Arriving in the Holy Land
Arriving in Jerusalem was as exciting as I had imagined: the different people, sights and sounds illustrated how unique and diverse a place it is. In Jerusalem we stayed in a family-run hotel, overlooking the Old City walls.

Leadership and worship
Debbie led and supported us through all of the various acts of worship, from a simple prayer in a quiet corner, walking the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, singing hymns in various churches, celebrating communion, through to evening prayers when we had time to reflect on our feelings.

Celebrating Communion in the Holy land
We celebrated Holy Communion at three sites: the Ecce Homo Convent, which Christian tradition has placed as the beginning of the Via Dolorosa; the Fields of the Shepherds, where I led prayers of intercession for the first time; and the Tabgha Shores, where it is said the feeding of the five thousand took place, on the shores of Lake Galilee.
Worshipping in the open air surrounded by the fields and stillness and recalling the shepherds’ obedience as they travelled to find the baby Jesus was very thought-provoking.
It was here that I began to appreciate the benefits of travelling on a pilgrimage. We were given time and space to think and reflect on the words we read, the act of communion, and our personal faith, which is so often difficult in our daily lives.
As we visited various churches we often witnessed other groups worshipping, singing hymns, celebrating communion, praying together, reading from the Bible. We were all pilgrims together in the Holy Land irrespective of nationality.

The Paternoster Church
One of my highlights was reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the cave under the church, the place associated with Jesus teaching the disciples how to pray. I was struck by the stillness and peace we felt even though there were many fellow pilgrims waiting to follow us. Around the walls of the church the prayer is displayed in over 70 languages.

The Garden of Gethsemane
We now know, through carbon dating, that the olive trees here are 2,300 years old. That’s a powerful symbol and a reminder that they grow today as they did at the time of Jesus; like his teachings they are a constant in an ever-changing world.

The Mount of Temptation and the Greek Orthodox Monastery
To reach these we first had to use a cable car. Here in a chapel was a stone where, tradition has it, Jesus sat whilst the devil tempted him for forty days. Leaving the chapel we were invited to view a cave area, the entrance to which is usually locked. We found inside a simple chapel. The sense of isolation and the simplicity of it were truly memorable.

So, did I enjoy the pilgrimage? Definitely. It was a wonderful experience. During the ten days we visited such amazing places I feel I could repeat the whole visit and learn something new at every site. For others there would be different highlights, experiences and memorable moments.

Reflections from fellow Pilgrims
"This was a journey I shall never forget and I think it has deepened my love for my Lord. I went through so many emotions: profound sadness in the Via Dolorosa and in the crypt at the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, it was so hard to imagine the feelings of Jesus the night before his crucifixion; also, most importantly, incredible joy at our time together on the Jesus boat on the Sea of Galilee. Such stillness on a perfectly calm sea in beautiful sunshine and we shared scripture and sang God’s praises. What a truly wonderful time we had, full of closeness and care. We were a blessed group in a blessed place."

"Saying the Lord’s Prayer at the Paternoster Church is one moment that stands out, as does the time when we heard the same prayer sung in the language Jesus would have used. Other wonderful experiences include the communion service at Tabgha beside the Sea of Galilee and the boat trip later the same day.
‘I must also include the time at the River Jordan where Debbie led one of our regular acts of worship, and the walk along the Via Dolorosa, where even the hustle and bustle of everyday life carrying on around us seemed to be as it would have been in the time of Jesus. Not all the experiences were spiritual. Watching some of the party floating in a rather chilly Dead Sea was such fun, and visiting the Western Wall in a hailstorm felt surreal. Our visit to the boy’s orphanage at Bethany was extremely humbling. They had so few material possessions, but it was full of love and care and all the boys were happy."

"The Eucharists held in the open air under the amazing blue skies were so very poignant and I felt quite emotional on these occasions. There was also the very spiritual time spent on the mountain. The bare stark curves of the ranges of Wadi Qelt were the most prayerful place to sit and meditate in perfect peace. Just so many amazing moments on a truly wonderful pilgrimage, but the most heartwarming thing was the amazing caring fellowship that was constantly evident in the party."

"The pilgrimage was for me a very spiritual experience: I achieved a lifetime dream to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. There was a great camaraderie of friendship and support within the group, and Debbie was a great leader — she looked after her flock extremely well."

Source: Jacky Cammidge, The Spire Magazine - 2010 April/May