On October 3rd, 2016, some friends and I started a Messianic congregation. We are now closing that part of our lives. I’m not thrilled, and I’m saddened that it didn’t work out. In fact, as we were preparing for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, I had to wipe the tears during the practice. I loved attending, leading, teaching and loved it when others were able to attend. We were called to this, and the time has passed.
Our services were liturgy-based and somewhat different than other Messianic congregations. Let me explain, there are two types of Messianic congregations that I have attended. Either they take the model of the Church and add some Judaism, or they take a traditional Jewish service and add the Messianic part. Our services were more traditional, no band, no music, just liturgy. This I will miss.
What I have learned is that it is hard and you need a big group to support just the regular services, and that is not including High Holidays. If one of the three of us could not make it to the service, it put pressure on the others that could make it. It’s hard to make Shabbat joyful and relaxing when we don’t have the numbers to sustain it.
We were a 501(c)(3) organization and we three were the board. We did the finances, the messages, set up of sound and visuals, the cantors (I wasn’t a cantor though, that would have been brutal). Our wives ran the visuals, set up childcare and did the childcare if we couldn’t find someone), taught the children, set up the oneg, bought coffee, bagels, challah, wine and more. One of us on the board taught the Bar/Bat Mitzvah class that met almost weekly. Etc. etc. etc… And I’m sure I am forgetting a lot!
Forever I will be fond of the services we were able to attend and be a part of it.
Where does this put my family? Well, we are without a congregation currently. Pray for us, help us see where God has us in the future. This will cause us to be a tonight-knit family. Our Shabbat “services” will be at home. Our goal at this point is to follow Shabbat, by all means, it is the most important holiday, and celebrate it within our homes.
So, this is what you meant when you said on July 16 that you and your family might be being lead to a church to “flip switches.” I am sorry that the congregation is closing the doors. And I will pray for your family’s struggle with God’s changes; so many times they aren’t comfortable nor what we want. I am grateful for being invited to worship and celebrate with y’all in August, thank you! I will be praying for y’all and I want to encourage you with something that A.W. Tozer wrote in the Preface of his book, The Pursuit of God. “But God be thanked that there are a few who care. They are those who, while they love the altar and delight in the sacrifice, are yet unable to reconcile themselves to the continued absence of fire. They desire God above all. They are athirst to taste for themselves the ‘piercing sweetness’ of the love of Christ about whom all the holy prophets did write and the psalmists did sing.” I believe y’all are among those who are athirst for God; surely He will honor that & show you more of Himself and how He is best worshipped. After all, how sad, indeed, “to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table.”
Flip switches, meaning to explain and teach. I won’t actually go into a building and just turn lights on and off. 🙂 Or maybe I won’t teach at all, maybe that is passed. I love that last quote you have in your message. I’ve never read anything by Tozer, but I probably should.