Rabbi Toba August Sermon Rosh Hashanah 5773 Sept. 18, 2012 The Only Constant in Life is Change
|
|
- Maria Stevenson
- 6 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Rabbi Toba August Sermon Rosh Hashanah 5773 Sept. 18, 2012 The Only Constant in Life is Change Though the only constant in life is change, we actually are hardwired to resist new challenges preferring to remain within our comfort zones. Rather than adjust, we are willing to exist within our self-imposed boundaries, often time at great emotional cost to ourselves and the world around us. To illustrate this point, let me share a story. In the 1960s, President Eisenhower received the gift of a rare, white tiger named Mohini. For years, Mohini lived in the Washington Zoo and spent her days pacing back and forth in a 12-by-12 foot cage. Finally the zoo decided to build her a larger enclosure so Mohini could run, climb and explore. But when Mohini arrived at her new home, she didn t rush out, eagerly to her new habitat. Rather, she marked off a 12-by-12 foot square for herself by the fence, and paced there until her death, never enjoying the new opportunities available to her. Mohini exemplifies the classic conditioning most of us live within. Although she was a magnificent, powerful creature, Mohini was convinced her place was just a 12-by-12 foot square. We all have the propensity to behave exactly like Mohini. Based on our conditioning, we create invisible cages for ourselves, limiting our lives within their boundaries. The Rosh Hashanah holy days are a time to wonder about our lives, and our behavior. Two rituals especially: the sound of the shofar blast, and the metaphor of the book of life we can penetrate our conditioned behavior and wake up to other possibilities. Rabbi Sara Hurwitz, the first ordained female spiritual leader in the Orthodox movement, wrote about Mohini, the white tiger and said: we don t have to succumb to our internal imprisonment. Throughout the High Holidays, we will hear the shofar blast. Historically, the shofar signaled the release of all slaves at the end of the Jubilee year. That sound should make 1
2 us ask, What enslaves us? What weighs us down? What baggage do we hold onto? And then, let it go. The High Holidays present us with an opportunity to break free from our self-imposed cages, to find our route to freedom and live life with renewed passion. A second tool for transformation, in is the repeating metaphor in our holiday prayers - we ask God to write us in the book of Life. B sefer Ha Chaim. V kotvenu b sefer ha Chaim. May we all be inscribed for life, blessing, sustenance and peace in the book of life And if we want to continue living our lives, today is the time to ask ourselves if we are content with the lives we are living. Are we open to expansiveness and experiences that can challenge and transform us, or are we pacing our 12x12 foot cages? Sometimes, we take our prayers literally, and perhaps reject them because, in this case, we don t believe in a God who determines our destiny and writes our name in a big book. It is Too much like Santa Claus, or other fantastical stories designed for children. I believe that the image of the book of life is of vital importance because I do not take it literally. Rather, it is a metaphor and we have to understand that it is in our own hands, our own hopes, dreams, relationships and deeds that will enter our names into a book of life. A medieval rabbi said: Days are scrolls: write on them what you want to be remembered. (Bahya Ibn Pakuda) Right now during our services, we can determine if our lives are worth remembering. Are we excited about what we have accomplished, or about the type of parent and friend that we are to our families and others? Are we trying to better our community and get involved with helping others and our environment? Perhaps we create jobs so others can prosper, or are otherwise engaged in creating a more robust economy. All of our endeavors and activities are chapters in our book of life, and our dreams and goals for next year are now being written. 2
3 While in Vienna this summer with my husband, we saw the provocative Holocaust memorial, called The Nameless Library. Opened just 12 years ago, the stark memorial is a grey, concrete structure with shelves of thousands of library books whose spines are facing inwards and whose covers are not visible. The titles are nameless, the volumes are unknown. While viewing the monument I was struck on how similar its symbol was to the Book of Life metaphor of Rosh Hashana. The Vienna Holocaust memorial, with its empty concrete library and unwritten books reflects the 65,000 Jews of Vienna whose innocent lives were taken too soon and they were not able to write their stories in their respective books. The library is empty; their stories will never be told. For their sake, and for ours, our stories must be stories worth telling. The disturbing memorial also reminded me of a brilliant 18 th rabbi named Chaim ben Yitzchak of Volozhin. When he was young, he was not an ambitious student, and in fact one day told his parents he no longer wanted to study but would rather go to trade school and learn to be a shoe maker. He announced his decision to his parents who reluctantly acquiesced. That night, the young man had a dream. In it he saw an angel holding a stack of beautiful books. Whose books are those? he asked the angel. They are yours, was the answer, if you have the courage to write them. This dream changed the young man s life, and Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin was on his way to discovering the scholar that he was meant to become. We are the authors of our living story, and at times, our dreams give us a hint of what we can do with our lives.(from Floating Takes Faith: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World, by Rabbi David J. Wolpe) What a gift to be here today and know that we have the blessing and opportunity to write more stories in our book of life. What a blessing to be alive for another year. We do not take this for granted and that is why we ask ourselves the serious, question of Ayecha Where am I? What is the condition of my soul and my life dream? Today, and for the next 10 days through Yom Kippur, we ponder life questions. Am I where I have the potential to be? 3
