SEASONS - HOW TO BEGIN TO CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

CELEBRATING ROSH HASHANAH AS A CHRISTIAN
(Writen by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Sunday night, October 2, 2016 at sunset begins the Feast of Trumpets for 2016 (also called Rosh Hashanah.)  

The Holy Days of God found in the scriptures of both the Old and New Testaments were observed by Jesus Christ and the first Christians of the early church.  It is sad to me that most Christian churches today tend to overlook these festivals of God.  Jesus FULFILLED the first four spring festivals and WILL FULFILL the last three fall festivals.  He did not do away with them. 

Why would Jesus abolish His Father's appointed times?  

He kept these days with joy and thanksgiving, and so should we.  This is yet another beautiful piece of the puzzle of Christian history that God's people have been robbed of.  

If you are a Christian believer and you have decided you want to honor God by keeping His Holy Days in your life, I have some good news for you; you do not have to become Jewish!   You do not have to become a member of a Messianic congregation!  You do not have to make a formal announcement to the world or get permission from all of your acquaintances and fellow church members who may or may not have the same yearning or desire! You don't have to do any of those things!

It is all really very simple.  You just trust God and start to observe His special Holy Days.   

Loving God is not complicated.  Follow your heart.  Your home is your sanctuary and your body is your Temple.  If The Holy Spirit dwells inside of your heart, then you are free to celebrate these awesome days!  

If you do not know where to start, why not begin with The Feast of Trumpets that begins in 2016 on October 2nd at sunset?   Prepare a festive meal ahead of time, right in your own home.  Have some bread and wine, and follow the simple service outlined in this blog with your family and/or friends.  

There was a time when I did not know what to do either.  From years of study I put together the following outline.  You can do your own studying of the scriptures and history and make your own program if you wish.  Nothing is chisiled in stone.  This is presented simply to make things easier for you.  It is not a universal form used all over the world, but it is good and proper for the occasion and it may be helpful to your family as you try to implement the commandments of God in your own household.

Yes, you may make mistakes, that is why we have grace.  If it is all new to you, it might be good to prayerfully observe the first time with just you and God and see what God shows you.  

If you don't understand something; study to show yourself approved, a workman who needeth not be ashamed.  Learn as you go, just as you learned to pray, to witness, to worship, to study the scriptures, to sing and follow God in all other areas of your life.  God will show you what you need to know when you are ready, but you have to be willing to step out and begin.  The Israelites had to take that first step into the water in order to cross the Red Sea.  Have faith!

I promise you if you set the time aside and honor God with the honest and sincere intentions of your heart, God will teach you everything that you need to know as you go along. He will continue to teach you something new and wonderful every year after - forever!  These feast days go on forever and ever.  How awesome is that?

Remember that in this age we are under grace.  If you make a mistake God will forgive you.  If you never try and He is prompting you to do so - which would be the worst end?  Don't miss your blessing because you fail to trust in God and depend on Him to lead you with love and grace.  

Here is a very simple outline of a service my family has observed in years of the past.  I borrowed much of it from another simple worship service outline, and I pieced parts of several favorite services' outlines together for my family to use. You will find yourself doing the same thing as God leads you and speaks to your family.  It is perfectly okay to create a format that your family will relate to.  Feel free to use this one as an outline or a guide to get started, or feel free to write your own from scratch from the beginning.   

 So stop struggling with any fearful legalistic thoughts and be set free to worship!  Shanna Tova!

A Service for The Feast of Trumpets

MESSIANIC YOM TERUAH NIGHT SERVICE

With the fall holy days we cross a bridge from those things that have already happened to those things that are destined to happen.  The Feast of Trumpets is symbolic of the beautiful return of Christ for His Bride!  It is a rehearsal every year until we actually come to The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.


OPENING SONG:
Dance With Me 
(Pick any appropriate song that your family enjoys)


OPENING PRAYER

(It is nice for everyone to repeat this together in unison as we begin)

Our Father, Hallowed, Glorified and Exalted is Your Name. We give honor to Your Holy Name, Yahweh. The whole world trembled at the sound of the Shofar - at Your majestic Presence at Sinai. Creation shook in awe of You when You thundered from the mount and spoke Your holy words in tongues of fire to Your people.

