Daily Scriptures from Reverend Dan Johnson ~ Friday, 25 October 2013 ~ “Shabbat shalom” “The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: ‘Be sure to keep my Sabbaths, because the Sabbath is a sign between me and you and every generation so you will know that I am the Lord who makes you holy. Keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you.” (Deuteronomy 31:12-14a, CEB)

Daily Scriptures from Reverend Dan Johnson ~ Friday, 25 October 2013 ~ “Shabbat shalom”

“The Lord said to Moses: Tell the Israelites: ‘Be sure to keep my Sabbaths, because the Sabbath is a sign between me and you and every generation so you will know that I am the Lord who makes you holy. Keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you.” (Deuteronomy 31:12-14a, CEB)

Keeping Sabbath, even if you do so by enjoying Sabbath moments throughout the week like we discussed yesterday, helps us to remember who we are and Whose we are. This verse is a good reminder of that.

Not every week, but most, my family enjoys a meal together on Friday evenings and we share in the Shabbat candlelighting ritual used to usher in the Jewish Sabbath. Lenora was raised in a Jewish household, before becoming a Christian in her teens, and as a family we have enjoyed participating in such observances. Doing so has given life to what we read in the Old Testament. It also helps us to raise our children in the way they should go, instilling in them the knowledge that they are children of God.

Candlelighting is traditionally done by the woman of the household, which is good because Lenora’s Hebrew is far better than mine. After lighting the candles, the woman waves her hands over them, covers her eyes, and recites this blessing:

“Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha‑olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.”

"Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to light Shabbat candles."

My kids enjoy this time together. In fact, our son Nathan has enjoyed it so much recently that every night we have an opportunity to sit down together for dinner (i.e. – nights I don’t have meetings at the church), he pulls out the candles and asks to light them and do the blessing. Lenora typically responds, “Not tonight. That is special for Shabbat.” The Sabbath is special, created by God, set apart for us, so that our Sabbath moments would be different from our daily routines.

Maybe tonight you can do something different when you sit down for dinner by lighting candles and reciting this blessing…in English, of course, unless you are brave enough to attempt to pronounce the Hebrew transliteration. Either way, I encourage you to make a Sabbath moment, setting apart the time for God. Be intentional about making it more than a meal for nutritional sustenance. Make it a meal for honoring God and receiving life-giving, spiritual nourishment. Shabbat shalom, my friends, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Aaron

Grace and peace be with you,

Aaron Rousseau

Associate Minister 

Trinity United Methodist Church

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Pursuing the Possibilities (Our Fall Stewardship Focus) - praying that every member makes a pledge

and that every pledge be/become a Tithe (10%).

Trinity's new "modern worship" service begins Dec. 1, 11:00;

Youth Building: PRAY for it; TELL others about it; VOLUNTEER for it.

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Trinity United Methodist Church

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Gainesville, FL 32653 United States

(352)376~6615

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