Shalom life October-December 2023
Welcome to the first edition of Shalom Life on our new website! And what a way to finish out the year than with a new building to call our own. God is indeed good.
New building
Who’s excited for our new building? This writer certainly is. Our new place is located at 5900 Hibiscus Road in Azalea Park and it is huge. Formerly home of the Italian-American Social Club, this property sits on 4 acres with its sole building hosting 7,800 square feet. This place is indeed a blessing for our growing community. It’ll be all hands on deck as we work to make this place our own, but it will certainly be worth it.
Chesed Women
Chesed Women’s Ministry is on the move! Look forward to more exciting activities and events in 2024 for all women and some specialty gatherings such as:
-Growing Gracefully (Senior women 60+) A group for wise women to share their life experiences and desire to serve the Lord.
–Young Women’s Ministry (ages 18-30) A group for young women to bond and share life experiences as they transition into adult roles.
–Moms and Daughters (ages 10-12) A group just for tweens featuring activities designed to develop friendships and learn how to live godly lives.
There’s something for every woman. We look forward to seeing you! To learn more about what this ministry has to offer, please see Lorella.
“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Chanukah
Chanukkah will be approaching soon. We’ll begin this chag on Thursday, December 7th with the lighting of our community chanukkiah at 6:30pm. The celebration continues the following Shabbat (December 9th) at 4pm with our Shabbat service and annual Chanukah party. There’s always fun to be had at this chag so be sure to mark your calendar!
Please note we will not be having service at noon on this day.
Click here to read about Chanukah.
Faith Nugget
In the last newsletter, I examined reasons why we, as believers, should follow Torah. I explained how the Torah was to be kept perpetually and how Yeshua’s sacrifice did not abolish Torah. This segment will continue this theme with more reasons and ideas as to why Torah still applies today.
“This book of the Torah should not depart from your mouth—you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will be successful.” Joshua 1:8 TLV
There is a prevalent belief that we are in an “age of grace” in which we are no longer bound to the Torah because we are covered by the blood of Yeshua. This idea, however, is rooted in Dispensationalism, which is the belief that God operates differently in every age (dispensation). However, this goes against the fact that God is consistent. Dispensationalism presents the notion of an “age of grace” that not only contradicts the Torah which God decreed as eternal, but fails logically. The idea of grace in this context would be to receive a pardon or forgiveness for a transgression. If the law was done away with, then how can one be forgiven for a wrong they technically didn’t commit? For example, if theft was no longer a crime, then one would not be punished for stealing, nor would one need forgiveness. If grace were applied automatically to cover every transgression, then how can one be forgiven for a sin if they have no intention of truly repenting from it and not do it again?
As I stated in the last issue, Torah is eternal. Its commands are to be kept in perpetuity. It establishes a moral code for us to live by as a holy people unto God, separate from the nations. In every civilized part of the world, laws exist to establish order and conformity in the communities where they apply and it is expected for every citizen to obey these laws in their entirety or face some sort of penalty. If it were not for these laws, the dark side of human nature would prevail and chaos would ensue. This is the reason God established the Torah, to establish law and order for His people. If this law were no longer applicable and we are simply “covered by grace”, then what is there to show how we are to live as children of God?
God, being our heavenly Father, has unconditional love for us, His children. While we can always seek forgiveness for our transgressions, as He is just to forgive us when we repent, would He not find it more pleasing when we strive to obey His rules?
“Only be very strong, and resolute to observe diligently the Torah which Moses, My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so you may be successful wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7
Please be sure to follow us on our Church Center app to stay tuned for upcoming announcements, events, and details.
If you have any ideas or suggestions to include in the next newsletter (Jan.-Mar.), please feel free to email me at emilyrh0810@gmail.com.
Until next time, Shalom!