Let the shofar we blow this night resound with the heavenly Shofar, in anticipation of that future festal shout of the Archangel, when the final Shofar will be blown and You will sound the battle-cry and gather Your people unto Yourself.

 SOUNDING OF THE SHOFAR

(You can find several good shofar sounds on You Tube.  Just go out and find your favorite one and use it here and during the other times that call for the shofar)

Prayer of Father/Leader:

Sovereign of the Universe, You have instructed us to sound the shofar on this day as it is written, "Blow the shofar at the new moon, at the covered time for our feast day, because it is a decree for Israel, a judgment day for the God of Jacob." Psalms 81: 3-4

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and in the blood of Y'shua the Messiah, and has commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar.

May it be Your will that the tekiah-shevarim-Teruah-tekiah blasts that we have sounded tonight be embroidered into the heavenly curtain by the appointed angel and be accounted like the prayers of Elijah, through Y'shua our High Priest and minister of the Inner Sanctuary, so that Your mercy may be upon us. Blessed are You, Yahweh, Lord of mercy and grace.” [adapted from The Complete Artscroll Machzor, Rosh Hashanah, Mesorah publications, page 437.]

THE SHOFAR SOUND IS HEARD.

KINDLING THE FESTIVAL LIGHTS (Prayer and candle lighting by the Wife and Mother of the home. Simply say the prayer and light the candles.)

Blessed art You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments in the blood of Y'shua the Messiah, and commanded us to kindle the Festival lights.

 FATHER OF THE HOME OR LEADER OF THE GROUP: "Give unto Yahweh, O you mighty ones, Give unto Yahweh glory and strength. Give unto Yahweh the glory due His Name; worship Yahweh in the beauty of holiness. The God of glory thunders; Yahweh is over many waters. The voice of Yahweh is powerful; the voice of Yahweh is full of majesty." Psalm 29: 1-2, 4

SANCTIFYING THE NEW MOON: Kiddush Lavanah

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, whose Word created the heavens, whose breath created all that they contain. Statutes and seasons You set for them as faithful witnesses in the heavens, that they should not deviate from their ordained task. They all do Your will as their Creator and glorify You.

Blessed are You Yahweh our God for renewing the earth and sustaining and preserving us in life for Your glory. Blessed are You, O Yahweh for Your covenant of faithfulness and mercy to our father David which endures forever, as the sun and the moon before You.

May we shine as lights in this world and reflect Your glory even as the moon shines and reflects the glory of the sun, through Y'shua the Messiah, the Son of David, the true Light of the World.

All Hail to the King of Israel Who lives forever! We proclaim the majesty, honor, glory and dominion of The One Who sits upon the throne. For, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11)

Our God, and God of our fathers, may this remembrance of Messiah, the Son of David ascend before Your throne and be accepted before You for deliverance, life and peace on this Day of Remembrance for all Your people. Draw all Your people unto Yourself, for You are a gracious and merciful God. B'hem Y'shua HaMaschiach, Amein (through Y'shua the Messiah)

  
SONG:  To Him Who Sits On The Throne
(Use any appropriate music your family enjoys)

FAMILY/CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

Father/Leader: Bless Yahweh Who is blessed.

Whole Family/Congregation: Bless Yahweh Who is blessed forever.

SCRIPTURE READING

(Designate a person ahead of time to give this reading.)

"Yahweh said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with shofar blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to Yahweh by fire." 'It is a day for you to sound the shofar." (Leviticus 23:23-25; Numbers 29:1)

"This is the day which Yahweh has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24 "Seek Yahweh while He may be found, call you upon Him while He is near" Isaiah 55: 6 Y'shua said, "I and my Father are one." John 10:30

Let us draw near to Yahweh, in unity with Y'shua our Messiah and seek His mercy and forgiveness. (Time of silent prayer and meditation)

PRAYER

(To be read by someone chosen ahead of time)

 O Lord, open my lips that my mouth might declare Your praise. Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; great, mighty, and revered God, Who is Lord over all; Who bestows loving kindness and has graciously given us Y'shua the Messiah as our Redeemer, to provide our atonement; and will bring back the outcasts of Israel and redeem them unto Himself, for Your Holy Name's sake. Thank you for the gift of life, and for inscribing us in the Lamb's book of life, through the sacrifice of Your Son Y'shua, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.

