Join us on Palm Sunday as we walk in prayerful solidarity with the people of Gaza and all lands, creatures and people who are suffering because of this conflict.

You are welcome to join us for a section (between 1km and 7km) or the full length of 27km.

This is a pilgrimage of solidarity and hope; we walk as witnesses and in love. We are calling for:
A. Enduring and Sustained Ceasefire.
B. Immediate flow of life saving food, water, aid, fuel and humanitarian assistance.
C. Release of all hostages – both the Israeli hostages held by Hamas – and the Palestinian hostages held in the Israeli prison system.
D. End of occupation so a just-peace can begin.

Route and (rough!) timing

7:15am Gather at Gembrook Retreat Meeting House

7:30am Prayers #1 at Gembrook Retreat Meeting House

7:45am-8:30am To St Silas Anglican Church Gembrook 2.3km

8:30am Prayers #2 at St Silas

8:45am-10:15am To Bushfire Education Centre Cockatoo 7km

10:15am Prayers #3 at Cockatoo

10:30am-12:15pm Car shuttle to Avonsleigh, walk to St Marks Anglican Church Emerald 7km

12:15pm Lunch break and Prayers #4

1pm-2:15pm To Menzies Creek Reserve 5.5km

2:15pm Prayers #5 at Menzies Creek Reserve

2:30pm-3:30pm To Belgrave Trestle Bridge (via Selby) 3.9km

3:30pm - 3:50pm To Belgrave Community Hub 1.2km

3:50pm Prayers #6 at Belgrave Community Hub

4:10pm-4:30pm To Tecoma Uniting Church 1km

4:30pm Prayers #7 & refreshments, Tecoma Uniting Church

For details of the route including last minute changes, please see: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OwlVDqN0k1xTlumyo2XCHW8gYFWR8Fu-Ze0nu1hFdWU/edit

If you are planning to meet us, we recommend you arrive early. On the day, you can call Jane on 0431 910 251.

Please note this walk includes unpaved and bush tracks, and lots of hills. You will need a good level of physical fitness. You are welcome to join us for a section or the whole way, or meet us at one of the prayer stops along the way. (The flattest section is the last km to Tecoma!)

This is part of the global Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage movement - check it out here: https://www.gazaceasefirepilgrimage.com/

We are also raising money for Palestinian Christians in Australia, to help them welcome Palestinians fleeing Gaza. Donate here: https://chuffed.org/project/gcpnaarm

To bring:

* refillable water bottle

* snacks, lunch (lunch can also be purchased in Emerald)

* hat & sunscreen

* sturdy footwear

* signs and symbols of hope and solidarity (you may want hands free during the walking sections so make them easy to carry/attach, or display them during breaks)

We are looking for assistance with shuttle driving people back to their cars or between sections as needed, and first aid - contact us if you would like to help.