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“because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.” Leviticus 16:30 (NIV), and
“The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the LORD.” Leviticus 23:27 (NIV)
We have some very special guests returning this Sunday! The Elia family (Messianic Jews) will be sharing a program for us on the eve of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. It is celebrated as the holiest day of the year for Jews, a day to seek and receive forgiveness, looking backward in humility, but also looking forward in hope.
The festival comes from the story of the people of Israel, and how they sinned by worshipping a golden calf. Moses ascended Mount Sinai and prayed to G‑d to forgive them. The day Moses came down the mountain became known as the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. (Some believers spell G-d this way to show deep respect for our Creator and avoid accidentally misusing His holy name, instead, spelling it without vowels: G-d, and L-rd). Read Leviticus 16 and Leviticus 23:26-32 for the full story.
That year, the people built the Tabernacle, a portable home for G‑d. The Tabernacle was a center for prayers and sacrificial offerings. The service in the Tabernacle climaxed on Yom Kippur, when the High Priest would perform a specially prescribed service. Highlights of this service included offering incense in the Holy of Holies (where the ark was housed) and the lottery with two goats—one of which was brought as a sacrifice, the other being sent out to the wilderness (a scapegoat).
This practice continued for hundreds of years, throughout the time of the first Temple in Jerusalem, which was built by Solomon, and the second Temple, which was built by Ezra. Jews from all over would gather in the Temple to experience the sacred sight of the High Priest performing his service, obtaining forgiveness for all of Israel.
When the second Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the Yom Kippur servicecontinued. Instead of a High Priest bringing the sacrifices in Jerusalem, todayJews perform the Yom Kippur service in the temple of his or her own heart.
We believe that Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, points toward Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave a once-for-all sacrifice for us on Good Friday, when He atoned for our sins. That is also what we remember and celebrate each week as we take part in the Sacrament of Holy Communion, with the words “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
This Sunday, come ready to repent, receive forgiveness, and share in a special meal after worship prepared by own Nicole Taylor – a Polish-Italian-American meal! See you Sunday!
In the name of Jesus;
Pastor Dan
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Join us this Sunday for worship with First Evangelical and Holy Cross churches. We pray you experience God’s love and grace in worship.
- We are welcoming special guests this Sunday from the Elias family. Dr. Elihana Elias will sing and share her powerful testimony. Elihana is passionate about creating inspirational music with messages of faith in the G-d of Israel, hope and love for this generation. She serves in ministry with her mother Dr. Hadassah and her brother, Israel, in teaching and Jewish outreach ministry through FRONTLINE ISRAEL; Restore Israel and the Nations.
- Join us for another Special Cultural Meal after worship today. Nicole Tayloris blending her Polish and Italian-American heritage to serve us Polish-style cabbage rolls filled with seasoned ground beef and wrapped in tender cabbage.Then pour her homemade Italian marinara sauce over it to add some color and flavor. Alongside this, there will be parmesan mashed potatoes and sweet honey glazed Hawaiian rolls. Delicious! Freewill offering will be received.
- A limited first printing of Pastor Paul F. Arnold’s Martin Luther Exhibition is now available. This 278-page coffee table book documents his 4000 item collection housed at the New Ebenezer RetreatCenter in Rincon, Georgia. The book also tells the story of the Lutheran Salzburgers, exiled from Austria, came to Georgia seeking a place of religious freedom and a chance for a new beginning. They built the historic Jerusalem Lutheran Church, now the oldest Lutheran church in America with a continuously active congregation, and where Pastor Arnold’s collection is now displayed. To order the book, visit www.newebenezer.org/shop. Cost: $50.
- Join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.in the chapel for our new Bible Study, “See Through the Scriptures”. We will go step-by-step through the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation, putting everything in clear context. This week we will talk about the opening stories in Genesis.
