I truly LOVE The Feast of Tabernacles!
What better way is there to grow closer to Jesus and to have closer fellowship with all those that you love?
God surely knew what He was doing when He spoke these words:
“Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crop you sow in your field. (Exodus 23:16.)
THE VERY FIRST DAY
So; we come up to the First Day of the seven day feast with joy and Thanksgiving.
We’ve prayed a lot of prayers asking God for a safe journey, a healthy journey, a fulfilling and significant Feast and a wonderful time of fellowship, worship and joy.
Now that we are here; what typically happens on the first day?
It depends on what God wants to happen.
Flexibility is key in keeping God’s presence among us.
A WELCOMING CEREMONY
Typically; we pray the first night right after everyone arrives.
In that welcoming time of prayer; we ask God to show us what He wants us to see in this week and to open our eyes and ears to His messages.
In that same prayer we ask for peace, kindness, understanding and wonderful fellowship.
We thank God for bringing us to this special place.
It is acknowledged that God dwells in the midst of His people’s praises. As we praise God we ask that His Holy Name rests over this temporary dwelling; both of where we are staying and also the bodies that we are walking around in.
With this great beginning; we are all feeling the delight of anticipation grow and grow.
By now you can see the joy beaming from the faces of our loved ones.
TEN PEOPLE FORM A MINON; WHICH MEANS A CORPORATE GROUP
Most people go up to the feast with their local congregations.
They share designated places to dwell in their temporary homes away from home.
Many share a very special opening ceremony on that first evening with a review of the schedule for the week, and a welcoming sermon on why Christians as well as Jews should share this gathering annually.
After the messages many groups like to go out for dinner with old friends and/or catch up on what God has been doing in all of their lives since they saw one another at the feast last year.
IT IS OKAY TO BE UNTRADITIONAL SOMETIMES
My family is not that traditional.
The congregations that we worship with (four different local churches in our area) are still learning and growing in God’s truth. They haven’t accepted the fact, as we have; that it is commanded of God to keep the Feast of Tabernacles annually. That doesn’t stop us though; we are worshiping to please God, not the ideas of men and we have accepted that this is a very special and holy appointment with God.
Our fellowship in this complicated, yet not forbidden situation teaches us a lot about the grace and mercy of God towards mankind. We will continue to go with this situation until God shows us another perfect solution. We have prayed about it and we have found this is the answer for us. Some people will frown on us; but we have to follow God’s will for our own family; not conform to some denominational rules of men.
This being the case; my immediate family rents a house large enough for all 17 of our immediate family members; and we combine celebrating The Feast of Tabernacles with our annual family reunion. I will add here; that my husband is an ordained priest (though retired) and we DO meet the definition of a minion when all of our immediate family gathers together in one place.
THE GRACE OF GOD PREVAILS OVER RULES AND REGULATIONS
Both things (God’s feasts and festivals and our growing annual family vacations) are very important to us so we have simply combined them. God has used this “less than perfect” scenario over the years.
Some of our family members are still shaking their heads about the ins and outs of The Fall Holy Days; and this is how God has helped me as I have prayed for Him to open doors to more truth to be lived out in our family. These guys (my family) are so good that they are willing and happy to listen to and participate in all The Feast of Tabernacle activities; even if they don’t fully understand what they are committing to.
Every year their understanding grows.
Each year our family grows closer to each other as well as closer to God.
All the while; those of us who already have a full understanding delight in the time of worship with our whole family. It is the best teaching opportunity of the whole year. The grandkids learn basic formation and foundational teachings at these Holy Days; possibly things that their parents might not think to teach them.
Everyone wins!
I am relieved to find a way for the whole family to be obedient to God’s commandment to keep the feast and festivals; and there are absolutely NO COMPLAINTS from those who don’t really understand why.
So; if you are a rag-tag, rather unconventional group like us; how would you start the first day of the feast?
TRADITIONS OF THE UNCONVENTIONAL
In our case; we usually start the first day of our time by remembering that this is the season of celebrating the REAL birthdate of Christ.
