Images
2009
August to October
Rosh
Hashanah
Yom
Kippur
Sukkot
Family
Sukkot
Moses'
Tabernacle
My
Brother's
Keeper
Jerusalem
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.
Isaiah 62
6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.The dancers from Beit Yeshua & Covenant practice for a Rosh Hashanah Israeli Folk Dance performance
Dancers form a Magen David (Star of David)
Practicing for a SUKKOT performance
The song "Latter Days" (by Barry & Batya Segal) speaks of the Millenial Reign of
Messiah Yeshua when all the Nations will come to Jerusalem to worship Him during Sukkot.
Rosh Hashanah is a two day festival falling in the Autumn (September or October) of each year, on Tishri 1 & 2. Rosh Hashanah literally means "Head of the Year". Other names for the two-day holiday include Yom Teruah (Day of the Awakening Blast), Yom Ha’Zikkaron (Day of Remembrance), Yom HaMelech (Day of the King), Yom HaKiseh (The Hidden Day) and Yom HaDin (Day of Judgment). It is also called The Feast of Trumpets, Feast of the Last Trump and Feast of the Born Again. Blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is the only specific commandment for the holiday. Yeshua said no man knows the day or the hour. This was actually an indication that the “catching away” would take place on this “hidden” festival. Beit Yeshua, the Jewish Roots Group of Covenant Bible Church, gathered on Friday, September 18, 2009 to celebrate the Biblical Festival. We were joined by many of our friends from Vision For Israel, Highway to Zion, Beit Shofarot, Christian Friends of Israel, The River, Christ Alive Church, House of Favor, as well as a variety of other churches and congregations.
About 100 came to the celebration. Many dressed in white as a symbol of purity and also as a reminder of the 2nd coming of Messiah Yeshua and His future marriage to Believers.
Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
The evening provided an opportunity to see old friends and also to make some new ones
Vision For Israel and Greetings From Jerusalem graciously provided a merchandise table with books, CDs, flags, keepas, tallits, t-shirts, shofars and a variety of other Messianic merchandise.
Susan lights the festival candles
The Shofarot are sounded as is commanded in scripture for the festival
Chuck gives a brief teaching on the various soundings of the sofar
and invites all to join him for another sounding using the Tekiah, Shevarim, Teruah and Tekiah Gedolah
Psalm 27 is traditionally read during the 30-day period of Teshuvah leading up to Rosh Hashanah and continues to be read to the end of Sukkot.
Our friend Cathy Hargett from Highway to Zion reads Psalm 27
Psalm 27
1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
(Left) Paul Miles prays for Israel and the Jewish people as well as the leadership in Israel and the US.
(Center & Right) Rabbi Yossi Wentz of Beit Shofarot prays for those
who were getting ready to leave for Israel and the Feast of Tabernacles there.
A time of praise, worship and dance begins with the singing of the Sh'ma
We do love to dance - and so do our friends.
Men, women, children, young and old - all worshipping the Lord in dance.
The circle continues to grow - first one circle, then two
What a blessing to watch the children get involved in the dancing and the fun
The children watch carefully as they learn to dance before the Lord
Doug talks about the festival and its significance for us today
One of the highlights of the evening was the drama on "The Ancient Jewish Wedding" and its parallels to our own marriage relationship with Yeshua.
2009 Ancient Jewish Wedding Drama
Part 1: Introduction
Click HereYom Teruah (or Rosh Hashanah) is the only Biblical Feast that begins on the first day of the Biblical month. Other Festival days began, for example, on the 10th day, or the 15th day. Rosh Hashanah was also known as “the Unknown Day” or “the Hidden Day” or "the day no man knows the day nor the hour”. In ancient times no man knew when it would begin. The new moon had to be spotted by two witnesses; then the Temple would give the order to blow the Shofar so all Israel could begin the festival. No one knew when the shofar would be blown since spotting the thin sliver moon low on the horizon was very difficult. Just as we understand that “Turkey Day” means Thanksgiving, or “Not a creature was stirring” means Christmas, "the day no man knows the day nor the hour” was easily recognized as referring to Yom Teruah—it’s what Yeshua was referring to when he made the statement. The Bible is a marriage covenant. Both the Tanach (the Old Testament) and the Brit Hadashah (the New Testament) describe how God through Messiah Yeshua, the Bridegroom, is in the process of marrying His bride.