You sustain the living with kindness and revive the dead with great mercy; You support all who fall and heal the sick; You set the captives free, and will keep faith with those who sleep in the dust.

Who is like unto You, mighty God? Who resembles You, O King of the Universe? You bring death and restore life, and cause Salvation to flourish. You are Holy and Your Name is Holy, and holy beings praise You daily.

You, O Yahweh our God, have graciously given us this day of Remembrance, a day for the blowing of the shofar, a holy festival in remembrance of the past exodus from Egypt, and a type and shadow of our future exodus from this world when we will be gathered together unto Y'shua in the clouds to be with Him forever.

"God has gone up with a shout, Yahweh with the sound of a shofar For the Most High is awesome, He is a great King over all the earth" He will ascend the throne of His glory! (Psalm 47:5,2)

SONG:  SHOUT TO THE LORD/I WORSHIP YOU ALMIGHTY GOD
(Pick any songs that are appropriate for your family)

  

Blow Three sets of blasts on the Shofar

Congregation: respond "Amen"

 Father/Leader: "Make a joyful noise before Yahweh . . with trumpets and the sound of the shofar. Shout joyfully before Yahweh, the King .. .. .. for He is coming to judge the earth" (Psalm 98: 4, 6, 9) 

Congregation: respond "Amen"

 "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You. Blessed are the people who know the festal shout ["the sound of the shofar"], who walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, who exult in Your name all the day, and extol Your righteousness." Psalm 89:14-16

Blow Three sets of blasts on the Shofar Finalized by the Great Blast (try to hold it for at least one full minute)

Congregation: respond "Amen"

Designated Reader 2: Reads:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

New International Version (NIV)

 RESPONSIVE READING

Father/Leader: Give unto Yahweh, O you mighty ones,

Family/Congregation: We give unto Yahweh glory and strength

Father/Leader: Give unto Yahweh the glory due to His name;

Family/Congregation: We worship You in the beauty of holiness.

Father/Leader: The voice of Yahweh is powerful;

Family/Congregation: Your voice is full of majesty.

Father/Leader: Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood and He sits as King forever.

Family/Congregation: And in His temple everyone says, "Glory!"

Father/Leader: Yahweh will give strength to His people

Family/Congregation: Yahweh will bless His people with peace.

  

Father/Leader: All the living shall ever thank You and praise Your Holy Name, Oh Yahweh, You are our salvation.

May it please You,Yahweh of Hosts to bless Your
 people Israel at all times and at all hours. Call us home, Oh Yahweh, to Your Holy City, New Jerusalem, where peace shall dwell eternally within Your gates.

Blow set of Shofar Blasts

 MESSAGE (This is just a sample of a message that applies to the subject of the day - you may use your own and this should be different every year as God leads.)

(Taken from Ephesians 5:1-20)

In the traditional Jewish service of Yom Teruah, the Shofar was blown 100 times. The blowing of the Shofar is firstly a call to alert and awaken the conscience of man and initiate his response to the call of the Shofar to come into His Presence.

The Shofar pierces the darkness of this world's spiritual atmosphere which keeps man bound under the deceptions of the god of this world and penetrates the heart of man for him to hear the sounds of the Shofar - that is, the message of the Shofar. It makes a way for the Word of the Almighty to penetrate the heart for the purpose of bringing man to an acknowledgement of his need of repentance against a holy God.

The Jewish Rabbi Maimonides explained the meaning of the sounds of the shofar as follows: "Awake, you sleepers from your slumber, and rouse you from your lethargy.  Scrutinize your deeds and return in repentance. Remember your Creator, you who forget eternal truth in the trifles of the hour, who go astray all your years after vain illusions which can neither profit nor deliver. Look well into your souls and mend your ways and your actions; let each one of you forsake his evil path and his unworthy purpose, and return to God, so that He may have mercy upon you."

