Enjoy Bible studies? Like St Paul? Or even have a love/hate relationship with him?
Like cruises?
Like Italian food fixed and served by Italians?
Then you would love a study cruise covering some of the same places that St. Paul traveled on his second and third missionary journeys.
Leaving Washington on November 5th and returning the 17th, travel through Milan to the port of Savona, Italy to board your ship, Costa Pacifica.
Then a day at sea. Next a day at ancient Olympia, Greece.
On to Athens, see the ancient Acropolis, Parthenon, Mars Hill where Paul preached to the philosophers of his day, and to the Agora–the ancient market place. On to Corinth, Greece, and the ancient market, the temples and the archaeological museum. To be where Paul’s 1st and 2nd Letters to the Corinthians were first read will change and deepen your connection to what Paul is saying like no other experience can.
Then on to Turkey, the modern city of Izmir, to travel to Ephesus where Paul ministered for three years. And to Miletus (Acts 20:13-38) where he bid a final farewell to the elders of Ephesus.
Back on the ship for another day at sea before pulling into the modern city of Haifa, Israel. Travel inland to where most of Jesus’ ministry took place around the Sea of Galilee, to the Mount of the Beatitudes, on to the traditional location for the feeding of the 5000, to Capernaum and a stop by the River Jordan.
Back on the ship to head to Cairo. Paul never made it to Cairo, but you will. There you will see the world-famous Egypt Museum which houses the King Tut treasures. You will also go to the Great Pyramids of Giza and see the sphinx.
Back to the ship to head to Rome to see both the pagan and Christian sites, where Paul was a captive and eventually executed and buried.
Thirteen days (including a day coming and a day going). But all your days thereafter are touched by the greater grasp you will have on the Good News and the life and times of Paul, the Gospel messenger to we Gentiles.
Basic cost for the 13 day trip (including airfare) is around $2650. To learn more pick up a brochure at Tabernacle Church or go online at: http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/find_trip/detail.aspx?id=1357. Get a $150 discount per person if you register before August 5th.
The Reverend John Speight, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Fairfax Station and a close friend for nearly 20 years, will escort this biblical adventure in 2010. Cynthia and I hope to escort the group in November of 2011.
Pilgrimages are wonderful ways to spiritually grow, to have a great time, and this one involves great food and minimum of packing and unpacking–one of the great advantages of cruising.