2009 Ancient Jewish Wedding Drama
Part 2: the Betrothal, the Bride Price, the Wedding Contract, Bride's Acceptance
Click HereThe Betrothal
The first part of a Jewish wedding was the betrothal. Perhaps the Bridegroom had spotted the young Jewish girl in the village where they lived and had been impressed with her beauty, her kindness and integrity, as well as what a hard worker she was. Frequently, however, it wasn’t even the Bridegroom that made the selection for his Bride, but actually the Bridegroom’s Father. The Father would send a friend or a trusted servant to the parents of the prospective Bride, to make all the arrangements. Abraham sent his servant to his “kindred” to arrange the marriage for his son Isaac. The servant spotted a beautiful girl, Rebekah, and asked her for water to drink. Because of her kindness, she gave Abraham’s servant water to drink and even watered all of his camels.Hosea 2:19-20
I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, In love and compassion.
I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
The Bride hadn’t known the Bridegroom
Frequently the Bride had not met the Bridegroom before their Betrothal. She may not have had any idea of what her proposed Bridegroom looked like or even knew his age. All she knew was that she would spend her whole life with this man if she said “Yes” to the marriage proposal!1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen Him, you love him; and even though you do not see Him now,
you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.The Bride Price
The Bridegroom, his Father, or servant, would approach the father of the prospective Bride with the “Bride Price”. In Hebrew this is called “The Mohar”. This dowry was to be a minimum price of 50 shekels of silver. This “Bride Price” was usually something of great value such as lands, livestock, silver or gold and was paid to the Father of the Bride, who held it in trust for her.1 Corinthians 6:19-20
You are not your own; You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
The Wedding Contract
During the Betrothal process, the Bridegroom would present a Wedding Contract to his Bride. In Hebrew, this is called “the Ketubah”. This marriage contract promised the Bride that she would be provided for and cared for in every way. It stated that all of her needs would be fulfilled by her Bridegroom. The Holy Scriptures are our Ketubah. Over and over Messiah Yeshua declared His love for us! He promised to provide for all our needs. His covering dresses us in holiness. Yahweh has written this wedding contract on the hearts of Believers.Jeremiah 31: 31-33
The time is coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
The Bride’s Acceptance of the Wedding Proposal
The Bride's consent was required before the betrothal could be completed. Without her consent the wedding would not take place. So it is with our relationship to Messiah Yeshua. To enter into this Covenant with Him, we must accept Yeshua as our Messianic Bridegroom and confess Him with our mouth as LORD. When Messiah is revealed to us by “the Servant”, the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit), we must say "I do". It is by our free will that we enter into this wedding contract.Romans 10:9-10
…If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
Wedding Garments
The Bride was filled with emotions. Frequently the Bridegroom would even provide wedding garments for his bride.Ezekiel 16:8-13
“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD. “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth.
Revelations 3:5
“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”2009 Ancient Jewish Wedding Drama
Part 3: the Cup of Betrothal, Betrothal Gifts, Bridegroom's Departure, Mikvah
Click HereThe Cup of Betrothal – The Cup of the Covenant
Once the Bride accepted the proposal of marriage, the Bridegroom would drink a cup of wine with her to seal the deal. This was called the Cup of the Covenant. At that point, they were pronounced man and wife. Every time we partake of Communion (the Lord’s Supper) we are re-affirming our marriage Covenant with our Bridegroom.Matthew 26:27-29
(At the Pesach Meal with His disciples Yeshua …) … took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”Betrothal Gifts
The Bridegroom would then present Betrothal Gifts to his beloved Bride.James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father ...
