Here are some ways you can observe Yom Kippur this year, or the Day of Atonement. You can choose to do one or all of these ideas; perhaps taking time as a family to read the Scriptures together. It’s meaningful to observe the day as a group, such as with your family or church community.Continue reading “Observing the Day of Atonement”
Category Archives: Seasons
Day of Atonement
For many adherents, the Day of Atonement is a significant observance, the holiest of all holy days. It’s a day of penance for the year’s mistakes and sins, traditionally a day of sacrifices, fasting and prayer. It’s also traditional to give alms, do good deeds for others, and spend time making amends and apologizing toContinue reading “Day of Atonement”
The day the world was born
For months I could feel him kicking inside me, ever determined from the womb. His due date, Rosh Hashanah, was drawing closer. The waiting was challenging, marked by periods of false labor that kept me awake, uncomfortable and ever alert for the real thing; rumblings of what was to come. I waited as patiently asContinue reading “The day the world was born”
Celebrating the Feast of Trumpets
Kingship, revelation, proclaiming of trust — Yom Teruah might just become my favorite autumn holiday. Post-Biblically, the holiday also began to represent the New Year festival, a celebration of the creation of the world. What a rich landscape on which to meditate! The Feast of Trumpets is a day of proclaiming that God is king.Continue reading “Celebrating the Feast of Trumpets”
Shout to the Lord!
In just a few days we celebrate the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). In Rabbinic literature and tradition, this holiday has become Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. It’s not clear when the Day of Shouting, as it’s also called, became the New Year celebration, as these are not connected in the original institutionContinue reading “Shout to the Lord!”
Fall festivals
As summer quickly turns into fall, we begin the yearly festival cycle anew. I like to think of the year as a “wheel” with summer at the bottom and winter at the top. The festivals we celebrate in the fall begin the annual cycle and turn the wheel as we journey through life. Repetition ofContinue reading “Fall festivals”
Start now
I add another box of books to the pile in my bedroom and look around at the mess. There’s no where else for these to go, and our bedroom is slowly being buried with things that have to be kept out of the baby’s reach. We recently moved him into his own little bedroom, whereContinue reading “Start now”
Building walls
Like a city breached, without walls, is a person who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 CJB Another way to think of self control is self direction. As I wrote in my last post, self control isn’t about stopping yourself from doing things, it’s about setting yourself on the path you want to go. Which means saying “no”Continue reading “Building walls”
Grace for guilt
There’s something on the inside of each of us that desires holiness. Created in God’s image, we each bear this mark of God on the inside of us, and something within us desires to feel clean and “good.” Different people seek to satisfy this desire in different ways, even if they’ve never heard of God.Continue reading “Grace for guilt”
Breaking ground
It’s easier to see the purpose of the pain in retrospect. In the moment, it can be difficult to understand the pain of growth, unless we know there is purpose in the suffering. Just as a child endures a stormy week of tears before reaching a new developmental milestone, so we often struggle when onContinue reading “Breaking ground”