Paul reiterated that in speaking to the Ephesians when he counseled them to be imitators of him and "walk in love as Messiah also loved us and has given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be named among you, as is appropriate for the saints of God; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not right, but rather giving of thanks in all things to God. For this you know that no fornicator, unclean immoral person, nor a covetous man who is an idolater of the things of this world, has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partakers with them. . . . . Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness or those who practice them, but rather expose them. . . . . All things that are exposed are made manifest by the light. Therefore He says, "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Messiah will give you light." See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise people, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (paraphrased and expanded from Ephesians 5: 1-16)

The apostle Peter also exhorts us to consider what manner of person we ought to be in holy conduct and godliness with the approaching Day of God in which the world and everything in it will be dissolved, saying, "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;" (2 Peter 3:11-14)

The day of Yom Teruah is understood prophetically to herald the beginning of the Tribulation period. The Shofar blown on this day is called the Last Shofar/Trumpet. The Shofar had been blowing in the Temple for thirty days previously, to call the people to prepare, and on Yom Kippur the Great Shofar will be blown which will herald the coming of Messiah. The message of the Shofar on Yom Teruah is an alarm to prepare for the coming judgment.

On the memorial of this day, the Messiah will ascend the throne for His coronation as King of Kings and the thrones will be set for judgment. We need to watch and pray that we may be counted worthy to escape the coming judgment and be found of Him in peace at His return, whenever that may be. (Luke 21:36 The blowing of the Shofar on Yom Teruah symbolizes the prevalence of Mercy over Judgment for those who come in repentance and seek His forgiveness for all their sins.

John says that if we say we have not sinned we deceive ourselves and His truth is not in us. We need to allow the light of His Word to shine into our hearts and examine us according to His holiness. (1 John 1: 5-8)

Our eternal destiny will be decided by our spiritual condition when this final day arrives. Yom Teruah is different from every other Feast, in that it has no prescribed date and is dependent on the arrival of the new moon which is concealed from view. So that day will come upon us, if we are not prepared and catch us unaware. We need to watch and be sober and keep our spiritual garments white and unspotted from this world.

 (Play the song – Fine Linen or any other music that you wish to chose, have liturgical dancing if desired)

KIDDUSH

Blessing of Kiddush - Leader holding cup:

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Amen.

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who has chosen us from among all nations and has sanctified us by the blood of Y'shua. Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies the Festival of Trumpets.

Blessing of Challah –

Leader holding bread: Blessed art You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen. Baruch Atah Yahweh, Elochenu Melach ha-olam, ha-motsee lechem min haarets. Amen.

May we be inscribed for a good year as those who are trusting in Y'shua the Messiah for eternal life.

OFFERING FOR THE NEEDY

Nehemiah 8:10 "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing has been prepared, for this day is holy to Yahweh. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

If you wish you may have prepared baskets of goodies to be delivered to others during the Holy Days.  It is customary to let the little children participate and take the gifts to others.

Your family may wish to discuss a way they can contribute together to help someone less fortunate or in need over the next two days.  Plan a quiet humble way to be a blessing to someone else during this season. It doesn't have to be monetary, the gift of time and service is a good way to serve others too.

PARTAKING OF THE YEAR'S GOODNESS

(Festive celebration of God's goodness by the partaking of apples dipped in honey, followed by a festive meal of sweet dishes.)

This is the appetizer to your festival meal!

Father/Leader:

May it be Your will, O Yahweh, God of our fathers, to grant us a blessed and prosperous Year. (Everyone partakes of apple slices dipped into honey)

"Your mercy O Yahweh is in the heavens; Your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgements are like a great deep; O Yahweh, You preserve man and beast.

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your House, and You give them drink from the rivers of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light." Amen (Psalm 36: 5-9)

We trust Yahweh our God, to soon behold Your majestic glory when all abominations shall be removed and all iniquity shall be at an end. Then shall the world be perfected under the rule of our Mighty King and all mankind shall call upon Your name through Y'shua our Lord. For to You every knee must bow and every tongue declare that You are God, our everlasting Father.

