Christ is risen! That familiar refrain is common during the Easter season, which began on March 31 and continues until May 9 with Ascension. But of course, every Sunday is Easter and every Sunday we proclaim Christ and His resurrection. May that truth continue to comfort you as we move into April and beyond.
As you know from my last letter, Passover is late this year with the leap year in the Jewish calendar. Nisan 1 is not until April 8, and Passover is not until the 15th day of Nisan, which this year is sundown on April 22. We are celebrating the Passover Seder on April 20 this year here in St. Louis.
But before Pesach (Passover), we have a couple of special Sabbaths to enjoy. The first is Shabbat HaChodesh (Sabbath of the Moon), which is the sabbath before the beginning of Nisan and a new year for the Jewish calendar. (Yes, I know, there are four new years!) Then we have Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath, which marks the sabbath just before Passover begins. Both of these special sabbaths help the Jewish community mark this very special time of the year. If you would like to, please consider downloading our Passover Hagaddah on our website on the “Resources” page and perhaps go through that as a devotional for the eight days of Passover. I’ll put a guide for these devotions on the “Resources” page as well.
But before Passover comes Yom HaAliyah (Day of the Ascent). This is an Israeli national holiday celebrated on the tenth day of Nisan to commemorate the Jewish people entering the land following the Exodus, and subsequently celebrating their first Passover in the promised land. Joshua 4:19 gives us the connection…”The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.” So this day in Israel celebrates that event, and also celebrates those who have emigrated to Israel and built that society. As the war continues in Israel this year, as this day is marked, and as Passover begins, please pray for peace, not just peace in the land, but peace in the hearts of those there, a peace that can only come from the Sar Shalom, the Prince of Peace, Jesus.
We are blessed that two of our members are moving to Israel to work on some post-doctoral work while at the same time working with our branch there in Tel Aviv. Please continue to pray for Peter and Jenny, for safety, and for blessing for them and those they minister to in these tumultuous times! The war in Israel continues to give Andy and the Tel Aviv Bible shop great opportunities to share the Gospel with many in Israel who are looking for that peace that only Jesus can give.
Finally, on Nisan 16 begins the counting of the Omer, and counting the 49 days until Shavuot, what the Church marks as Pentecost. The Passover Hagaddah refers to that too. May the Holy Spirit anoint you anew for joy!
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Incensed! 