The Bridegroom’s Departure
At this point the Bridegroom would go back to his own father with the good news of His Betrothal. He would then start building the CHADAR which was another room onto his father’s house that would be their eventual home together. The Bridegroom’s Father inspected and super-vised every part of the building process, and only He could announce that the house was completed and that it was time to go and fetch the BrideJohn 14:1-3
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
The Mikvah (Baptism)
The Bride had things to do while she was waiting on her Bridegroom’s return. She went through a ritual washing before the wedding, called a Mikvah, which we as Believers in Messiah call Baptism. This ritual immersion, or washing, symbolized her turning aside from all the former things and starting a new life with her Beloved.Mark 16:16
He who believes and is baptized will be saved.
A Time of Waiting
If the Bride knew where her Bridegroom lived, she may have seen the room that was being added on to the Bridegroom’s Father’s house. She could tell that time was getting closer - that it would surely be soon when he would be returning for her. Each day it appeared that the room was almost complete. Neither the Bridegroom nor the Bride, however, knew the actual day of the Wedding. Only the Bridegroom’s Father knew “the Day and the Hour” of the His Return.1 Thessalonians 5:1,2,4
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
2009 Ancient Jewish Wedding Drama
Part 4: The Witness Sent, the Bride Abducted, Wedding, Ketubah Signed
Click HereThe Witness is Sent First
When the time was right, the Bridegroom’s Father would tell His son that the room was completed and that it was time to go and “catch away” the Bride. The First Witness (the Bridegroom’s friend) was sent to the bride’s house saying: “The Bridegroom cometh!” She was transported in an Aperion or Wedding Litter.Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
The Bride is Abducted
At Midnight, accompanied by musicians, dancing and much rejoicing from the other end of town, the Bridegroom would meet his Bride. All present showered them with wheat kernels or grains of barley. The Bridegroom then abducted her, and took her to the Bridal Chamber - the room that had been built onto his father’s house.Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of G-d: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2009 Ancient Jewish Wedding Drama
Part 5: Bridegroom & Bride in Bridal Chamber 7 days, the Wedding Feast
Click HereThe Bridegroom & Bride Spend Seven Days Alone
The Bridegroom and His Bride would spend 7 days alone in the Bridal Chamber where they would consummate their marriage. In Hebrew the word for Bridal Chamber or Canopy is Chuppa.1 Thessalonians 5:6,9
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Wedding Feast
After the marriage was consummated, there was an enormous Wedding Feast or Marriage Supper. This is also a Theme of the Festival of Sukkot.Revelation 19:7-9
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Celebration
A time of celebration and dancing.2009 Ancient Jewish Wedding Drama
Part 6: Coronation of the King
Click Here
Baruch Ha'Ba B'Shem YHVH
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the LordAfter the drama, there was a dance to the song "A Resting Place" by Paul Wilbur
Doug led us in a time of repentance and self-examination as we observed Communion.
Beit Sohofar brought their Torah Scroll that they had recently acquired and shared it with many interested onlookers. The Torah was over 130 years old and was rescued from the Nazis during WWII before it could be burned.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Thanks to Duke and Paul for the great photos
Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, occurs on Tishri 10 and is the most solemn holiday of the Jewish year. Those of us who know Yeshua as Messiah can also see reason for celebration since Yeshua became the "Atonement" for our sins with his sacrificial death.
Susan lights the festival candles as we gather to celebrate the feast of Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement
Leviticus 23:27, 28, 31, 32 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a Day of Atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a Day of Atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. ...it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.
Two goats were set aside at Yom Kippur – one for God, and one for Azazel (HaSatan or Satan). The High Priest cast lots to determine their fates. The one for God was sacrificed, and the other (the Scapegoat) represented Israel and the sins of the nation. Tradition teaches that the scapegoat had a scarlet ribbon tied to its neck with a portion of the same ribbon tied to the door of the Temple. The scapegoat was driven into the wilderness (and in later years thrown over a cliff). If the Jews had repented, the scarlet ribbon tied to the door of the temple would miraculously turn white – a sign of God’s forgiveness.