May Your kingdom be established in our time and may we see the kingdom of David's greater son be established forever. For then shall the words be fulfilled, "Yahweh shall be King forever over all the earth; and on that day Yahweh shall be One, and his name One." Hallelujah! (Psalm 104:1-2, Deuteronomy 4:39, Psalm 10:16, Zechariah 14:9)

(Maybe play some appropriate instrumental music during the meal??????)

SHARING THE FESTIVE MEAL

After the meal, don't forget:

THE PARTING BLESSING

·         "Be inscribed and sealed for a good year!

·         To a man - "Leshana tova tikateiv v'techateim!"

·         To a woman - "Leshana tova tikateivi vetichatemi!"

Note: It is customary to prepare for this occasion by a ritual immersion in water beforehand. White "Kittels" (outer garment) are traditionally worn to symbolise the person's faith in Yahweh God to extend His mercy toward them on the basis of their repentance.

SEASONS - ELUL 2016

PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING FALL HOLY DAYS

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

God''s Fall Holy Days are coming up! 

We are in the last month of the Hebraic calendar, the month of Elul.  

It is a time to prepare.

Do you know about these Holy Days of God that happen every Fall?

The word translated "festival" in Hebrew is "hag" or "moed" and it means "set times", or "appointed times."  These are times of sacred assemblies.  In the Hebrew language the words "sacred assembly" means "rehearsal" or "recital."  During these fall days that is exactly what we are doing; we are rehearsing the things to come and celebrating God's overall plans for mankind.  It is sort of like the time leading up to a wedding when you begin to remember the important things that have happened through your life in the past, but you are also looking forward to something even more special in the future. 

Thirty days before Rosh Hashanah comes Elul, a time which helps us to remember to be prepared and get ready. 

Elul  is a time of Teshuvah, or a time to repent, examine your life, restore your relationships both toward God and your fellow man.  You need to use this time to have those long talks with your Bridegroom from Heaven because the future of eternity lies before you.  Why?  Because the Messiah is going to return!  We must be ready for the wedding feast!  He has told us to be watching and waiting and preparing. 

Teshuvah, during the days of Elul, is a reminder, almost like one of the "save the date" invitations you get long before a wedding date comes.   The shofar is blown to remind us to awaken to the season and repent and look up with anticipation.  Ezekiel 33:3 warns those who are not ready and are not paying attention. 

And he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people, then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.  He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself.  But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.…(Ezekiel 33:3-5)

In other words; it is up to you to get ready!  Your life in eternity depends upon what you do NOW.

We get ready in Elul by listening until we hear the sound of the shofar.  The shofar is a warning signal that reminds us to come before God and repent of our sins.  We are reminded by the shofar sounding again during Rosh Hashanah and the 10 days of Awe.  Everything leads up to Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, The Day of Atonement. 

Without atonement, there is no hope for God's people.  

It is the most important day of all the sacred days.  

By the atoning blood of Christ our God shows mercy by blotting all of our sins out of His book of remembrance.  If you repent and turn from your sins, the blood of Christ is applied and the sins are blotted out forever.  If you do not, you go into another year of life with sin on your record.  The blood was given and the holy sacrifice was made once for all, past present and future; but every year when God searches His books and lays out His plans for the upcoming year, the atonement must be applied for new sins.  

Salvation is forever.  If you are saved you will have God's Holy Spirit living within you and you will always seek forgiveness for sins.  You do this because if you are saved, God's Holy Spirit lives and works within you.  Salvation is a wonderful, perfect gift!  But, it is only the beginning of the Christian life;  not the end.  Salvation leads us down the path to holiness.  Holiness opens our hearts to seek the ways of God that are good and true and right.  

Salvation brings peace.  

Holiness brings joy.

As long as we are living in earthly bodies, even after we receive salvation, we are all still human.  We all keep sinning despite our best efforts, we all fall short.  God knew this would happen.  He provided a way for sinners who sin after the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus has been applied and made them whole and completely clean.  This way is called atonement.  The sacrifice provides salvation, the atonement brings sanctification.  Both are a gift of God through His Son Jesus Christ.