4 Am I too content or not content enough? Am I challenging myself or am I too stressed and need less challenge! How do I spend my time? Am I busy making meaningful memories or preoccupied with meaningless moments? In a wonderful book by Donald Miller, called A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, the author, after writing a successful memoir was approached by two filmmakers who wanted to edit the story and make a movie of his life. As he worked with them on the screenplay, he was distressed at how much was being changed and when asked why, was told his life was actually too boring to film. Miller knew in his heart they were right! He spent the next year discovering how to make a meaningful movie and learned that a good story had to have a character that wants something very badly and is willing to sacrifice and overcome conflicts to get it. Miller was single, overweight, watching too much TV and making up fictional characters that were living more interesting lives than he was. His book which inspired me, is about how to write on the blank page and create a good tale. Analyzing his own life, Miller said he knew he was living an unremarkable life because he was not willing to face conflict with courage and was an unwilling victim instead of a grateful participant. Like the tiger Mohini, because he was afraid to face his demons, he paced in his self imposed cage resisting any growth or change. He was like an unwritten Holocaust memorial book in the nameless library. His real life story had unwritten pages. Perhaps some of us here are like Miller, stuck in the status quo, avoiding challenges or simply accepting less than we should. Miller explained that a general rule in writing stories is that characters don t want to change. They must be forced to change. People fear change, because even if their situations may be terrible, at least they have a sense of control and know what to expect. The secret to facing change is to be daring, take risks and not to be afraid. Listening to his own advice, Miller finally jumped in and even though 4
5 he was not in good shape, he joined a group raising money for a cause and hiked the Inca trail in Peru. Can you imagine just doing something like that? You are a couch potato, and only weeks later are hiking the Inca trail with strangers! Now that is a way of writing a new story! Let me share how Miller described the end of his adventure: We didn t hike to the Sun Gate the next morning; we ran. We ran on blistered feet and sore legs. We got there, and it was fogged in, so we sat along the rocks on the ruins and waited for the fog to burn off. We sat and sang songs. You can take a bus to Machu Picchu and hike a little ways to the Sun Gate. But the people who took the bus didn t experience the city as we did. The pain made the city more beautiful. The story of our hiking together made us different characters than we would have been if we had skipped the story and showed up at the ending using an easier way. My hike changed me. I no longer thought of myself as incapable of hard physical challenges, and I wasn t watching much TV anymore. I was chasing a girl now, and it was going well. We can live the life we want to live. Excuses be Gone. Miller observed that people give up on their stories because it is harder than they thought. He noted that half of the commercials on TV are selling us something that will make life easier and wondered if our stories aren t being stolen by the easy life. A friend told him when something hard happens, you have two choices. You can either get bitter, or get better. At 75 years of age, God told Abraham and Sarah to do a Lech Lecha: to Go Forth from their land, their birthplace and ancestral home, to the unknown land that God would show them. This was a journey of selfdiscovery, even at an age when you might think there is nothing left to discover. God was saying, leave behind whatever might be holding you back and encounter your Divine soul, the true you. This is the secret of embarking on a life journey, writing another chapter in a book of an exciting and meaningful life. By asking the questions, and taking the time to find the answers, we discover our true selves, our potential and inner power. I am encouraging us to take the risk, find the courage, and act. 5
6 The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. Kotveinu B Serfer HaChaim Melech Hafetz Ba Chaim: God, with your help, let us write good stories in our book of life, and grant us blessing, peace and sustenance. May we be remembered and inscribed, we and all your people, and all good people everywhere, for a good, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life. And we say AMEN 6
Fifth to Fiftieth: The Lessons of the Jubilee
Rabbi Beth H Klafter Erev Rosh HaShana 5778 September 20, 2017 Fifth to Fiftieth: The Lessons of the Jubilee I have always been drawn to the number FIVE. It probably started when I was a child, the youngest
More informationResurrection Joy and Laughter
Easter Sunday April 1, 2018 The Rev. Deborah Woolsey Resurrection Joy and Laughter Church of the Good Shepherd, Athens, Ohio Ray Bradbury s classic 1962 spine chilling novel Something Wicked This Way Comes
More informationI N TO. ef r e m sm i th. G e t r e a d y t o j u m p.