Leviticus 16:7-10 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat (Azazel). And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
The scapegoat was driven into the desert, the same place the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) led Yeshua after he was baptized of John to be tempted by Ha’Satan. (Matthew 4:1)
The Mishnah tells us that 40 years before the destruction of the temple, the ribbon stopped turning white. This would have been during the time of Yeshua’s ministry, death and resurrection. The “scapegoat” was no longer necessary as God provided another way for the atonement of sin. Yeshua, Himself, became the perfect atonement for all our sins – past, present and future.
Doug lead the group in a wonderful teaching/discussion about the festival and then led us through 5 areas of prayer.
1. Individual Repentance
Proverbs 6:16-21 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eves, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devised wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.
Psalms 24:3-6 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.Ephesians 2:14-16 For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its ordinances and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their enmity.
Matthew 24:7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are sons of disobedience.Psalms 122:6-7 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and prosperity within your palaces."
Genesis 22:15-18 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.
Zechariah 14:16-17 And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
Beit Yeshua gathered corporately on Friday, October 2nd, to celebrate the feast of Sukkot.
The Family Life Center at Covenant was vibrantly decorated with bright colors and a sukka
Other names for the Biblical festival include: The Feast, The Feast of Booths (Hag ha Sukkot), The Feast of Tabernacles, The Feast of Ingathering (Hag ha Asif), The Great Feast, The Feast of Final Harvest, The Feast of Full Glory, The Feast of the Watergate and the Time of Our Joy (Z’man Simchateinu). Leviticus 23:34, 39
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, the fifteenth day of this seventh month
shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a Sabbath,
and on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath.
Leviticus 23:41-43
And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year.
It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths.
That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths,
when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
The sukka can be constructed of any light weight material. Just remember it is a temporary shelter. According to tradition, a sukka must have at least 2 ½ walls. The most important part of the sukka is the roof. Branches of “goodly” trees are used for the roof covering, but you must be able to see the stars. Wooden slats allow you to place the branches on top of the structure without them falling on your head. It is customary to “dwell” in the sukka. Dwelling implies eating, sleeping (if weather permits) and study. Sukkot reminds us that life is temporary. Even our bodies are temporary homes as we prepare for eternity with the Lord. In John 14:2, Yeshua even said “I go to prepare a place for you”. Deuteronomy 16:13-14
Thou shalt observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days,
after thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine. And thou shalt rejoice in they feast, thou,
and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite,
the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.Yeshua observed all of the Biblical Festivals - including Sukkot.
John 7:2, 11, 14, 37, 38
Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
Then the Jews sought him (Yeshua) at the feast, and said, Where is he?
Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried saying,
If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. [in reference to the water libation ceremony]
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
The crowd arrives and the shofars are sounded
Susan lights the festival candles - Paul says the blessings over the bread & wine
Dancers dance to the song "Peace of Jerusalem" by Kirk Dearman
An offering was received for Emergency Medical Supplies in Israel that will be given to Vision For Israel
Doug, Paul, Chuck and Curtis shared the scriptures about Sukkot,
prayed for spiritual & physical rain during the new year, and showed the lulav and etrog
There was a marvelous time of praise, worship and dance!
The shofars were sounding, the tambourines were ringing, and the drums gave rhythm.
Shouts of praise were lifted up to YHWH and Yeshua Ha'Mashiach!
The evening was even described by one as "the best worship experience I've had ever been in"
The songs selected for the evening all has a Sukkot theme and included:
"Tabernacle" by Jonathan Settle (written by Kirk Dearman)
"Mayim Mayim" by Barry & Batya Segal
"Come Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord" by Paul Wilbur
"Come Let's Go Up to the Mountain" by Paul Wilbur
"Watchman" by Paul Wilbur
"When the Lord Returns to Zion" by Jonathan Settel
"Lifted Higher" by Twila Paris
"He Shall Reign" by Paul WilburLATTER DAYS The song "Latter Days" by Barry & Batya Segal speaks of the time in Zechariah 14 when Messiah Yeshua
is ruling & reigning in Jerusalem and all the nations will come up from year-to-year to keep the Feast of SukkotZechariah 14:16
And it shall come to pass that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem
shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.Dancers prepare for the nations dance to the song "Latter Days"
Latter Days
by Barry & Batya Segal"In the Latter Days, on the Mountain of Zion, all nations will flow to the House of the Lord ..."
