Our first full day - Nazareth, Cana and Mt Tabor

Our first full day in the Holy Land and we start at the very beginning, which, as we all know, is a very good place to start.

And so to Cana, the site of Jesus's first miracle. Our Lightline guide, Sami, talks about weddings in the Middle East. Even today, he says, wedding celebrations last a week, something to be shared with the whole community.

The hill villages of Cana and Nazareth are not too far apart. Sami himself used to walk between the two twice a week during his schooldays. He suggests that Jesus knew the family celebrating the wedding, and points out that Jesus's mother was already there - had Mary gone ahead to Cana to help with the preparations? He suggests the miracle had involved wine because wine is a cause of joy, and something to be shared. We enter the red-domed Franciscan 'wedding' church for a short act of worship. In the crypt we see a stone wine jar - enormous! - and far heavier than most of us had imagined.

Then on to Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation. This church is huge: its gigantic dome dominates the town. It was completed in 1969. Another short act of worship, singing around the rock cave which is venerated as the place Mary lived. Then on to the simpler Synagogue Church, a vaulted Crusader building associated withe synagogue where Jesus is said to have taught.

Then it is up to Christ Church, the Anglican church, and our first Eucharist with the whole pilgrimage group together. One coach is late arriving, but the other two thirds of the group takes the chance to sit quietly reflecting on the morning.

Once we have gathered, Bishop John presides. Mary's encounter with God changed everything, he says. She made space in her life to allow God to act. By coming on pilgrimage, we have begun to open our hearts, but nothing more will happen unless we make space for God, and allow ourselves to go on a journey of the heart. This may mean emptying ourselves so that God can fill us with good things. "When we say yes to God, the spiritual journey begins," he says. "We need to slow down on pilgrimage, to be aware of each moment as a gift."

After a substantial lunch, it is on to Mt Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. To reach this, pilgrims have to travel up the steep hairpin bends in a fleet of eight-seater taxi. Bear in mind that the Oxford party fills three coachloads and it was bound to be a challenge...

One coach had a long wait this morning. Another waits a long time at the end of the day, and only just arrives before the the Basilica closes for the day. Just in time, we sing and pray, and Bishop John tells us that the Transfiguration was a glimpse of glory. He reminds us of the Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem, "Earth is Crammed with Heaven... and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes, the rest sit around and pick blackberries."

We wait, the air suddenly cooling as darkness falls. The day has been warm, sunny and dry. We are told it is a relief after an unbearably hot summer. We are encouraged to drink plenty and realise all over again how important the gift of water is in such a climate. A long day, with lots to take away and think about.

Listen to a few minutes from our eucharist in Nazareth