Masks

As a party made up of worshippers from two churches heads off for a tour of the Holy Land, its members have little idea how much they will each be changed by the experience. They are united by the Christian faith, but through travelling together they begin to see how different they are - both from each other, and from the perception others have of them. Mike has a criminal past, which he fears may be revealed by someone who has recognised him. Confident Mary, who appears to have coped so well with the loss of her husband, is merely playing the role she believes others want from her. Bright, breezy, worldly Jan is feeling out of place among such contentedly committed Christians. Down-to-earth, dependable Beth feels unattractive; Steve is having doubts about his calling to the priesthood; all are wearing masks of a kind, hiding their true feelings from those around them. But nothing is hidden from God. As they visit the sites of the momentous events of the gospel and interact against the background of the landscape Christ knew, they come to deeper understanding of each other and, most significantly, themselves. Masks is a novel of clear Christian values and perspective. As well as offering psychological and spiritual insights it is a vivid evocation of the Biblical locations that survive in modern Israel. It will bring to life the memories of anyone who has visited Jerusalem, Galilee or the Dead Sea and create a thirst to travel there in anyone who has yet to see the Holy Land.