Living in the Holy Land for Lay People
Description
The Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies offers two Living in the Holy Land for Lay Peoples annually: one during Christmas and the other during Holy Week/Easter. The two enrichment programs have been designed for adult lay women and men who are committed to Christian ministries, whether in church structures or in secular employment or in both. The programs focus on the events and the message of the Incarnation and Redemption of Jesus Christ, in the land where God chose to reveal these central mysteries of Christian faith.
These three-week sessions are for those lay persons of all churches who do not want a short pilgrimage with quick visits to a large number of holy sites, but who prefer a longer, slower paced personal and communal prayerful experience. Such an experience could deepen one's commitment to Christian lay ministry by a better biblical understanding of the salvific Event of Jesus Christ and His first community of disciples. The context is the Holy Land—"the fifth gospel".
Besides seminars, bible studies with group discussions, and ample free periods, there will be guided excursions to the principal sites of Jesus' life in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Samaria and the Galilee.
The group will participate in the worship of local Christians – "the living stones" of the Western and Eastern churches in Israel and Palestine. This will include local church and inter-church events: the Western Christmas/Epiphany in Bethlehem; the Holy Week in Jerusalem. The group will also experience Jewish sabbaths and holy days - another outgrowth of the worship setting of Jesus and the first
Christians.
Background
The concept of the Living in the Holy Land for Lay People originated from a few Tantur lay alumni(ae) in Great Britain who are involved in the education and formation of lay ministers in the British churches. Directly helping in the design are Tantur alumnae, Donata Coleman, widow of deceased Anglican Bishop Peter Coleman, and Kathleen O'Gorman, one of Cardinal Hume's adult education teachers in the archdiocese of Westminster.
Costs
All inclusive $2200 (Christmas 2008), $2500 (Easter 2009): full board and lodging at Tantur and three nights on the Lake of Galilee, tuition, bus trips, entrance fees. We will try to accommodate all single participants in single rooms with shared bath. Couples have a private bath. The Galilee lodgings are mostly double rooms with bath; only a few available singles.
For a reserved place, send in completed application form with application fee of $100. By personal check, money order or travellers checks, payable to the ‘University of Notre Dame,’ the name on our bank account. No credit cards.
Dates
The upcoming Living in the Holy Land for Lay People are:
Christmas 2008: December 17, 2008, to January 7, 2009
Easter 2009: April 2-23, 2009
Middle East situation
In general, the Holy Land, Jerusalem and Tantur is far safer than media portrayals of occasional localized events, if one follows the experienced guidance of the Tantur staff. Except for the Persian Gulf War in 1991, we have never cancelled our programs. See also Safety at Tantur page.
More and updated information
For more detailed and updated information and application form, please mail, fax or e-mail, with your exact mailing address and fax number to:
Tantur Living in the Holy Land for Lay People
Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies
P.O. Box 19556
IL-91194 Jerusalem, ISRAEL
Tel: 972-2-676 09 11
Fax: 972-2-676 09 14
E-mail: tantur@netvision.net.il