jump The zookeeper told Darrell and his son some interesting facts about the impala. She said this animal has the ability to jump thirteen feet high in the air from a standing position. This allows the
More informationSo, with this background in mind, let us now read this passage from Mark s version of this Transfiguration event. Read Mark 9:2-9
Today on the church calendar is Transfiguration Sunday. Bet you did not know that. This is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday and Lent begins. Lent begins the period of 40 days excluding Sundays leading
More informationMotivational Theory. Outrageously Positive Customer Service. Needs Met. Listened to. Seen. Appreciation of Differences. Special
Outrageously Positive Customer Service francis@battistinetworks.com Motivational Theory Needs Met Listened to Seen Appreciation of Differences Special www.battistinetworks.com 1 COMMITMENT The WOW Mentality!
More informationThe Five Principles of Perseverance- By Lance Allred
The Five Principles of Perseverance- By Lance Allred Being the first legally deaf player in NBA history, with 80% hearing loss, I have many people asking me: How did you do it? How did you achieve your
More informationA Sermon Preached by the Rev. Angela Herrera. First Unitarian Church October 2, 2016
Atonement A Sermon Preached by the Rev. Angela Herrera First Unitarian Church October 2, 2016 Once there was a philosopher who had a bone to pick with the legendary Sufi wiseman, Mulla Nasrudin. With the
More informationIntroduction to the High Holidays
Rosh Hashana: September 13-15, 2015 Yom Kippur: September 22-23, 2015 1 Table of Contents Introduction to the High Holidays.....3 Build-Up Classes/Programs.......5 High Holiday Services Information......
More informationFLING OFF THE NIGHT!
FLING OFF THE NIGHT! ADVENT PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS FOR CHILDREN 2017 PREPARE YE THE WAY! 1 st Sunday of Advent (Dec 3) Mark 13:24-37 Already the fall leaves have gone and it is getting colder outside!
More informationFrom Hineni to Kehillah Kedosha
1 From Hineni to Kehillah Kedosha I am honored to speak today about the connections I see between our Torah portion, the Akedah or the binding of Isaac, and meaningful worship here at Shir Tikvah. In case
More informationDo any of you have books that you have read more than once? More than twice? More than five times?
Mindful Repetition 9/28/11 Erev Rosh Hashana Do any of you have books that you have read more than once? More than twice? More than five times? I have three: Summer Sisters, The Perks of Being a Wallflower,
More informationPaul and his missionary journeys. May 17-18, God wants the whole world to know him. Acts 13-14; Acts 15:36-21:17
rd 3 5 May 17-18, 2014 Acts 13-14; Acts 15:36-21:17 Connect Time (15 minutes): Five minutes after the service begins, split kids into groups and begin their activity. Large Group (30 minutes): Begin 20
More informationYom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, which was yesterday, marks the celebratory close
Linda Simmons Yom Kippur Sermon September 15, 2013 Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, which was yesterday, marks the celebratory close of the High Holy Days in Judaism. The High Holy Days begin with
More informationALL IN Series Part Three Playing Offense Lester Zimmerman
Opens with ALL IN Video clip.. ALL IN Series Part Three Playing Offense Lester Zimmerman We are in the midst of a series called ALL IN. We are exploring what it means to live a life that is sold out to
More informationThe Necessity of Forgiveness. October 9, 2016 Rev. Rebecca M. Bryan First Parish in Brookline
The Necessity of Forgiveness October 9, 2016 Rev. Rebecca M. Bryan I am going to talk about two things this morning that you won t normally hear much about in a Unitarian Universalist congregation: sin
More informationcultivating our awareness and response
GRATITUDE cultivating our awareness and response Br. David Vryhof, SSJE I have a memory of my 5 th -grade teacher asking us to write a short paragraph describing the things in our lives for which we were