Every year I put a tablecloth I made from a sheet on the table we sit at on that first morning of the Feast. Then I leave some permanent markers that mark on cloth on top of the table. All week long the people in our house will sign the sheet with comments about the feast we are enjoying for this present year. We will laugh and remember years gone by as we read and review the signatures and comments from the other years that we have gathered together as a family. We bring this special tablecloth each year and by now it is filled with family memories.
I will place a nativity scene (we use the same one every year) in the middle of the table covered by our special tablecloth.
We spend this first day of our time recognizing and celebrating the birth of Christ. I have a story that I read that speaks of the birth of Christ. It is called “The Sukkah That Jacob Built.” You can read it in my latest publication called GOLDEN TALES FOR RAINY DAYS; which is on sale at Amazon.com. This book contains a story for all seven feast days. It is great for both children and adults.
A TIME FOR BEING FESTIVE
These festive moments carry over into our meals too.
At any moment anyone could find their eggs are cooked in the shape of a huge, bright star. Some of our cookies might take the shape of shepherds, sheep and angels. There could be Christmas songs playing in the background at dinner. It is a good time for Silent Night, Holy Night, Emmanuel, Joy To The World, etc. (Nothing secular at all; only holy reminders of the events of Christ’s birth.)
Each morning we have a Godly Play story for all the children.
My definition of “children” also includes adults. That means that everyone in our temporary shelter comes to listen. The first day I will tell the story of The Holy Family. The grandkids know this one well. They love it so much that they will ask for it to be told again and again. Each child will take delight in moving the wooden figurines of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus with his arms stretched wide open to give you a hug. He is laying inside the manger. They laugh at how he surprises the cow when the cow goes to look for his breakfast.
A TIME FOR ENJOYING EXPERIENCES TOGETHER
After our story, we might share some crafts, or go for a walk , or sit on the screened porch and watch the birds fly over the lake.
Some might play a few of the yard games we will have set up at the house.
A few people will want to go kayaking on the lake before lunch.
Some might enjoy a bicycle ride. A few will want to go fishing. Some years we rent a house by the lake. Other years we choose the mountains. Each place has its own charms. God always meets us and greets us there. In days gone by we have visited the beach also; but the feast happens to coincide with hurricane season time; so mostly we rent inland.
In past years we have enjoyed the natural gifts of God’s creation in so many different ways. We’ve explored the ocean and the beach, the mountains, a farm setting, a lively river setting; the lake setting; and a home that looks like a castle on top of the mountains. Each site has held its own treasures.
A TIME FOR ENJOYING SUKKAHS
This year we will probably designate the screened porch in the back of our house as the “unofficial sukkah.”
In years gone by we have had very “official” sukkahs built by all the rules spelled out in the scriptures.
A sukkah is a temporary dwelling with three enclosed sides, a roof that you can see the stars through, and an open front.
Since we will not arrive until the day the feast starts though; we will just pick the most similar place (totally un-kosher; but our best attempt to keep the traditions) and call it our Sukkah.
We will do all the things there that people typically do in an official Sukkah; share snacks, share fellowship and share our stories. I will pull out the Shepard shaped cookies mid-morning and put on a pot of coffee for the adults.
If we were in a REAL official sukkah we would be able to look through our roof to see the stars at night. However; in this “unofficial” shelter of our screened porch we will gaze upon the lovely mountains in the area during the day. We WILL look out through the screens to see the stars at night. They will always reminder us of our Creator and His stories.
Our fellowship here will be great!
A TIME FOR FEASTING
When lunchtime comes; we will share a bread and meat tray for making sandwiches.
The little wooden Godly Play Nativity set will still be on our table in our “unofficial sukkah.”
As I place the trays of bread and deli-meats on the table, I will explain to everyone that we are celebrating the fact that Christ was born during this season in the town of Bethlehem. I will pick up Baby Jesus and point to the manger. I’ll say; “This was the cow’s bread box.” He was so surprised to find Baby Jesus inside the place where he normally got his bread! But; after all they WERE in Bethlehem.” We will discuss that Bethlehem is the town called Bayit laham in Hebrew. That name means “the house of bread.” In Arabic, the name Bethlehem translates to “house of meat.” We are here this week to feast. Today we will feast on spiritual as well as physical bread and meat.
