Sabbath Worship
Something important to know about the Hebraic style of worship is that it is impossible to show up late. There are various portions of the service that people find value in. It's never expected that everyone should stay for the whole thing. People are constantly coming, going, milling around and paying absolutely no attention at all. The only segment that is not like this is during the reading of the Texts of the Bible. During the reading time, and really only during the reading, everyone is expected to remain in their places and attentive to God's Word.
People call and ask if we have a special dress code for our worship. I've said, "shirts and shoes are required... no, that's not true. Shoes are optional." Some men choose to wear a traditional Jewish kippah. Some women may wear a head-covering of some sort. Some men wear a traditional prayer shawl at some portions of the service; but these are intended to enhance the individual's worship, not to make a display or demonstrate their own Jewishness or piety. There is no expectation that one conform to a mode of individual worship that they do not understand or have not embraced for themselves. We understand that people are at various places in their own relationship with God. We don't want to hinder what the Spirit of God may be working in someone's life (and missing out ourselves) by placing an expectation upon them that is man-made.
People call and ask if we have a special dress code for our worship. I've said, "shirts and shoes are required... no, that's not true. Shoes are optional." Some men choose to wear a traditional Jewish kippah. Some women may wear a head-covering of some sort. Some men wear a traditional prayer shawl at some portions of the service; but these are intended to enhance the individual's worship, not to make a display or demonstrate their own Jewishness or piety. There is no expectation that one conform to a mode of individual worship that they do not understand or have not embraced for themselves. We understand that people are at various places in their own relationship with God. We don't want to hinder what the Spirit of God may be working in someone's life (and missing out ourselves) by placing an expectation upon them that is man-made.
Traditional Sabbath Service begins at 10ish every Saturday morning (sometimes heavy on the "ish").
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Immediately following the traditional worship is a ceremony called "oneg" which means, "joy."
We gather together and share a cup of grape juice to remind us that the Sabbath is a day of celebration and we can enjoy the company of one another in the presence of God. The Sabbath challah is a sweet bread that is braided into a loaf. Bread, itself, symbolizes health and goodness: that we are filled with goodness. It is braided to remind us that the Sabbath is a day of rest (as we cross our arms in rest). We break the bread and eat it together reminding us how we are together one in Him. Following oneg, we share a vegetarian potluck meal. Why vegetarian? Partially it is because there are some in our group who are vegetarians and we don't want to exclude anyone in any way possible. But more so, there are various understandings of what is "kosher" (or, fit to eat). While we believe the Bible does give instruction on this that we find still applicable to us today, there are a number of variations as what laws of kashruit really mean. A vegetarian meal on disposable dishes meets the criteria for pretty much everyone, so we can freely enjoy the fellowship of a meal together without anyone feeling left out or compromised. |
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The Sabbath Day is a day of rest. And that means a number of different things to different people. We don't want to make the day a marathon of religious observance or activity that exhausts us. But we also want to make sure that we have the opportunity to satisfy needs for worship, fellowship and learning. That's a pretty tall order. And while we can't be all things to all people, we can devote ourselves to ministering to the needs of those who are around us and who come to share their lives with us. I guess that might be a long-winded way of saying, you really never quite know exactly what's going to happen. But our commitment is that whatever we do, it will be engaging and honoring of the Lord God who created us in as much as is within our power to be.
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