Heaton