DAY 3 - HOLY LAND

We were up early and out by 8 to walk to the LION’S GATE , where the Rev read the passage about the SHEEP’S GATE, which we then walked through to…
# the church of ST ANNE’S, the birthplace of Mary, where we sang hymns and left prayers in the crypt wall.
## Then we walked the VIA DELAROSA..carrying a heavy cross and stopping at each station to read the appropriate bible passage and sing Tremble. Walking through the busy, narrow streets was quite powerful and humbling. Walking onto the church of the HOLY SEPULCHRE where Jesus was crucified and buried. The queue was an hour long to visit the tomb and it was so busy….so missed it.
#Then, on to the CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER , where the Rev had the privilege to be asked to be a celebrant during communion. We also visited the UPPER ROOM and SHUK MARKETS. We stopped off at an Austrian restaurant for coffee and strudel. Here we planned our escape….
After getting back at 5, we did a quick turnaround and headed back for an evening in the old city.
#we managed to see the tomb after 15 min wait and visited the site of crucifixion without any crowds. The Rev gave us all a special blessing before we were chucked out of the Holy sepulchre …it was closing!!!
#we found a lovely cafe for a delicious dinner without the hotel hustle and bustle. 3 went back early for evening prayers and we sorted the bill…OR didn’t as they wouldn’t take a credit card!!!! Even pooling all our dollars, shekels, euro and £s we couldn’t do it.
“it’s Ok Father…you come back and pay tomorrow!!”…that wouldn’t happen here!!
We made it back for evening prayers which was running late…phew.
An inspirational, busy day with an evening of panic and laughter.

CHECK OUT THE REVS BLIP FOR MORE PHOTOS.