It is comparable to a traveler who has bathed and is walking along a dusty road to attend a special event.  When he arrives he does not need to bath again, for he is clean, but he has picked up the dust of the road along the way, so he must wash his feet again before entering the special event.  

So many struggle with this concept saying "once saved always saved."  I just carry that concept a little further saying, "Once saved, always in need of confession."  In the end we all DO stay saved because we are clean because of the sacrificial blood of Christ; but we must do our part to grow in God.  We must continue to allow God to transform us and we must realize that we are all still sinners in need of God's forgiveness, even after we have become believers and step into the path that leads to The Kingdom.  There is always more transformation going on until we meet God face to face.  

This is the holy process that prepares the Bride for the Groom.  

This is the path of the wise virgin who keeps oil in her lamp until she sees the groom coming.  

This is how God helps us each year in the Day of Atonement.  He saves us from our humanity and applies His grace that refines us and makes us more like Him.  

If someone reaches the state of thinking that they do not need atonement anymore, they are simply living in a sin called "self-righteousness."  

So here we go into the beautiful Fall Holy Days of God:

Leviticus 23:2 says: Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.’

God goes on in this passage to name seven feasts and/or festival days that He desires to be kept.  Four of these special times are in the spring and summer; those four are Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost.  The other three days come in the Fall.  For 2016 the Hebraic month of Elul begins on our civil calendar on the date of September 4, 2016.  Whenever we begin the Hebraic month of Elul we can be sure to note that the Fall Holy Days of God are fast approaching. 

Here are some of the scriptures that proclaim how we should keep these Fall Feast Days of God:  Keep in mind that these times are calculated by the phases of the moon, unlike the calendar commonly used today, which calculates time by the phases of the sun. The days of the Hebraic way all start at sunset and end at sunset.  Because they are calculated by the phases of the moon, they do not always fall on the same calendar day each year.  This year, 2016, the days come in September and October.

ROSH HASHANAH/FEAST OF TRUMPETS: In 2016 this festival lasts from sunset Sunday, October 2nd through sunset Tuesday, October 4th.

Leviticus 23:24:  "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month (the first month if your are reading the sacred calendar) you are to have a day of Sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.

(God, in these scriptures, was laying out the pattern for celebrating Rosh Hashanah, The Feast of Trumpets.)

YOM KIPPUR/DAY OF ATONEMENT:  observed in 2016 from sunset Tuesday, October 11th to sunset Wednesday, October 12th,   This is a fast day, not a feast day:

Leviticus 23:26-28:  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month (it is the seventh month of the civil Hebraic calendar and the first month of the sacred Hebraic calendar) is the Day of Atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD.  Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God.

(In these scriptures God has laid out the pattern for observing Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement.  This day isn't a feast day or a festival;  it is actually a fast day that God has commanded to be observed.  It is a day to be spent in fasting before The Lord.  It is a day for Christians to remember the most important sacrifice ever made for mankind, the life of Jesus Christ.  It is the day for repentance and remembering that his blood is offered up as atonement for our sins, a very serious and sacred day; a most holy day to be observed forever by all believers.)

SUKKOT/FEAST OF TABERNACLES: In 2016 this festival is celebrated from sunset Sunday, October 16th through sunset Sunday, October 23rd, with the Great Last Day (the eighth day) being on Monday, October 24th.  

Leviticus 23:33-37:  Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month (the seventh civil month and the first sacred month) is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD.  On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind.  For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.  For seven days present food offerings to the LORD, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the LORD.  It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work. 

Here God is telling us to celebrate Sukkot - The Feast of Tabernacles, a joyful time of celebrating what the world will be like when Christ reins as King of Kings and Lord of Lord's forever.   Many Jewish people do not celebrate these days unless they are in Israel because they now have no temple.  Christians know that our bodies are now the dwelling for God's temple.  We can celebrate the feast anywhere, because God is always with us, unlike in ancient times before Christ brought salvation to all.

These awesome days known to many as The Fall Holy Days are a gift from God to His people.  Do you know Him? 

Is He your God?  Then you are one of His people. 

 Are you keeping your Father's traditional days?    

