The Isle of Man Methodist Women’s Luncheon Club met at the Mount Murray Golf Club.

Following a very pleasant lunch we enjoyed hearing an interesting informative description of Palestine, the Holy Land given by the Rev Steve Ingrouille.

He has made three pilgrimages to Palestine and another is planned for autumn next year.

It was a moving experience to hear descriptions and see slides of the well known places and beautiful historical sights, familiar from the Bible. We were reminded of Galilee and its wonderful lake and Capernaum, the setting of Jesus’s ministry.

There was Mount Zion with its tomb of Kind David and the House of the High Priest and today’s beautiful church; there was the fishing village of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene; and Bethesda, the village home of disciples Peter, Philip and Andrew.

We were reminded of Gethsemane and then Mount of Olives with the panoramic view of the Old City; and of Caesarea Phillipi, the source of the River Jordan.

We recalled the Damascus Road with memories of St Paul, and Nazareth, Jesus’s home town where the Church of the Annunciation has been built over the location of the village of Jesus’ day. Thoughts of Bethlehem bring to mind the Church of the Nativity built over original cave dwellings from Gospel days.

Bethlehem’s shepherds fields are forever associated with Ruth and Boaz, Samuel and David and most especially the birth of Christ.

Names like Jericho, Jerusalem and he Holy Sepulchre mean so much to so many. At the site of the present Ophel excavations at Temple Mount in Jerusalem you might stand in the water of the River Jordan in the same place where Jesus stood.

Apparently, Neil Armstrong stood on the steps of the 20-year-old excavations and said: ’This is the most special place for me since I walked on the moon.’

It was cheering to hear of co-operation between Israel and Palestine in the tourist trade profits, that messages of hope and love are pinned to the unfortunate wall and that visitors really feel safe in the land.

An appreciative vote of thanks was offered to the Revd. Steve Ingrouille by Norma Cowell. The next meeting of the club is on Wednesday, November 21, when the speaker will be Dr Michael Hoy MBE, presenting part two of his history of King William’s College.

Pat Freeman