March 10, 2013 Sun Day 5

Early Sunday morning, 10 in our group re-confirmed their baptism.  

8 by sprinkling and 2 by immersion. 

We started with Prayer and Scripture reading.

Part of Maryann's prayer:  "Just as the River Jordan flows in and out of the Sea of Galilee, 

the love of God flows in and out of us".

Janice

Ruth

Sue

Sandra

Gretchen

Sachi

Jon

Wendy

Water is definitely cold. 

Dale and Maryann

After another big breakfast, we were on our way to Nazareth.

Limestone rock formations en route.

Nazareth with yellow flowering mustard plants in the foreground.

Many communities built on hillsides.  Flat lands were used for crops and fruit trees.  

Israel’s recently inaugurated 60-kilometer Gospel Trail starts in Nazareth, where Jesus spent his early years, and ends up at the Sea of Galilee, the center of his ministry.  The route begins on Mount Precipice in Nazareth.

We...Walk.  
 Climbing  Mt. Precipice.

This may have been the mountain where the Nazarenes attempted to throw Jesus off the cliff.

Luke 4, 29-30: "...and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.  But he passing through the midst of them went his way"

A view to the south shows the city of Afula 

Another little gecko sunbathing. 

Windsor, Ontario.

And we drive!

Still in Nazareth

We....Walk

Church of the Annunciation 
It incorporates the cave in which the Virgin Mary received the news from Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus. The site has been a pilgrimage destination since earliest times and remains an important stop for Holy Land pilgrims today.

Interesting looking duck wanted to have his picture taken. 

Remains of the ancient village of Nazareth with its silos, cisterns and other cave-dwellings are preserved under the church .

The first church on the site venerated as Mary’s home was built around 427.  Nazareth in the New Testament times was a small farming village, probably with between two and four hundred inhabitants.

Currently there is a church on top of  Mary’s cave, called the Roman Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation.
In a time frame of 2000 years, there have been over 5 different churches built in the same place (from Christian to Byzantine to Crusader to Franciscan to Roman Catholic). 

Front door of the church, depicting major events in Jesus' life.

Not sure whether Jonah is on his way in or out!

Picturesque village picture taken from the courtyard of the church. 

Lower level of the church.  We could hear the singing coming from mass service upstairs. 

An altar was built over the spot venerated as the place where the Angel Gabriel appeared to young Mary.  Can't help but wonder where those stairs lead to.  Perhaps the kitchen or bedroom?   This was a room in a cave. There is no description in the Bible as to which room, it just says "he came to her".

Many countries contributed to erect this building.  Money or gifts of art.
Donated by Canada

Australia

Our next stop was very unique. 
 Kfar Kedem (literally The Ancient Village), offering hands-on experiences that transport guests to life on a Jewish village in the Galilee two thousand years ago 
Comical owner of the farm is Menachem.
Before we started we had a yummy  Baklava treat from Dale and Maryann.

And a herbal tea from Menachem. 

Interesting fig tree. I love the bark on these old trees.

We all had the rare opportunity to become shepherds.
Had a little trouble with the head bands though.  

Goats hair spun into yarn.  
We also had the opportunity to milk a goat, shear sheep and play the shofar (horn of the ram).  

Demonstration of how to use a slingshot.  Also made from goat's hair. 

Making cheese.
Warm cow's milk stirred with a fig twig that the bark was chiseled off. Stir till lumpy.
Sift through cheese cloth to drain liquid, and voila.  

 Cheese.  Pretty tasty.

Dale our shepherd, found the lost sheep.
The goat on the left sure has pretty blue eyes.  Yours are pretty cute also Dale. 

The barn was full of goats, sheep and little lambs. 

After a very long day of shepherding, we all got fed. 

We were treated to warm pita bread and 2 kinds of hummus and olive oil. 
All made by Menachem.  Scrumptious.

Ruth and Wendy

Alida and Sue

Barbara and Gretchen 

Janice and Nicole 

Phyllis and Sachi

These two look like happy campers...I mean shepherds.
Marcel learned to like hummus on this trip.
Definitely is the land of miracles!

Ceiling is woven from goat's hair.  It does not leak.

Can't resist the little geckos we see. 

No donkey ride for this cute little shepherd. 

As shepherds, we had to learn how to ride a donkey.  Unfortunately these donkeys only understood Hebrew, so it had no idea what it had to do when we said "wwhhoooo". 
Jon sitting on the donkey, while Kairy leads the donkey. 

The bluest anemone growing in the field.  

Felt like Mary & Joseph.  (Actually Phyllis and Alida)
Before we left this enjoyable place, we all received an International Donkey Driving License. Written inside:  Alida has, upon rigorous practical examination, been found knowledgeable and capable in all aspects of donkey driving and therefore will be permitted to do same, wherever and whenever she should so choose.  

Next stop:  Cana.  The Wedding Church
Where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding.  John 2:1-11

Large vessel.  Could have been used for purified bathing water. 

Ancient stone water jars like the kind mentioned in the story. 

Along the whole length of the wall in the narrow street below, was the text...turning water into wine. 

We got back to the Kibbutz  Maagan by 5 o'clock.  Just in time to start blogging the days' events.
                               Tomorrow we cross into Jordan for a few days.