Veterans Day

I am inspired by the bravery not only of those in the military, but also their families. Throughout history, men and women have selflessly put themselves in dangerous situations for a greater cause. There's a real value in remembering their sacrifice and also challenging ourselves. What are we prepared to suffer for a cause that Christ has laid on our hearts? Our freedoms today are due to those who were prepared to lay their lives on the line. Let's not forget.

Save $100 on a fabulous Christian tour of Germany

Have you been promising yourself a trip to see the Lutheran sites of Germany? You are warmly invited to join the Celebration of Luther and Bach in September, 2011.

We'll be visiting the main Lutheran sites: Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, Mainz, Worms, and Augsburg, all with expert local guides.

This tour also highlights the places associated with J.S. Bach, including Leipzig, Dresden and Eisenach. We'll be attending a Bach cantata at St. Thomas' Church in Dresden and there will an optional concert that evening with the Gewandhaus orchestra.

As on all Reformation Tours trips, you will travel by deluxe bus accompanied by an expert tour director, stay in delightful centrally-located hotels and enjoy delicious meals. The real highlight is always the fellowship and joy of traveling with other Christians.

We're offering an Easter special of $100 off for reservations made before May 10th, so click here to visit the webpage today or call us on 1-800-303-5534.

Looking for a Christian guide in England?

If you are planning a small group tour to England, we have some wonderful guides that we can recommend, either for a day trip or as part of a longer tour, which we can put together for you.

We'd like to introduce you to Michael Robinson who organizes small group tours of England’s Christian sites. He can either dovetail these visits into your existing itinerary or create one especially for you, complete with a Sunday service to suit! There are so many wonderful churches and sites of religious significance in London and its surrounding areas, and of course England has its own story of the Reformation vividly explored through visits to Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace and the ruins of several medieval monasteries such as St Augustine’s Abbey in Canterbury.

There are also opportunities to explore the original non-conformists in England that led to the development of, for example, Puritanism and Methodism whose outreach programs were instrumental in bringing Christianity to the United States of America.

Visit Michael’s own website at www.michaelgrobinson.com

English-speaking churches in France

To compliment our extensive list of English-speaking churches in France, we have added an interactive map to make finding a local church even easier. If you know of any other fellowships that we can add, please let us know!

View English Speaking Churches in France in a larger map

New interactive map of English-speaking churches in Germany

To compliment our extensive list of English-speaking churches in Germany, we have added an interactive map to make finding a local church even easier. If you know of any other fellowships that we can add, please let us know!


View English-Speaking Churches in Germany in a larger map

Plant a Tree in Wittenberg to Celebrate 500 years of Reformation

While touring Germany, your church can plant a tree in the historic Luther Garden that is being planted in Wittenberg to celebrate the 500 year anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses. Call 1-800 303-5534 or e-mail us for details. The local landscapers plant the tree A service is held to dedicate the tree An arial view of the Luther Garden in Wittenberg Wittenberg The idea of the garden, organized by the Lutheran World Federation, is to provide something that continually grows and enriches Wittenberg - a sign that symbolizes the vitality and life-connectedness of the reform movement and its worldwide resonance. Churches are invited to participate by planting a tree both in Wittenberg and a corresponding tree at home with an inscription noting the connection to the Luther Garden in Wittenberg. The cost of the tree in Wittenberg is around $650, which covers the tree itself, a local landscaper's services and an official certificate from the Lutheran World Federation. All tree plantings will be recorded in a site plan that can be found on the web site. Click here to see which churches around the world have already participated. "Even if I knew that the world were to collapse tomorrow, I would still plant my apple tree today." ascribed to Martin Luther For more details about the Luther Garden, please visit the official website.

Top 10 Holiday Travel Tips

Our last tour is home from Italy, but we know that many of you still have trips ahead of you this holiday season. Here are our top tips to make your journeys as easy and pleasant as possible. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas!

