The Northwest Synod of Wisconsin is coordinating with Elias Tours to plan this transformative pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Join Bishop Laurie Skow-Anderson as we: visit the holy sites from the Bible in Palestine, Israel and Jordan; meet and worship with our Lutheran sisters and brothers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL); learn about the work of the Lutheran World Federation’s Augusta Victoria Hospital; discuss relationships between Israel and Palestine; hear firsthand the stories of the living stones, the people of the land (see 1 Peter 2). Our tour group will meet monthly starting in August 2023 (via Zoom) so we can begin to become acquainted with each other and prepare ourselves for this life-changing experience. We hope you can join us. As we stand on the banks of the Jordan River and around the ancient trees at the Mount of Olives we will read and reflect on John’s vision of a new creation, a creation in right relationship with God, Revelation 22: "The river of life flows through the middle of the street of the city, on either side of the river is the tree of life bearing twelve kinds of fruit, one ripe each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."