02/05/2022
Update 2022.1
Jan 31, 2022
In my last update ( #2021-5 December 22, 2021) I wrote that I hoped that by the end of January the situation would be clearer. Oh how I wish things that was the case and the situation was less ambiguous. Permit me to summarize some facts respecting a May 2022 Pilgrimage, the pros and cons.:
• Canada issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory in mid-December cautioning against all unnecessary international travel. That advisory remains in place today though many expect this will be downgraded in the coming weeks.
• Israel and Ben Gurion Airport are open to tourists and ready to receive pilgrims again.
• Fully Vaccinated people are welcomed in Israel although all must take a PCR test (US$50) upon arrival. (I am told that lineups for this test can be an hour long.).
• The non-stop from Toronto arrives in the afternoon at Tel Aviv – so we would clear customs, collect our luggage, take our test, and then travel by Motor Coach to our Hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight. The next day we would sleep in a bit, have breakfast, and after receiving our PCR results would begin our tour. (In the unlikely event that your PCR test came back positive, you would likely be required to remain at the hotel for the next 5 days.)
• We hold excellent hotel reservations and other arrangements (bus, driver, tour-guide, admissions) remain in place.
• Before returning to Canada our group will be required to obtain another PCR test at our own expense.
• Our Tour Operator (Albina Tours), are one of the oldest and most experienced in Israel, tell me that they have one confirmed group from the UK arriving in March and 5 groups booked for April, and then our group and others booked for May.
• Vaccinations continue apace around the world and Israel at 77% has one of the higher vaccination rates.
• Jordan is also open to tourism but, because of lower vaccination rate (about 44%), I am not comfortable taking a group there at this time.
• There is growing desire for international travel and particularly, for pilgrimage. I continue to receive inquiries from people who are interested in joining our group and only three of our original 20 have found it necessary to cancel their participation.
• There is some international uncertainty around the Russia/Ukraine situation. • Canada, like most countries, is beginning to ease protocols for assembly and social gatherings as the Omicron wave has begun to subside.
I know from conversations with some of you – that we are of two minds on the subject of what to do. Some, likely most would prefer to postpone our pilgrimage. Others have said that they want to proceed, despite the challenges set out above. I understand both perspectives. So here is my suggestion – a plan giving each of us a choice between three possibilities:
Choice “A” As long as I have at least 12 committed people (in addition to Carole and me) I will take a group from May 20 to June 1, 2022 (or June 3 if you stay for the Jerusalem extension.) We would be a small group of intrepid pilgrims – although there are some advantages to that. If you want to be part of this smaller group, and have carefully considered the issues involved, let me know ASAP. I feel personally comfortable with travel at that time and will be glad to take this pilgrimage. I anticipate that as the days pass and we get closer to May, the situation will look even more encouraging and the plan more do-able. One piece of good news is that I will not need to send any further deposits until about 45 days before travel – so if things “go sideways” we can bail out as late as March or early April without incurring additional financial penalty. (Airline reservations don’t need to be made until about March.) I recommend that we omit the Jordan Extension as their vaccination rate remains too low – but of course the Jerusalem extension would happen. If Choice ‘A” is your preference, I need to hear from you quickly so that I know what my numbers will be. Please weigh this up carefully and pray about it – and then let me know. I have promised Albina my estimated number for this tour by about a week so please let me hear from you.
Choice “B” In addition, I have begun to plan a pilgrimage for the Fall of 2022. I am hoping that by then the requirement for PCR tests at both ends of the journey will be eased. Fall it will be a busy season in Israel and I expect I would be adding some new people to our group. So those who want to be part of this Choice “B” group will need to let me know their decision and I will hold space for them. I don’t have exact tour dates yet – in a couple weeks I should have firm dates and reservations in place. In Israel you always need to plan around the holidays for three religions, and in the Fall the key dates to avoid are Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. This means our would thus begin on or about October 17, 2022. In October Israel has 11 ½ hours of daylight compared to 13 ½ in May – and so the itinerary adjusts a bit – we just don’t try to fit as much into each day. This October ’22 pilgrimage would be a bit more laid back than my usual tours – but still with a 12 or 13 day itinerary. The Jordan Extension might be possible by the Fall – time will tell.
Choice “C” I have also begun planning a pilgrimage for Spring 2023. I do not yet have exact dates or reservations, however avoiding Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and Orthodox Easter likely means we would begin our pilgrimage on or about April 24, 2023. Both Jordan and Jerusalem extensions would be planned in – likely Jordan before and Jerusalem after. Because this is a spring pilgrimage with longer days, this will be a full itinerary tour – very much like what we have been planning for May 2022. With another year to plan I expect that we would add quite a few new people to our tour plus some who have rescheduled.
Please think and pray this through. Call me if you have questions of any kind. Then please let me know your preference:
o Proceed as presently scheduled: May 2022 (Choice A), or o Postpone to October 2022 (Choice B), or o Postpone until April 2023 (Choice C).
I am grateful to you all for your graciousness and patience. I wish this was easier and that we could plan with greater clarity. We do live in confusing times. Hearing from you as soon as you have time to digest this and pray about it will allow me to move forward with the preparations planning.
Some of you may want to check out a Bible Study I will be leading during Lent – both in person at Trinity Church, Sarnia and online by Zoom. This study “Following Jesus to the Cross” might provide some “virtual pilgrimage” and a warmup for the tour to come. Each week I will take us to a different location in the Holy Land, do a bit of show and tell with my photos of that location, and then explore a Bible story of an event in the Gospels that took place at that location. After my presentation there will be small group discussion, both by Zoom and at Trinity. I am developing 8 sessions, Wednesdays at 10 AM. Starting Ash Wednesday March 2 and concluding after Easter on April 20. More information will be available on Trinity Church’s website at www.trinitysarnia.org I will send out the links later in case you would like to join in.
Bishop Dance and I do look forward to making this pilgrimage with each of you.
Yours sincerely in Christ
Trinity Anglican Church Office:
1194 Murphy Rd., Sarnia, ON. N7S2Y2
Rachel Phillips, Admin. 519 542 9261 [email protected]
The Rev. Canon Vicars Hodge 519 466 6870 (mobile) [email protected] www.trinitytour.org
“Five gospels record the life of Jesus. Four you will find in books and one you will find in the land they call Holy. Read the fifth gospel and the world of the four will open to you.”
St. Jerome (347-420 A.D.)
May 2022 Tour
Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples including Galilee, Caesarea, Nazareth
