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Events
Give Back Innitiative
Every year CRC does something to help our local community. We have done food drives, clothing drives, and much more. This year, we want to do something special. We want to help one of our own.
Mary is a valued member of our church. She also has been undergoing medical situations which have caused her to require a wheelchair. She is a trooper. The only thing is that she struggles to get out of her home due to it not being accessible. We want to change that. With your help we want to get marry a wheelchair ramp.
We will include her story below as well as a button to her fundraiser. Every dollar and/or share makes a difference. Would you consider pitching into this cause?
Mary’s Story
I’m Mary, and I’m asking for help as I live with degenerative health issues and spinal injuries that have left me using a wheelchair and unable to work. I am now disabled, but the disability assistance process can take a very long time, and I need support in the meantime.
Right now, my biggest need is building a wheelchair ramp before winter comes. The stairs between my porch and my vehicle have become a real barrier, and some weeks I am unable to get to church or even make it to my appointments because I cannot safely get over that hurdle. Something as basic as leaving home has become difficult in a way I never expected.
I have done my best to find ways to get by. I’ve tried to make and sell meals, but because of my health, I am no longer able to cook full meals in my kitchen at the moment. It is hard for me to ask for help, but I truly need assistance right now.
Donations will help pay for a wheelchair ramp, transportation to upcoming appointments, and other medical expenses. Any amount would mean so much to me and would help make daily life more manageable while I wait on disability assistance. If you’re able to give or share this fundraiser, thank you for your kindness and support.
Sermon
This past week we have been celebrating Sukkot, Feast of Tabernacles. Today ends it out, however, it is considered its own biblical holiday, The Last Great Day. It sounds both ominous and hopeful. Doesn’t it? Maybe it’s just me.
When I think of a “great day” it is one spent cuddled up with my husband as we binge watch a show on tv. Or enjoying time with friends and family. A day of peace. No stress. Just love and rest.
What would be a great day for you?
The part that is ominous to me without context is the word “last”, The Last Great Day. Maybe it is due to the stress many of us have been under recently. It feels like The Last Great Day is saying, “You better enjoy the lack of storms while you can!” Like I am never going to have peace again, or at least not for a very long time. Like I said, it has been a rough few days.
The thing is, The Last Great Day is none of those things, or not quite.
“On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly; you shall not work at your occupations.” -Numbers 29:35
Much like we learned last Sabbath, there are two requirements for this day.
- No work
- A solemn assembly or holy convocation
Rest and community worship is a pretty big deal to Yahweh. But the other big thing that surrounds this day is water. Yeshua (Jesus) even mentions it himself in John 7:37-38.
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Yeshua Hamashiach went to Jerusalem on this day to teach. He told them about a living water that would be provided to all believers in the coming days. This would be the Holy Spirit, Ruach Hakodesh. But, why would he mention water and teach of the Spirit during this? It sounds good, however, let’s look at the context to see just how important this scene was.
The 8th Day Assembly or the Last Great Day in Hebrew is “Shemini Atzeret.” And the day prior is known as “Hoshana Rabbah” which means “The Great Salvation.” The term “Hoshana” or “Hosanna” is also used in reference to our Lord and Savior.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” – Matthew 21:8-10
Hosanna means “please save” or “save now.” They also used the palm branches that were used in Sukkot. It was a known ritual of crying out for deliverance. To the Great Deliverer. However, there was another practice during Yeshua’s time that involved water.
The Priest would gather water into a vessel out of the Pool of Saloam. During the Second Temple period, the monumental site was a ritual bath, a “mikveh.” It was a place of cleansing before they began their journey to the Temple, The House of God.
On the Last Great Day, the Priest took this purification water and lead a parade to and around the Temple Mount. They would sing the Hallel, Psalms 113 to 118, meaning “praise.”
“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become by corner stone…save us, we beseech you, o Lord!…”
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”
“The Lord is God, and he has given us light.”
These Psalms sung during the Last Great Day processional are seen by the New Testament authors to point to our Savior, Yeshua. While he used this day to point to the life he brings to all believers.
The Priest would end the celebration by pouring out the water onto the Temple’s altar. Yeshua connects the ritual bath water by compairing it to his living water that only he can provide. A water that would cause our souls to thirst no more.
Not only was this day pointing to the Salvation of the Messiah but it was an act of cleansing. A time of regroupoing, to reorganize, gather again, or form a new arrangement after a setback, dispersal, or pause. Soldiers pull back from a fight, form new lines, and get ready to attack and defend again. A team takes a timeout or rests during halftime to fix mistakes and plan a new strategy. A pause. Rethink. Try again with a fresh approach. This is what Shemini Atzeret gives us, a new beggining.
Expanded Bible Reading Plan