It is the Bread of Jesus and the meat of God’s Holy Scriptures that we will truly feast upon.
Bread and meat are the staples of life.
WE WILL CELEBRATE THE CULMINATION OF INCARNATION
The Hebrew “laham” meaning “bread” can also refer to both food for animals and food for a sacrificial offering. In Arabic, “lahm” can mean “meat” or “in the flesh.” Its meaning is similar to our English word “incarnate.” Jesus was God who came to us in the form of a baby in flesh and blood. He was to become “The Bread of Life” for us.
Our Messiah; Jesus, The Bread of Life; did not come to devour or to command. He came to love, nourish and to serve. The bread and meat we eat in this meal will fill us for a while. However; the bread and meat we eat from adoring and following Jesus will fill us for eternity. All of these things will be noted by each of us on this day. So much comes from simply sharing a simple meal together.
And so we will enjoy our sandwiches and cookies together in our sukkah.
A TIME FOR RESTING FROM THE CARES OF THE WORLD
Lunch COULD be followed by a peaceful and restful nap.
If no one is sleepy yet; the kids can play outside. Any adults wishing to read while they rest can devour some books that they never seem to have time for in the usual busy work-life rush. Some of us love journaling about each day of the feast. It is interesting to write down the things that God teaches us each day in a journal. These are amazing to read when we look back.
This is a week of peace, love and rest!
How wonderful is that?
This Feast of Tabernacles is our precious gift from God.
A WEEK FULL OF ADVENTURES
After lunch and a good nap (or whatever) many of us like to go on some type of daily adventure.
Perhaps we might want to go out to the little historical mountain town we have chosen to reside in this year. We could go exploring. Maybe we could take a trolley tour. Perhaps we will catch a few museums. It might be fun to discover the history of the area where we are temporary dwelling this week.
There are hiking trails near by that most of us will want to explore.
Also; there is some very solid literary history nearby that I personally want to explore.
We will all set off on our own adventures for the afternoon and meet back at the house in the mountains for dinner. Some days we will go on adventures as a group. Other days we will go as individuals. We will always come back together at the end of the day. By then; we will have a lot to talk about and share.
It is a week for making family memories.
NEVER ENDING FEASTING; BOTH ON THE WORD OF GOD AS WELL AS PHYSICAL FOOD
This is definitely NOT a time for fasting!
Dinner will have the same focus we enjoyed at breakfast and lunch; the coming of Christ into the world. Our main course will be Angel Hair Pasta with meat balls. The theme behind the foods are to remind us of the Angels again, and the “meat” of the Word of God. We will make a delicious marinara sauce to serve on the side. All guests this week will take turns preparing the food. That assures that no one feels like they are spending all of their time in the kitchen. Dessert will be a cake that says “Welcome to The Earth Baby Jesus!”
After dinner we will go out to our fire pit and my husband will build us a roaring fire.
We will sing carols again (non-secular.) My husband will tell us the first story of a series of “Sukkah Stories” we like to share at our feasts. I wrote these years ago just for use at The Feast of Tabernacles. The story for tonight will be “The Sukkah That Jacob Built..” This will tell the story of the birth of Christ right in the middle of another story about our ancestor named Jacob.
Do you know about Jacob’s sukkah?
We will probably end the evening with a marshmallow roast and hot chocolate.
Tomorrow; on the second day of the feast and every day of the seven we will have another theme to celebrate. Each day’s celebrations will point out another theme that God established for this appointed time of gathering together.
I am sure this first day’s theme is going to make for a lovely first day of the Feast. We will leave our minds and hearts open for God to move through our tentative plans in any way that He chooses. Our family learned a long time ago that His plans are always better than ours.
Can’t wait to make these special memories with the ones I love so much.
HAPPY FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES EVERYONE!