This Sunday we will conclude our study of the Spiritual Practices.
This Sunday we will be looking at the Spiritual Practice of Celebration.
The invitation to celebrate to remember what God has done for us modeled for us all throughout the Old Testament. God repeatedly intervened into the lives of the Israelites to spare them from calamity.
God often instructed the Israelites to commemorate God’s faithfulness through annual celebrations.
There is Purim; commemorating their deliverance from Haman.
There is Passover; celebrating their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
There is Chanukah; celebrating the rededication of the Temple.
The Jewish people have created many unique festive traditions shaped around God’s invitations to remember.
Remember our Church Retreat when we learned about Jewish Fall Festivals from our speaker, Mitchell Greenbaum.
Despite God’s faithfulness, we tend to have short memories. We so easily get distracted or consumed by both the insignificant and enormous challenges of life. We forget all the times that God has dropped manna or parted the waters for us. When our bank account drops below the minimum balance, when the mechanic’s bill exceeds our weekly check, when the medical results come back positive, when it seems like life is continually holding us down, holding us back from celebrating life. We are frustrated, angry, saddened; we certainly don’t feel like celebrating.
Can you relate?
What can we learn from Deuteronomy 14:22-27 about Celebration?
22 “Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field. 23 In the presence of the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if, when the Lord your God has blessed you, the distance is so great that you are unable to transport it, because the place where the Lord your God will choose to set his name is too far away from you, 25 then you may turn it into money. With the money secure in hand, go to the place that the Lord your God will choose; 26 spend the money for whatever you wish: oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, or whatever you desire. And you shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your household rejoicing together. 27 As for the Levites resident in your towns, do not neglect them, because they have no allotment or inheritance with you.
Come and let’s CELEBRATE on Sunday!
As a reminder, this Sunday NETwork Ministries will be sharing during our Sunday morning time together. NETwork has visited many churches in the past year sharing their gifts and stories with these congregations. Unfortunately, not all of their experiences have been positive. As a reminder, some of these youth have experienced some very difficult experiences and are sensitive to being touched and public setting can make them anxious. It is my understanding that every time NETwork Ministries shared with us, they had a very positive experience. Thank you for making Marion Mennonite a safe space for those who have come to share with us.
~ Pastor Dustin