1. Book early and avoid the busy travel days. It’s better to fly on Thanksgiving than the day before and you still get there in time for that tasty lunch. Return on Friday and you’ll beat the return rush. For Christmas trips, avoid flying on Christmas Eve and returning Sunday night. We recommend looking at www.kayak.com or a new site called www.hipmunk.com for comparing flight options.
2. Book direct flights or include a longer layover than normal. If you have extra time, you can always enjoy a cup of coffee at the connecting airport. It’s also a smart idea to fly into smaller airports, as they typically have fewer delays in bad weather.
3. Print your boarding pass. You can do this online up to 24 hours before your flight and it’s a real time-saver, especially if you aren’t checking luggage. Bring a printed copy of your fight itinerary as well.
4. Don’t wrap your gifts. The best idea is mail gifts to your destination or even better – buy online and ship direct! If you do take them with you, make sure you don’t wrap them. We recommend taking gift bags or folded gift wrap, tape and gift tags with you.
5. Don’t check your bags. If you’ve followed tip #4, you won’t have much luggage anyway, but do take a spare bag with you, as you’ll be bringing those wonderful gifts home. If you are checking bags, there’s likely to be a fee, so if possible, bring one large bag for all the family and save by pre-paying before you get to the airport.
6. Prepare your carry on. Remember that all gels and liquids must be in three-ounce or smaller containers in a single quart-sized zip-top clear plastic bag if you are just taking carry-on. You are allowed to purchase drinks etc. once you have cleared security and take them on the plane.
7. Reserve your parking spot. In winter, it often takes longer than usual to get to the airport, so leave plenty of time to take the Metro-link or park your car. If you are driving to the airport, make sure that you fill the car with gas the night before and leave time to scrape windshields. For security reasons, don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle.
8. Load your phone. If your flight gets delayed or cancelled, you’ll save time by having useful numbers with you like the frequent flyer reservation desk, the airline’s 800 phone number, the people who are meeting you at your destination, your car rental agency, your travel insurance company etc. Check your flight status frequently and sign-up for phone or text notifications. We like www.worldmate.com for iPhones. Take your charger with you in your carry-on.
9. Plan for delays. It’s always good to have books and healthy snacks. If you are traveling with children, take an extra set of clothing, playing cards, books, quiet toys etc. When our kids were small, I would bring small gifts and space them out during the journey. If you are delayed, go straight to your airline desk for assistance. The polite people get the best service and may even get upgrades. Your calmness will help other travelers too.
10. Put your address inside your bag. If you put your travel itinerary inside your bag, the airline will be able to contact you if your bag gets lost. Luggage tags often fall off, so make sure your address is inside as well.

The Bible opens the 2011 season at the Globe

In 2011, Shakespeare’s Globe will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible which was completed in 1611, and the enduring power of dramatic language, with a season entitled The Word is God. Priority booking will open in January, exclusively for Friends of Shakespeare's Globe, with public booking opening in mid-February.

The season will open with a cover-to-cover reading of The Bible from the Globe stage over Easter weekend, followed by Hamlet which plays at the Globe before embarking on a Summer tour of the UK and Europe. Also playing at the Globe before touring will be As You Like It.

Interested in seeing the play and enjoying a trip to England? Call 1-800-303-5534 or send an e-mail to info@reformationtours.com today.

Click here for more details

New rooms opening at the Reformation Museum in Geneva

Our friends at the Reformation Museum in Geneva just let us know that they have three new rooms opening. This coming November, the basement will be devoted to the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. A special window will present the nature and historical development of Protestantism in the United States. Click here for more information.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. They are closed Mondays (with an exception of being open on Easter Monday, Pentecost the first Monday of June, and Jeune Federal, the third Monday of September). They are also closed on December 24, 25 and 31 and on January 1.

Contact us today to arrange a tour to Geneva, Switzerland to visit Geneva, Switzerland to visit this wonderful museum. Our number is (800) 303-5534.

Welcome back from the Israel trip!

In case you didn't know - we also offer tours to the Bible lands of Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Italy with our second company, Christian World Travel.

The picture is of Frank on the Mount of the Beatitudes - an amazing place.

If your group is ready to explore Israel, call us on (800) 303-2415 today!

Jack and Kathy just got home from their trip to Israel and Egypt and here's what they had to say:

Dear Rowena and Frank,

We just wanted to check in and let you know we are home safe after a wonderful pilgrimage to the Holy Land and an amazing Egypt extension. Our guides—Nola and Romani—were superior, and we saw and experienced so much. Accommodations were fine and well-located, and food was plentiful and delicious.

Thank you very much for all your efforts on our behalf. The journey was a tremendous blessing to all who went.

Best,

Kathy