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

Tour Italy this Fall with other Christians - space available

Italy - land of magnificent sunsets, fabulous architecture, delicious food and wine and a depth of Christian history and heritage. There is last-minute space available on a wonderful tour that will take you from Rome to Venice, through Pompeii, Assisi, Siena, Florence and Pisa.

You'll be traveling with friendly Christians from Ashland, Kentucky led by Pastor Ike Nicholson. The full tour is available on our website www.reformationtours.com and you can also call our office for details 1- 800-303 5534.

Highlights of the tour include:

• Visiting St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, where the Apostle Paul is buried
• Fellowship with believers in Rome
• A visit to ancient Pompeii
• Dinner at the Ancient Baths of Diana
• Vatican tour, including the Sistene Chapel
• The hilltop town of Assisi
• A tour of Siena, famous for the Palio horse race
• The magnificent art of Florence, including "David"
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa
• A cruise along the Grand Canal in Venice

The all-inclusive tour is available land only for $2,559 or with air from Charleston, WV.

Wouldn't you love to visit England and Scotland this Fall?

This September, you are invited to join Pastor-Emeritus Dr. Malcolm Bane, Associate Pastor Dr. David Strawn and members of the First Baptist Church of College Station, Texas as we explore places in Scotland and England where God was reforming His church through men and women of faith. Graduate Credit in Reformation Studies is also being offered with additional studies through the B.H. Carroll Theological Institute.


What does the tour include?

• Tour of majestic Edinburgh, including the Castle, the Queen's Holyrood Palace, St. Giles Cathedral and John Knox house.


• Exciting Stirling, with its fabulous Castle, and William Wallace Monument.


• Historic Hadrian's Wall


• Medieval York, including worship at York Minster


• The delightful village of Lutterworth, where John Wycliffe ministered


• Fascinating Bedford, with its many connections to John Bunyan and the Pilgrims.


• William Carey's villages of Moulton and Olney, including the little village school where he taught.


• Magnificent Oxford with its glistening spires. Our tour includes the Reformer's Monument, the Cathedral and the opportunity to dine at Regent's Park College Hall.


• Lastly, the thriving metropolis of London, including Westminster Abbey, John Wesley's Chapel and home, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Globe Theater.


• Our final visit is to Charles Spurgeon's Metropolitan Temple where this great Baptist preacher held his revival meetings.


• The tour also includes plenty of free time to shop and relax.
  

This is a guaranteed departure and we do have room for a few more. If you would like more details, please visit our website or call 1-800-303-5534.

Countdown to Oberammergau!

It's less than sixty days till the once-in-a-decade Oberammergau Passion Play begins and excitement is mounting! We only have a handful of places left but we're still purchasing more for late-comers, so if you haven't got your ticket yet, give us a call!

I'd like to feature two tours that I'm sure you'd enjoy:

Switzerland, Lutherland and Oberammergau Tour

PPRPK10: June 25-July 8, 2010
Combine seeing the Passion Play with a tour including Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, Oberammergau, Rothenburg, Heidelberg, Worms, Mainz, Eisenach, Erfurt, Wittenberg, Berlin and a Rhine Cruise. The tour is hosted by Rev. Dan & Cathy Rinderknecht of Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Billings, MT. 14 days priced from $3,565 land only.




Oberammergau 2010 - The Footsteps of Martin Luther

PPRKN10: July 21-31, 2010

Tour of Germany hosted by Pastor Ron Benson of First Lutheran Church, Papillion, NE (LCMS) and Kaylene Nienhauser of Aur Travel and her husband Jeff. The tour includes Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, two nights by the Rhine in Rudesheim, Mainz, Worms, a night in medieval Rothenburg and a drive down the "Romantic Road" to Bavaria.11 days priced from $3,199.

Did your Oberammergau Tour cancel? Our tours are all guaranteed!

Good news! If your Oberammergau tour has been cancelled due to low numbers, you are very welcome to join one of ours, which are all guaranteed, with great seats for the Passion Play. We have a variety of quality Christian tours to choose from, including tours to Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Call us today at (800) 303-5534 or e-mail at info@reformationtours.com and we'll be happy to assist you.

20 years since the Fall of the Wall - how prayer made all the difference

20 years ago the infamous Berlin Wall was torn down, amid great rejoicing. Although many attribute this to political success, it was the prayers and peaceful protests organized by an East German church, that really made the difference.

This church was St. Nikolai church in Liepzig, pastored by Rev. Christian Fuhrer, pictured left with Reformation Tours' president Frank Drinkhouse.

In an interview with Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Rev. Christian Fuhrer talked about how his church was used.

The church became a very special place, and in particular the Nikolai Church, which we could describe like this: the church was finally on the side of the Lord, on Jesus’ side. In other words, it was on the side of the oppressed and not on that of the oppressors, with the people and not with those who had the power. The special experience we had here was that the people accepted Jesus’ message, especially the message of the Sermon on the Mount.

He went on to talk about how the Lord often answers prayer in a much larger way than we can ever imagine.

The most important thing for us was the power of prayer, which is still true today. We are not praying to the air or to the wall, but to a living God. We did not pray for the wall to come down. It was more comprehensive: [We were praying] for peace, justice, and the preservation of our creation. We addressed the very specific needs of human beings in our prayers, and God has blessed those prayers in such a way that nobody could have predicted.

Click here to read the full translation of the interview. By the way, these prayers meetings are still continuing every Monday and we are happy to include a visit there on any of our tours.

Looking for a Baptist Tour including the Oberammergau Passion Play?

