Last year, I wrote these scripture verses into the back of my Bible... they were the ones we read for our Yom Teruah service at our congregation.
Genesis 21 and 22 Numbers 29:1-6 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 Jeremiah 31:1 - 19 and 32:20 1 Thesalonians 4:13-18 Hebrews 11:17-19
This year we're doing Yom Teruah at home ourselves. I'm interested to know if you've already planned out which verses you'll be reading on Yom Teruah, and why.. and what seems to be the predominant thing God is showing you?
Our tentative plans for Yom Teruah.. starting with our Sabbath meal.. and sighting the moon (God, please let Rabbinical and Agricultural calendars line up this year.. please please please.. ) then reading some scriptures, which I think will be from:
Leviticus 23:23-32 Numbers 29:1-11 Exodus 19:9-15 Gen 1 and 2 John 1
In the morning, we'll head up to the lake and again we'll read these scriptures.. starting with the ones about what to do on the first day of the seventh month. We'll blow the shofar and then move on to what happened at Mt. Sinai when God told them to consecrate themselves Ex 19:10 10 so ADONAI said to Moshe, "Go to the people; today and tomorrow separate them for me by having them wash their clothing; and taking on that theme of it being a preparation for a wedding.. we'll mikvah in the lake, then return to dress in our finest new clothes, dressed for a wedding. (if I had the time, I'd like to make fresh linen garments, much like a priestly garment - for each member of the family, but I don't have time between now and Friday to accomplish this). Then we'll eat the sweet fruit of the apple and honey and read about the beginning of creation and celebrate the new year. Maybe we'll even be able to dance on the beach if the boys have some music prepared for us. This isn't a private beach, but I don't expect there to be any other "beachers" as the weather here is NOT beach weather, the water will be cold...
Then we have been invited to join some others in the afternoon.. for some fellowship.
Our family is on a journey.. a journey OUT of our congregation, a journey to learning to walk this out for ourselves, and not be leaning on the elders to lead us through. It has been a wonderful journey under the leadership of the elders at our congregation, but it's time to step out and walk it out on our own.
The comment about the calendar - about Rabbinic and Agricultural/lunar calendar has been part of our family discussion recently. I've been submitting to the leadership of the congregation and following the Rabbinic calendar for the last few years, but I'd really like to follow the Agricultural/Lunar calendar. Stuart needed more information in order to form his opinion on this, and so we had a discussion about it last evening with the boys present. I truly believe that there was a time and place for the Rabbinical calendar. It served to keep the unity among the brethren in the diasporah - everyone celebrating on the same day - walking together in unity is a good thing. And walking together in unity with a congregation too is a good thing. But there comes a time when that good thing needs to be laid aside for something better. God's timing is according to the Moon and the crops. God tells us we won't know the day or the hour that the Lord will return.. and that's because we need to be searching for the moon. We can't look on a calendar with it's uniform boxes and it's pre-printed days to tell us when the Lord will return. We need to be looking up to the heavens for his return. I think the time has come for us - as a family - to start looking to the heavens, searching for the new moon, to be prepared, standing wearing our wedding garments - so that when the Lord returns for us - our Groom - we are not counted among the 5 brides who had to go back to get oil for their lamps, but rather are counted among the 5 brides who's lamps were full. We'd love for our congregation to come along on this journey with us, but sometimes we have to let deep waters move at their own slow pace.
Am I hasty? Am I pushing my family to move too quickly? - Lord I hope not, Lord I hope that I have been patient and waited for them to be ready to make this move. I've been ready for this move for nearly 2 years. I'm blessed that the decision to start this journey is being made by my husband - even though I'm the one who's been doing the talking in this direction for a while, I've been following his lead. Until now he was content to continue in our congregation, and now he's ready to make the transition out. We do not want to leave as in a divorce, we do not want to sever ties. We want to leave as a grown child leaves, to walk it out for himself, and yet is still welcome at the table any time, and especially at special occasions.
So, where is your family at? Are you curious about this Yom Teruah feast? Have you ever celebrated it before? Are you walking it out with a congregation? or with a few friends? or alone? Are you confused about what I'm talking about? Is this completely foreign to you? Have you ever heard of the Feast of Trumpets?
I've been following the new moon/agricultural calendar (as a torah keeping follower of the Mashiach) for 5 or so years. I've heard the arguments for observing the Rabbinic calendar, and I believe that with the advancement of technology, we are now able to know almost immediately when the new moons are sighted in the Land. There is no longer a need to set false dates in order to keep everyone on the same page world wide. The only reason to keep the other dates would be TRADITION! (can you hear Tevye singing?) Anyway, following the ag calendar makes working for a secular employer difficult, which is why I am working toward self-employment.
I am Sombra, and these are the stories from our house. We're a Messianic family where academics often take a back seat to the work and adventure of life.
Sep. 18, 2009 - New moon calendar and Yoom Teruah
Shabbat Shalom!
Brenda