FLASH -- UPDATE
Pilgrimage is Rescheduled to October 2026
The Hamas/Israel War caused incalculable harm to all the peoples of the Holy Land. We are glad of the cease-fire and pray for a lasting and just peace -- so that all the peoples of this land may enjoy peace and security.
Pilgrimage deepens faith, strengthens understanding of the scriptures in context, builds relationships across the Body of Christ. And in addition, Pilgrimage contributes to the financial wellbeing of the peoples of the Holy Land. So were were disappointed to have to postpone from 2024 to 2025 and now to Fall 2026. But, of course, safety of pilgrims must always come first.
We are all set for October, 2026. We hold some excellent hotel reservations, having booked the Golan Hotel, Tiberias and the Golden Walls Hotel, Jerusalem more than a year ago. This is a very good thing as it seems that even now all the better hotels are heavily booked for 2026! It would seem that desire to make pilgrimage continues. Pressure on hotel space will increase because of the inevitable scramble of groups seeking to reschedule. Over the coming days I will be able to post further details and prices for the 2026 tour.
Given the pressure on hotel rooms -- early booking for 2026 will be important. I presently hold a block of 20 rooms at present. (If our group is full I will need 30 rooms.) I can only hold a block for so long before I need to put down a substantial deposit -- and so if you want to be part of our 2026 pilgrimage, here is what you should do:
1. Subscribe to our mailing list/newsletter.
2. Send a Deposit of US$250 CA$325. This will guarantee your place as at that point I will hold a room in your name. If we cancel you will get a full refund. If you cancel six months before departure you only loose this deposit.
So given that our 2026 pilgrimage may well be fully booked, reserving now is a good decision if you think you want to go with us.
Canon Vicars Hodge
The Hamas/Israel War caused incalculable harm to all the peoples of the Holy Land. We are glad of the cease-fire and pray for a lasting and just peace -- so that all the peoples of this land may enjoy peace and security.
Pilgrimage deepens faith, strengthens understanding of the scriptures in context, builds relationships across the Body of Christ. And in addition, Pilgrimage contributes to the financial wellbeing of the peoples of the Holy Land. So were were disappointed to have to postpone from 2024 to 2025 and now to Fall 2026. But, of course, safety of pilgrims must always come first.
We are all set for October, 2026. We hold some excellent hotel reservations, having booked the Golan Hotel, Tiberias and the Golden Walls Hotel, Jerusalem more than a year ago. This is a very good thing as it seems that even now all the better hotels are heavily booked for 2026! It would seem that desire to make pilgrimage continues. Pressure on hotel space will increase because of the inevitable scramble of groups seeking to reschedule. Over the coming days I will be able to post further details and prices for the 2026 tour.
Given the pressure on hotel rooms -- early booking for 2026 will be important. I presently hold a block of 20 rooms at present. (If our group is full I will need 30 rooms.) I can only hold a block for so long before I need to put down a substantial deposit -- and so if you want to be part of our 2026 pilgrimage, here is what you should do:
1. Subscribe to our mailing list/newsletter.
2. Send a Deposit of US$250 CA$325. This will guarantee your place as at that point I will hold a room in your name. If we cancel you will get a full refund. If you cancel six months before departure you only loose this deposit.
So given that our 2026 pilgrimage may well be fully booked, reserving now is a good decision if you think you want to go with us.
Canon Vicars Hodge
Join us for 12-15 Days in the Holy Land
Living Stones PilgrimageMay 6 to 18, 2024 (Postponed to 2025)
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Jerusalem Extension May 18-20, 2024
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Pilgrimage leaders:
Canon Vicars Hodge |
ArchBishop David Edwards |
 Vicars Hodge
The Rev. Canon Vicars Hodge plans the itinerary and program for our pilgrimage tours. He is the liaison between our tour operators, hotels, guides & drivers, restaurants, and our group and is responsible for reservations and arrangements.
Vicars is an experienced Anglican Priest with a passion for the Holy Land and her people. Over the past 30 years he has accompanied a number of pilgrim tours in the land that St. Jerome called "The Fifth Gospel." Vicars is a retired Rector of Trinity Church, Sarnia where he continues to serve as Associate Priest. He is the Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Huron. Vicars has a keen interest in the Bible, history and theology. He will supplement the local Tour Guide’s talks, offering devotional moments and Biblical insight to the various sites we visit. Vicars will be available to answer questions as they arise. This will be Vicars’ eighth group pilgrimage to the Holy Land. As well, in 2017 he spent a 60 Day Sabbatical living at Tantur Institute, on a hill outside Jerusalem overlooking Bethlehem. Asked why he keeps returning to the Holy Land, Vicars says: "Pilgrims to the Holy Land never return home unchanged. I am thrilled to watch as the stories of scripture come to life in their actual context and faith grows stronger. My heart sings as I watch new friendships form between western pilgrims and the people of the land. Pilgrimage has deep and enduring kingdom value and I feel honoured to be part of it." Vicars is married to Carole and they have three adult children and three grandchildren. When he is not preaching or on pilgrimage he is usually found in his woodworking shop. |
The Most Rev. David Edwards will share the teaching and leadership of our 2024 pilgrimage. Bishop Edwards has a lifetime of experience as a pastor and teacher and a great love for helping people to come to know Jesus and understand the Bible. Archbishop David Edwards is the 10th Bishop of Fredericton and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada (Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces.) He was born and educated in Shropshire, England and worked as a high school history teacher prior before training for ministry as Bishop's Advisor in Evangelism. He was ordained a priest in 1995 and then moved to New Brunswick in 1998 as Principal of Taylor College of Evangelism. In New Brunswick David served as a parish priest, territorial archdeacon, and as Parish Development Officer for the Diocese of Fredericton. He was elected coadjutor bishop May 10, 2014 and installed as the tenth Bishop of Fredericton a few months later. In 2020 he was elected and installed as Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada (Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces). He serves on Wycliffe College Toronto's Board of Trustees and is the Liaison Bishop to the Mission to Seafarers, Canada. David enjoys reading, walking and has been a lifetime supporter of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (the Wolves). David was married to Janet until her death in 2018. He married Debbie (Collicott) in early 2020 (who will also be joining our pilgrimage.) |
Team Ministry
- Canon Vicars and Bishop David have shared in ministry previously -- and they look forward to sharing in the leadership of this pilgrimage. Vicars & +David's teaching will supplement the expert local guides who will be with us on our various excursions.
- Also assisting with pilgrimage leadership is the Rev. Michael Caines who is making his second pilgrimage. Michael will assist with both logistics and worship.
- Registrar for our Pilgrimage is Jenna Kimbo (Vicars' daughter). She is responsible for hotel reservations, rooming lists, coordination of flights, entry visas, and a host of other 'behind the scenes' administration.
Limited Group Size: Our group size is limited by two factors:
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Bus Space
We use an "oversize" motor coach with seating for 54 passengers including leaders. This sets the "upper limit" on participants.
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Hotel Room Availability:
We presently hold a block of 25 hotel rooms - enough rooms for the first 30-35 pilgrims who register. Once this block is filled, we request more rooms, subject to availability. As long as hotels have rooms, we can add new registrations. Unfortunately, the better hotels fill up in the Holy Land and we sometimes disappoint people who seek to register late. Last year we had to stop adding participants at 47 as no further rooms could be had.
So, the bottom line is this, if you want to go, register early. To be kept up to date please subscribe to our newsletter and you will get our periodic updates as our plans develop. |