Are you a Baptist considering a trip to Europe to see the Oberammergau Passion Play?

You are invited to join Dr. Paul Enns, from Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, FL on a tour of Austria and Germany featuring a study on the life of Christ, with an optional extension to Prague. The highlight of the tour is the once-in-a-decade opportunity to attend the Oberammergau Passion Play in Bavaria.The tour also includes Rothenburg, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Vienna and Prague.

The deadline to sign up for this tour is November 18, 2009 to have guaranteed tickets, so call Wanda, the tour coordinator at (813) 968-4837 or Rowena, the tour operator at (800) 303-5534 as soon as possible to reserve your space.

New Oberammergau website in English

The next season of the Oberammergau Passion Play is approaching and the German National Tourist Office has just launched an exciting new website all about the play.

The website lists the tour operators who are operating tours there (yes we are listed!) as well as useful maps and information about the cast and play.

You might also like to watch the short video "Oberammergau - 4 Centuries of Faith" that's on the site.

We do have space on some of our tours, so if you've not got your brochure yet, either visit http://www.reformationtours.com/ or call us at 1-800-303-5534 and we'll be happy to chat with you.

Our quality Christian tours combine seeing the Passion Play with visiting Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic.

Oberammergau Passion Play tickets going fast!

This time next year, the Oberammergau Passion Play will be up and running and you won't want to miss out! We've already sold out some of our tours and several more are close to being waiting-list only. Below are the tours that still have some room and I invite you to call 1-800-303-5534 to reserve your space.

If you have a group and would like a custom tour, then it's not too late to call. Tickets are still available and we'd love to help.

2010 Luther Land and the Passion Play June 4-15, 2010
Combine seeing the Passion Play with a tour of Germany including Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, Worms, Mainz, Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Augsburg, Munich and a Rhine Cruise. The tour is hosted by Rev. Randy Prabst and Gail Vachon. 12 days priced from $3,595 land only.


I. N. Network Oberammergau 2010 June 9-19, 2010
Join the I.N. Network on a tour designed to not only connect you with the history and reality of the church in Europe, but also to experience the Passion of Christ for the whole world. The tour includes Prague, Vienna, Oberammergau, Salzburg and Munich. 11 days priced from $3,595 land only.

The Art of the Passion - A Word & Image Tour 2010 June 14-19 /25, 2010
Pastor Caroline Satre and Pastor Brad Davick of St. Paul's Lutheran Church invite you to join them on a tour of Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The tour begins in Bavaria and also includes Lucerne, the Swiss Alps, Torino, the Cinque Terra, Florence and San Gimignano. 6 days from $2,299, 12 days from $3,499 land only.

Oberammergau Tour F: Splendors of Bavaria and Italy June 22-July 5, 2010
Join Frank Drinkhouse, President of Reformation Tours on a fabulous tour from Bavaria to Rome, featuring Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Venice, Florence and Rome. Along the way we'll enjoy Alpine scenery and cultural delights. 14 days priced from $3,749 land only.

Switzerland, Lutherland and Oberammergau Tour June 25-July 8, 2010
Combine seeing the Passion Play with a tour including Geneva, Lucerne, Zurich, Oberammergau, Rothenburg, Heidelberg, Worms, Mainz, Eisenach, Erfurt, Wittenberg, Berlin and a Rhine Cruise. The tour is hosted by Rev. Dan & Cathy Rinderknecht of Trinity Lutheran Church in Billings, MT. 14 days priced from $3,565.

Oberammergau Tour B: Switzerland, Germany & Austria July 17-29, 2010
Join Frank Drinkhouse, President of Reformation Tours for tour through quintessential Switzerland, Germany and Austria. This leisurely trip includes Geneva, Chillon Castle, Bern, a day in the Swiss Alps, Zurich, the Bavarian Alps and castles, Salzburg and Vienna. 13 days priced from $3,549 land only.

Oberammergau 2010 - The Footsteps of Martin Luther July 21-31, 2010
Tour of Germany and Austria hosted by Kaylene Nienhauser of Aur Travel and her husband Jeff. The tour includes Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, two nights by the Rhine in Rudesheim, Mainz, Worms, a night in medieval Rothenburg and a drive down the "Romantic Road" to Bavaria.11 days priced from $3,199.

Celebrate Calvin's 500 anniversary

2009 is the 500 year anniversary of John Calvin's birth and we have a 10 day tour to celebrate. We'll begin in one of Europe's most exciting capitals, Paris and travel through France to Switzerland's Geneva. Along the way we'll visit Noyon (Calvin's birthplace - pictured left), Versailles Palace, Monet's home and garden, Chartres Cathedral, Rheims Cathedral and a Champagne cave, Strasbourg, Bern and Chillon Castle.

Along the way we'll not only have fellowship as a group, but we'll also get to meet Christians in the cities that we visit. You won't want to miss the fellowship we'll share over meals and the Sunday services in Paris and Geneva.

This tour is open for bookings until April 1, 2009 so call 1-800-303-5534 today to order your brochure or send an e-mail to info@reformationtours.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The Ash Wednesday "Hair Decree"

Today is Ash Wednesday and for the men in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau, that means no more shaving until after the Passion Play performance, unless they are going to play the part of Roman soldiers.

I took this photo when I was on a recent trip to Oberammergau and it shows the official "Hair Decree" that allows men in the police and the military to be excused from the usual rule of being close-shaven. Apparently men have to carry a copy of this as well as their residence cards as they can look a little unkempt as 2009 continues!