I was taken aback at the extent to which the landscape, the archaeology and the history of the Holy Land impacted on my reading of the Bible. People had said it would. I had not believed them. Those who have been at church since my return will not have escaped noticing the impression it made on me.
It seemed right to support the Shepherd Society of the Bethlehem Bible College, working for development and relief among the people of Bethlehem, at Christmas. Little did we know that the war in Gaza would erupt as Christmas moved into the New Year. I have felt the pain and the outrage of that more than I would have done had I not visited.
Though the prospect of a visit in the Spring carries with it a feeling of apprehension, it also seems to me all the more important that we should go to be supportive of the people who are caught in the middle of the conflict, not least those in the churches there who are working for reconciliation and peace. I very much look forward to joining with Felicity and taking a group from Highbury, St Luke’s, other Cheltenham Churches, and other Congregational Federation Churches in April and May.
I must say a very big thank you to everyone for all the support given to Felicity and to me over the last year. In particular, thank you to Becky for her