I have enjoyed a rest from writing this summer and appreciate the generosity of family members who have allowed me to share their special posts here (Jacob, Mom, Bailey, Bella.)
As summer winds down, the High Holidays are upon us. With Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah a new year, 5782, has begun on the Biblical calendar. We are in the midst of the Days of Awe, the ten days between Yom Teruah/Day of Trumpets last Tuesday (9/7/21) and Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement this coming Thursday (9/16/21).
The LORD appointed these times (moedim) along with a host of other special meetings and they happen whether we show up or not. Like the Sabbath--the only weekly appointed time--these holy appointments are set apart for special purpose and if we ignore or disregard them, we miss out on the blessing and opportunity for spiritual growth. Do we also miss blessing our LORD and thereby dishonor the King?
The Sabbath between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, known as Shabbat Shuva, occurred yesterday. We took special care to reflect on our desperate need to repent, confess our sin and return to the LORD. In Hebrew, t'shuva/repentance means to turn from our sin and return to holiness.
(special thanks to Rabbi Glenn Harris for curating these images)
As our daughter Bella reminds her friends, "No, we are not Jewish." BUT, our savior IS Jewish! And over the past dozen years, Messiah Yeshua has led me on a journey of great discovery, reconciling historical Christianity and Judaism. This awesome combination, known as Messianic Judaism has enriched my life of faith and spiritual practice.
To help you understand how Jewishness and Jesus go together, watch Rabbi Loren Jacobs' brief testimony "Kosher? Kosher." HERE.
Scott and I are blessed to worship at a local congregation with a mixed multitude of Jews and gentiles led by Messianic Jews (Jewish Christians) who truly embrace the gospel and this absolute truth that Rabbi Shaul/Paul taught to new believers:
"For in union with the Messiah, you are all children of God through this trusting faithfulness; because as many of you as were immersed into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah, in whom there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for in union with the Messiah Yeshua, you are all one. Also, if you belong to the Messiah, you are seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise." ~ Galatians 3:26-29
I hope you have 105 minutes to watch this excellent service from yesterday, 9/11/21! I encourage you to participate: pray, sing and consider the AWESOME implications of rebellion and repentance in light of the gospel. And if you want to hear the blowing of the shofar, recordings of Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah services are HERE. Come hear the shofar blown in person at our Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement service.
Shabbat Shuva, September 11, 2021/5 Tishrei, 5782
Order of Service
Tefillah/Corporate Prayer/Blessings ~ Rabbi Loren Jacobs @ - 1:44:40
Praise/Worship ~ Rabbi Glenn Harris and Shema Worship Team @ - 1:33:50
Reciting the Shema/Blessing Children/Or Chadash @ - 1:20:50
Drash by Elder David Goldstein on Vayelech/"And He Went"/Deuteronomy 31:1-30 @ - 1:13:35
"Our Need for True Repentance" (Luke 19:1-9) by Rabbi Jerry Weinstein @ - 1:05:00
"Shabbat Shuva - Coming to Our Senses" (Luke 15:11-32 ) by Rabbi Glenn Harris @ - 47:05
The LORD'S Supper ~ Rabbi Loren Jacobs @ - 22:00
Announcements @ - 8:40
Closing Song @ - 6:30
"The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one." ~ Psalm 14:2-3
"We need to return to the only path that leads to wholeness, completeness and everlasting life...be reconciled to God...only in Messiah can we be transformed from within and experience the true freedom that comes from his atonement." ~ Rabbi Jerry Weinstein, Shema Yisrael
"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" ~ Psalm 139:23-24
"I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." ~ Luke 15:18-20
"Know this for certain, God seeks out the strays...he doesn't give up the pursuit...in fact, we know that he already went to unimaginable lengths and at great personal cost to retrieve us. He sent his son Yeshua to sacrifice his own life in our place taking upon himself the punishment we deserved, dying so that we might live." ~ Rabbi Glenn Harris, Shema Yisrael
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." ~ Isaiah 53:5-6