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HCEF Invites Western Christians to Join a Unique Pilgrimage and Ecumenical Children's Journey to Jerusalem

25-Feb-05
Contact: Gail Freeman
1-866-871-HCEF, ext.206 (toll-free)
gfreeman@hcsn.org

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The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) invites you to travel with us in May 2005 on a Christian pilgrimage and fact-finding trip to see the holy sites in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel and to meet with Christian communities in the Holy Land.  A very special part of this trip will be participating in an Ecumenical Children's Journey to Jerusalem.  This journey sponsored by HCEF will bring approximately 1000 Christian children aged 7 -12 from different Christian villages of the Holy Land to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other holy places in the Old City of Jerusalem (many of these children have never been to Jerusalem even though it is close to their homes).

Jordan will be our gateway to the Holy Land.  In Jordan, we will visit Amman, Petra, Madaba, Mount Nebo, and the exciting new archeological find at Bethany Beyond the Jordan where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  The pilgrimage will also include visits to many Holy Land towns with established Christian communities including Bethlehem, Birzeit, Ramallah, Madaba, and Nazareth.  Some of the sites pilgrims will visit include the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.  There will be opportunities to shop for gifts in family-run shops that sell the fine handcrafts of local artisans.

Pilgrims will visit, share meals, and worship with Palestinian Christians in villages throughout the Holy Land.  There will be many opportunities to observe firsthand the full impact of the occupation on the indigenous Christians living in Palestine. 

For more details on the pilgrimage, please see:

http://www.hcef.org/index.cfm/EventID/164/ID/23.cfm

The pilgrimage dates are May 1 - 14, 2005.  The cost of the pilgrimage in under $3000 (including roundtrip airfare) from any major city in the U.S.  Space is limited and reservations must be made by April 10, 2005.  For additional questions or to make reservations, please contact Gail Freeman, Pilgrimage Coordinator, by phone at 1-866-871-HCEF (toll-free) or by e-mail at gfreeman@hcsn.org.

All are encouraged to join us - it is a journey that will change your life!