April 4 - 16, 2016
conference schedule
The following schedule is only a suggested schedule. The final schedule is subject to change.
Monday, April 4: Participants arrive to Newark Airport (EWR) for orientation at the Hilton Newark Airport Hotel. Orientation begins with dinner.
Tuesday, April 5: Orientation for all conference participants in the morning and early afternoon/Flight to Tel Aviv in the evening
- History
- Cultural Proficiency
- What to expect
Wednesday, April 6: Arrive in Tel Aviv; shuttle to Jerusalem hotel for a dinner and rest.
Thursday, April 7: Christians, Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem
- Morning prayer
- Visits to the sites of Jerusalem including the Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Yad Vashem and the Old City
- Return to hotel for dinner and debrief
Friday, April 8: Jerusalem as a Mosaic
- Morning prayer
- Speakers (in the morning)
- Lunch
- More of Jerusalem in the afternoon including the Western Wall, Via Dolorosa and free time in the Old City
- Return to hotel for dinner and debrief
Saturday, April 9: The Contemporary Context of Jerusalem and Bethlehem
- Morning Prayer
- Green Olive Tour Settlement Tour
- Depart for Bethlehem and check in to hotel
- Walking tour of Bethlehem
- Dinner and evening cultural performance at the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB)
Sunday, April 10: Bethlehem - A Worshiping Community Under Occupation
- Worship at Christmas Lutheran Church
- Lunch
- Free time in the early afternoon
- Opening of the program/initial speakers (mid-afternoon)
- Dinner at the International Center with debriefing
Monday, April 11: Economic , Environmental and Political Realities in Bethlehem and Hebron
- Morning Speakers
- Lunch at the International Center of Bethlehem
- Afternoon trip to Hebron
- Evening Theatrical Performance
- Debrief
Tuesday, April 12: Transforming Cultures of Violence into Communities of Peace
- Morning Speakers
- Lunch at the International Center
- College and Refugee Camp Visits
- Free night
Wednesday, April 13: Galilee: Exploring the Land of Jesus' Ministry
- Final Speakers
- Closing & Sending Service
- Eat Lunch-Depart from Bethlehem
- Stop in Jericho for a visit to the YWCA's refugee camp school
- Stops at the Baptismal Site on the Jordan River
- Dinner in Galilee
- Free night
Thursday, April 14: Galilee: Exploring the Land of Jesus' Ministry
- Time for reflection, prayer, spiritual practices, integration of the experiences of the conference
- Lunch
- Afternoon options include Cliffs of Arbel, hike the "Jesus Trail" to Capernaum, Sea of Galilee boat trip, Sindyanna of Galilee
- Small group devotions and group processing opportunities, next steps
- Commissioning/Sending Service
Friday, April 15: Envisioning our Part in the Mosaic of Peace
- Pack, prepare for departure
- Visit Nazareth-Church of the Annunciation
- Visits to Ibillin and Haifa
- Depart for airport
- Dinner in Joppa before arrival at airport
Saturday, April 16: Arrival in the United States