You do not have to be born of Jewish DNA to keep these days, they are God's days - it is a good thing for you to honor your Father; God, and keep the days He has planned for His family.

Think of your time growing up in the home of your earthly father.  Did he have special times that he would command that the family gather around the table and celebrate together?  

Do you not have fond memories of these family times that are priceless to you as you become older and look back on them?   

Perhaps your earthly father chose these days to say important things to the family while they were all together, relaxing and celebrating.  Maybe he knew that during these special gatherings you would be listening more carefully to his words and paying closer attention.  He knew you would be undistracted, because you had set aside this time just to be with him and your other family members. 

It is the same with our Heavenly Father.  

He has mapped out appointed days from the very beginning of time that He wished for His family to keep and observe together.  

He wrote them down for us in His book so we have no excuse for not noticing them or overlooking them.  He spelled it all out, yet many people chose to blindly ignore these sections of their bibles.  Or, they blame their nonobservance on the fact that these are "Old Testament" things.  Guess what?  The New Testament did not wipe out the Old Testament, it only fulfilled it.  

The days with their fulfilled meaning are even more precious than the days before they were fulfilled and completed by Jesus Christ.  These days mark our time with our Father and our time to be a family in the House of God.

Trumpets still represents a coming time that has not yet been fulfilled.  We should be observing and anticipating!  

Yom Kippur, or Atonement represents a time that has been fulfilled by the blood of Jesus, yet also a future time that will come when we will know even more about how wonderful the love (hesed) and kindness and grace of our heavenly Father can be.  It will be a day when we will see Him face to face and stand before him covered with His blood, atoned and holy before Him.  It is something to anticipate and take seriously in the present.   

This will all culminate in a future Feast of Tabernacles and we can read of it in the scriptures where it speaks of a date in the future:

Zechariah 14:16:  Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

Our present day celebrations are only a shadow of the things to come.  

These scriptures are our invitation from our heavenly Father to come and gather around His family table and celebrate that we are His family.  God chooses these times to speak specifically to His family about things that He considers very important.  God has called these times His "appointed" days.  Have you been keeping your appointments with your heavenly Father, or has the world led you aside and kept you busy with other things?  

The scriptures say these are God's days, not the designated days for the Jews or the Christians, or any other group.  They belong to God.  If you love God and serve Him and consider Him your Father, they also belong to you.  

The Israelites were honored and chosen to be the first to live out these patterns that God set for our special family celebrations.  They were also given the honor of being the people whose heritage would produce an offspring from God who would fulfill the meaning of all of the appointed times.  Jesus Christ was born of the tribe of Judah, a perfect man who was also The Son of God.  He fulfilled these days.   God used them as shadows to tell of His coming, His life and His leaving and returning to earth in the future. 

If you are a Christian you know these stories well, but your life can be enriched beyond belief when you know these stories as well as the stories of the Hebrews who so long ago began to celebrate these days with God.  The Jewish people have preserved these days for themselves and us, and the Christian people have proclaimed the end of the story through the preaching of the truth of the gospel and proclaiming the life of Jesus Christ for both themselves and the Jews.  It is true that they are a blessing for everyone and as Jesus so wisely put it "whosoever will; may come."

I get excited every Fall as we begin to approach these very holy times!

God always shows me something new, or teaches me something vital to living out life in His Kingdom. 

It all begins with the Hebraic month of Elul, that 30 day period of time leading up to these holy days.  The month of Elul is known as a time to be preparing, meditating, praying, pondering the last year of your life and asking forgiveness of God and anyone you have sinned against over the last year.  The whole idea is to use the month of Elul to sort out your sins, confess, repent, try to make amends and prepare to appear before God on Yom Kippur a holy and clean servant before a merciful God.  Elul is all about getting ready.

Are you ready? 

Rosh Hashanah (The Feast of Trumpets) is about realizing that time is short and soon we must all stand before God.  The trumpet blows out the warning signal to awaken the people from their sins and shouts out a warning to return to God. 

Yom Kippur is about judgment and atonement.  We are all guilty, but if we seek out the love of our merciful God, He will grant us the perfect atonement of the blood of Jesus.

