Dear Mishpacha (family),
We finished celebrating the Fall Feasts in the month of October at Beit Tehila. Ten from the congregation celebrated some of Tabernacles and the Eighth Great Day in the land of Israel. Both my wife and oldest daughter Hadassah were privileged to go on the trip as well. My wife has not been to Israel since 2010 when she was pregnant with Adayah. It was also the Feast of Tabernacles as we both went. Just think that we were still meeting as a church in the modular until the fall of 2013. Tomorrow we will be taking down the sukkah in front of the church (October 23rd). I think it’s okay to leave the sukkah up a little bit longer because the Feast of Tabernacles is so special and it’s also called The Feast of Ingathering. King Solomon dedicated the first temple during The Feast of Tabernacles and even extended it another seven days. In I Kings 8:65 it says, “And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the Lord our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.” We are excited to have a good report from the land and we will hear testimonies from the trip the next two sabbaths.
I am personally still attending the Ministers Connection every month and this last month I was asked to lead my small group that I am a part of. It’s all about building relationships and having influence each and every day. We will be having more guest pastors in the future for our services so please continue to pray for this opportunity. We will continue to build our relationships with those Orthodox Jews who live in Israel. The state of Israel will be having their elections on October 27th for their government so keep that in your prayers as well. America’s midterm election is on November 3rd so don’t forget to vote. There’s a lot at stake for the country of Israel and the United States, at this election time.
We are also celebrating our 27th torah cycle at Beit Tehila and currently in the book of Genesis. The story of Abraham and Sarah will be coming up next tomorrow night for our Shabbat torah portion. Please read the torah portions every week because they are relevant for today and will increase your faith along with your identity as Israel. I am also enjoying doing “The Daily Bread” readings every day. I believe that I am in my fourth year of reading through the bible in a year and it has really changed my life. For those who complete the daily bread for this next year I am going to give a blessing to each and every one. Please join me because it’s not too late to start.
This year the Thanksgiving holiday will be on November 26th and we have a lot to be grateful for. This month’s memory verse can be found in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Both Danielle and I want to personally thank each and every one of you that are a part of our life and we continue to pray blessings on you as well.
~Shalom Pastor Nick