"All people will bow down to the God of Jacob, Then His glory will appear ..."
"He’ll wash away the filth from the daughters of Zion, And purge all the blood of Jerusalem ..."
"When He pours out the Spirit of judgment and burning, Then His glory will appear. Come up!"
"Going up, Going up to the mountain, Going up to the House of the Lord."
Going up, going up to the mountain, He will teach us all His ways."
"He will make a covering, A tabernacle of the Lord,"
"By night a shining, flaming fire, A pillar of smoke and a cloud by day."
Additional Nation's Dance Photos
Thanks to Duke & Myrl, Chuck & Janice, Doug & Lynda, Paul, Stacy & Jeanne for all their hard work in preparing for Sukkot
The Loftin's set up the frame to their family Sukkah with the help of our granddaughters the day before Yom Kippur
Later that week Carolyn and Curtis added the fabric and decorations to the sukka
as well as the branches on the top
Allie enjoys Doug & Iline's Family sukkah.
What a wonderful way to teach children about this prophetic festival!
Marcia's converted a tree-house into her family sukka.
She started writing a verse on the wood panel and added a Scripture every year.
Her first year to decorate the tree-house as a sukkah was 2006. She also placed a mezuzah in it.
This year the scriptures Psalm 1:1-3 and Psalm 117 were added to the wood panel.
Timmy Bryant from Vision For Israel in Charlotte and his family constructed their first sukkah in 2009.
His daughter (pictured below) is wrapped in a tallit as she watches the flames of the menorah
that was no only decorative, but also provided light for the temporary structure.
Timmy hung a large sheet on one wall of his sukkah with the Aaron Blessing.
"The Lord bless you and keep you and be gracious to you,
The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace"
Children from the community were given an opportunity to write there thoughts about God on the sheet
- including "God loves us" and "I am a Princess of God"
A view of the full moon from Timmy's sukka
Timmy shared how much his daughter and entire family enjoyed the Biblical festival -
eating all their meals and spending as much time as possible in the sukkah.
When it started to rain, they even put a tarp over the top so they could still go outside and spend time there.You didn't build a sukkah this year? Make the decision now to do it in 2010.
It's being obedient to the command of the Lord in Leviticus 23 - loads of fun for the family -
and helps you start some "interesting" conversations with the neighbors! :)Thanks to all who shared the photos from their family sukkah this year
Thanks to Doug & Iline Morrison for the models of the Tabernacle of Moses Many of us that are part of Beit Yeshua are also members of Covenant Bible Church in Lincolnton. Pastor Mike Devine started a multi-session teaching on the Tabernacle of Moses and Tabernacle implements were provided by Doug & Iline Morrison to make the learning experience more meaningful. The Table of Shewbread
The Incense Altar
Highway To Zion in Charlotte, headed by director Cathy Hargett, invited us to meet with Dov Ben Zion Gelman, of My Brother's Keeper International in Jerusalem. The meeting, hosted at the Vision For Israel US offices in Charlotte, provided a wonderful meet-and-greet for several ministries in the area. Paul sounds the shofar and Steve, Director of Vision For Israel's US offices,
leads us in a time of praise and worship
Cathy (2nd from Right) introduced the group to Dov (2nd from Left)
My Brother's Keeper International is a humanitarian aid organization ministering to children in Jerusalem.
Various areas of ministry for My Brother's Keeper International include:
(1) Hot Meals for Kids at school, (2) Coats for Kids, (3) Books for School, and (4) Family Sponsorship.
For additional information on My Brother's Keeper International, go to www.mbki.orgWhen My Brother's Keeper International was collecting funds for winter coats for needy Israeli kids, Beit Yeshua gave financially toward this worthy Coats-For-Kids project. They also managed to get Coats-For-Kids listed in the Covenant Church Newsletter and another sizeable offering was received for the project.