Sukkot, or The Feast of Tabernacles is a time for proclaiming the reign of Christ, for knowing that He will return again and marry His Bride; (those who have The Holy Spirit dwelling inside of them.)  It is a wedding rehearsal every year for The Marriage Supper of The Lamb.  It is a time of joyous celebration for what God has done for his people.  It is a time of cheerful anticipation of the world that is coming because we have been given salvation and atonement that will last throughout eternity when we will forever be with God.

So join with me if you will in this time of  Elul, the beginning of the Fall Holy Day Season, in a time of careful consideration, faithful preparation and also anticipation of the day that we are fully clean and we will see The Face of God and live.    We are right in this very minute, living in the days of Elul on our calendars.  What will you do about it? 

How will you speak to God of your own life?  What things do you need to consider and restore?

Right now - today - is your opportunity to do so.

Consider the roots of your heritage

and return to your first love.

OH THE PLACES WE SHOULD GO - BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA IN THE FALL

                                                 
TAKING A TRAIN RIDE THROUGH BLUE RIDGE IN THE FALL
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

If you want a whole weekend full of train-riding fun, pack up your jeans and head for

Blue Ridge, Georgia.

This is such a quaint, lovely little Appalachian town located in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains.  You have never seen anything as pretty as the fall foliage in this area!  The colors are always totally amazing, and it is even more fun when you can take a seat on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and ride through the valleys and hills to gaze at it all.  The colors are so beautiful here that it has been designated one of the top five places to visit in the south to enjoy the fall foliage. 

The train ride follows the route of the Toccoa River and makes a stop in McCaysville before returning to Blue Ridge.  McCaysville, Georgia is an authentic mountain town where a blue line on the street separates it from Copperhill, Tennessee.  In this spot you can stand with a foot in two states at once.  These two little towns are known for being in the Copper Basin and have a rich mining history to tell.  There is a museum in nearby Ducktown, Tennessee that does a good job of explaining all this mining history.  We didn’t mine for copper, but found McCaysville to be a great place to visit antique and junk stores.  There are treasures hiding in those hills. 

The railway runs from Friday through Monday during September and daily in October.  Special trips include the annual Rotary Dinner Train and the Pumpkin Pickin Special.  See the details for these excursions by calling 877-413-TRAIN or visit the website at www.brscenic.com. 

One of my fondest memories is a trip to Blue Ridge with my parents on Halloween Weekend.  The town blocks off its streets and the merchants dress up in costumes.  Every doorway has free candy to give away, both to the younger and the older kids alike.  Hot apple cider and hot cocoa are offered at almost every shop.  The shops here are very novel and fun.   There is something unique for everyone on your list.  There are wonderful little restaurants sprinkled among the shops here and there.   
  

There are 106,000 beautiful acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest to explore in this county.  It is a fantastic place to take long hikes and the woods are loaded with gorgeous waterfalls.  There is rafting on the Ocoee River, or if you like calmer waters, there is Lake Blue Ridge and Morganton Point.  You will find lots of good fishing.  Fannin County is the trout Capital of Georgia.  Plenty of zipline adventures, established trails and horseback riding are available. 

We like to stay at The Blue Ridge Lodge by Comfort Inn and Suites.  It is pretty with a nice welcoming fireplace in the lobby, great continental breakfasts in the mornings, game rooms for the kiddies and nicely decorated clean and comfortable rooms for a reasonable price.  I promise you though, you won’t be spending much time at the hotel.  There is too much to do otherwise.

One of the most astounding things about this town, aside from the most important train and depot, is the local artist and craftsmen who live here.  There are a surprising number of very nice art museums and the town has a local theater community that performs on the weekends.  Don’t miss the Fall Arts in the Park event usually held in October.  There is also a national juried photography exhibit held at the local Art Center.  Visit www.blueridgearts.net for more information. There are numerous opportunities to hear live music by great artist, especially blue grass.  Festivals abound.  There is a fun Blues and BBQ Festival in September if you like to hear the blues. 

I’ve only given you a glimpse. 

When you arrive in Blue Ridge to ride the train all sorts of other fall adventures will jump out at you. 

What are you waiting for?