Life Spring to Celebrate Feast of

Tabernacles October 19th

By Kathleen Murray

 

            Life Spring of Israel will present its 12th Annual Feast of Tabernacles Celebration on Sunday, October 19th beginning at 6 p.m. in the auditorium of Life Christian Church, 13001 Gravois Road (Highway 30) in South St. Louis County.

            This year’s special guest speaker, Dr. Dick Reuben (http://www.dickreuben.org), has a unique, powerful and God gifted ministry in teaching the New Covenant in light of the Old. He imparts God’s pattern of revelation in a clear, simple and understandable way using types, symbols and numbers.

            Born Jewish, Dr. Reuben sought God’s revelation for many years on the question, “How does the Church relate to God’s patterns for Israel?” Dr. Reuben will share in detail the great truths of God’s revelation that he has discovered, and now shares with the Body of Christ worldwide. Teaching the biblical truth, “When the pattern is right, the glory will fall!” Reuben fully reveals the answer to the question of the Apostle Paul, “What advantage then hath the Jew? … Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Romans 3:1-2)

            The theme for this year’s celebration will be Upon The Mountain of Zion - Rejoice!, which was taken from the prophet Isaiah who declared to Israel, “The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away” (Isaiah 51:11 NIV).

            The Celebration of The Feast of Tabernacles will commence with a processional: the Silver Trumpets and the Shofars sounding with a great noise, followed by banners of the Tribes of Israel, and close behind, dancers with their tambourines. Singers will be waving flags of different colors: blue, red, gold and green, all with a meaning: one, The River of God; another, Arise Warriors; another, Zion’s Fire; and still another, The River.

            A replica of the Ark of The Covenant will be on display in the church lobby as you enter, and the Altar of Burnt Offering will be center stage. This year, those attending will be treated to the interpretative dance of the Libation (the pouring of the Water and the Wine by the Altar). It will be presented by the Halal Springs of Life led by Shirley Bradley and Nicole Corno. In addition, the Sukka (Booth) will be on the platform where the blessing of the day will be pronounced and, at the same time, a seven stick lamp stand (Menorah) will be lighted.

            People clothed in native dress of different nations will be carrying a crown “Up to Zion.”

The Torah Scroll will be carried in reverence by Rabbi Rich Altom, leader of Beit B’Resheet. Men will dance around and follow the Torah Scroll as it is carried throughout the congregation. Little children carrying apple candles will be close behind.

            Worship team musicians from several churches will join together to provide the music for the Halal Sounds of Life (praise singers) directed by Chris Sellmeyer. Additional praise and worship will be provided by The Halal Springs of Life Dance Team and Torah Dancers, directed by Nicole Corno, plus Radiance of Praise, directed by Patti Heath. Sue Druckenmiller, a harpist, will also provide special music.

            For those unfamiliar with the Feast of Tabernacles, the festival is recorded in Leviticus 23:33-44 where God requires the tribes of Israel to go up to a place He has chosen (Jerusalem) to worship Him every year on the 15th day of the 7th month of the year. The Israelites were to live in booths (Sukkot) remembering that they lived in booths when God brought them out of Egypt.

            The Feast of Sukkot will be observed each year for a thousand years during the Messiah’s reign, even as the prophet Zechariah prophesied in the 14th chapter, 16th verse, of his Old Covenant book, “then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.”

            Until the day of the reign of Messiah, there will be thousands of Jewish people and Christians of all denominations from every nation who will go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Sukkot (Hebrew for booths), which lasts eight days beginning this year on October 10, 2003.

            A free will offering will be received, and guests are encouraged to bring only canned fruits and vegetables as gifts for the poor, a tradition associated with this celebration. This year's Celebration will be interpreted in both Russian and Spanish which will be available by portable headphones. If there is a need for signing for the deaf, please call the church at (314) 843-5575.

Very few of us have an opportunity to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.  This is your opportunity to experience what it will be like when the Messiah returns to His city. Come celebrate with Life Spring of Israel in St. Louis and be sure to invite your Jewish friends to come with you. And, be sure to bring your dancing shoes, tambourine, bells and hand cymbals to make a joyful sound unto the Lord. “Praise the Lord – Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the saint” (Psalm 149:1).

            For more information, visit Life Spring's web site at www.lifespringofisrael.org, e-mail them at lifespring@accessus.net or call (314) 849-5780. Life Spring of Israel intercedes for the Peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9), supports eight Jewish persons spreading the Good News of Messiah Yeshua in Israel and two individuals here in St. Louis. They also support Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem under Project Open Gates which distributes needed supplies to the Russian Jewish people returning to Israel.