|
Dear Mishpacha (family),
I would just like to say that I was so excited to have Hanoch Young with us from Israel; he is a dear brother. I hope all of you enjoyed his company while he was with us. And I know how much he appreciates the community of Beit Tehila. My family really enjoyed his company the whole week he was with us. I really enjoyed our time on stage for the New Moon service; as Ephraim and Judah came together right before your eyes. And, it was even live streamed! Beit Tehila’s YouTube channel has videos of our past teachings and guest speakers. If pastors are curious about what our Jewish guest speakers from Israel share with us, they can just go to YouTube and watch for themselves. I truly believe that the church in the near future will be inviting the Orthodox Jews from Israel to share with their congregation. In Genesis 12:3 it says, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” When you bless the Jewish people God blesses you. We are witnessing in the earth today some of the worse antisemitism ever, and it’s not getting any better. As a wild branch grafted into the olive tree that represents Israel, we must speak up.
We are still in the winter season, and I still get to wear my jacket for half the day, thanks to the Florida weather!! On March 19th the season of spring will be upon us and this is the time to start blooming. There is a saying that “You bloom where you are planted,” and some of you at Beit Tehila have been planted here for many years and I have seen your fruit. Others of you may be new, but you feel called to be planted at Beit Tehila, and we want you to know that you are welcomed here; I have faith you to can bear fruit as others have.
Spring is the perfect time for spring cleaning so get to work and become a better you. We should always strive to improve ourselves. I personally have to get some clutter out of my house and it’s a process. The praise report is that the Plummer family does not have anything in storage, everything we own and have is in our current house. When we become cluttered in our personal life it can be overwhelming and even depressing. Sometimes I will watch an episode of “Hoarders” then, I don’t feel so bad.
As I change subjects, I would just like to remind everyone that we are going into a new feast cycle for 2024. We celebrate Purim and Hanukkah which are Historic Celebrations among the Jewish people. The two holidays are like two book ends. Purim is celebrated at the beginning of the year and Hanukkah is celebrated at the end of the year. The story of Purim can be found in the Book of Esther. The author is unknown. The story of Esther is rooted in the historical situation of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), who ruled as King of Persia from 486-465 B.C.. The Book of Esther is the only book in the bible that never mentions God, but through out the scripture, we can see His divine providence. The main character is Esther; a Jew, whose real name was Hadassah. Her story is all about being bold and courageous. She marries a gentile Persian King and becomes personally responsible for saving her people from a total genocide orchestrated by Haman a descendant of Amalek. The fourteenth and fifteenth day in the month of Adar should be a time of feasting, joy, sending portions to one another and gifts to the poor (Esther 9:22); these days were to be called “Purim” (lots) the name of pur (lot) (Esther 9:26).
On March 23rd we will be celebrating “Purim” as a congregation, and our youth will be overseeing this service! I am looking forward to being in our service and to seeing everyone in service on that day. The theme this year is all about being bold and courageous. Don’t forget that this is a year of opportunities so be ready for some exciting times.
Shalom, Pastor Nick
| 