More informationLook Learn Understand & Respect. One We care for the earth God is the creator, he cares for us God is creator of the world
Judaism About the topic In this topic pupils will learn about their Jewish sisters and brothers, how they live as a family and how they worship Where this topic fits in This topic will be taught discretely
More informationTHE WILL OF GOD TO HEAL
THE WILL OF GOD TO HEAL KENNETH COPELAND April 30 May 4, 2018 DAY 1 THE WAY TO RECEIVE YOUR HEALING This series is about the will of God to heal. The same power of God heals and forgives. God s WORD is
More information1 Yom Kippur Sermon 5768 Kol Nidre, September 21, 2007 Rabbi Laura Geller
1 Yom Kippur Sermon 5768 Kol Nidre, September 21, 2007 Rabbi Laura Geller Not long ago in the New York Times there was an article headlined: Ten Things To Do Before This Article Is Finished. It gently
More informationLoaded Questions: Who Are You Looking For? John 20:1-18
Easter - April 8, 2012 Pastor Mark Toone Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church Loaded Questions: Who Are You Looking For? John 20:1-18 A reporter in Time magazine once wrote, death is the one great adventure
More informationA Living Memorial. On the morning of April 19, 1995 a young man left a truck bomb in the parking lot of the
12134 1 12134 Professor L. Overman English 155 CMP 2 November 2006 A Living Memorial On the morning of April 19, 1995 a young man left a truck bomb in the parking lot of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
More informationDon t Judge Me for What I Was, but for What I Can Be Kol Nidrei 5767 (2006) R. Yonatan Cohen, Congregation Beth Israel
Don t Judge Me for What I Was, but for What I Can Be Kol Nidrei 5767 (2006) R. Yonatan Cohen, Congregation Beth Israel I recently stumbled upon a book of inspirational prayers and thoughts. One prayer
More informationRosh HaShanah Morning 5774 September 5, 2013 / 1 Tishrei 5774 Reflections Shofar Blasts and Boston Strong Rabbi Jeffrey Wildstein
Rosh HaShanah Morning 5774 September 5, 2013 / 1 Tishrei 5774 Reflections Shofar Blasts and Boston Strong Rabbi Jeffrey Wildstein EARLY: Are you ready for the Shofar? That s the highlight of this morning,
More informationEvangelii Gaudium Catholic Diocese of Richmond Office for Evangelization Permission required for duplication
Evangelii Gaudium 276 Sunday of the First Week of Easter Belief Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not know the Scripture,
More informationLent, Jesus, and the nature of temptation. Luke 4:1-13
Lent, Jesus, and the nature of temptation Luke 4:1-13 Last Wednesday Lent began. Jesus begin his ministry with a call to repent- Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt 4:17). Repentance means
More informationThis would explain why the holiday has come to be known as The Feast of Trumpets and is actually described as such in the Book of Numbers:
SOUND THE SHOFAR In the twenty-third chapter of the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament, we are informed that God told Moses to instruct the Israelites to remember that on the first day of the seventh
More informationOur Story of Faith Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Our Story of Faith Deuteronomy 26:1-11 One of the trademarks of anytime my family gets together is storytelling. No matter what the occasion, whether it s a birthday party or a Christmas celebration, all
More informationSUCCESS GUIDES OWN Performed by Sarah Ward for Scroggin 2007 Qld Outdoor Conference.
SUCCESS GUIDES OWN Performed by Sarah Ward for Scroggin 2007 Qld Outdoor Conference. As Guide Leaders we always encourage girls to set goals. This weekend it was our turn to set goals outdoor goals we
More informationPage 1 of 5. Kol Nidre 5778 Rabbi Daniel J. Fellman Temple Concord Syracuse, New York September 29, Tishri 5778.
Page 1 of 5 Kol Nidre 5778 Rabbi Daniel J. Fellman Temple Concord Syracuse, New York September 29, 2017 10 Tishri 5778 Guilt Guts Us L Shana Tova. Thanks. Our teachers are not always who we think they
More informationHIGH HOLIDAYS THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS. Text: Numbers 29:1-6
HIGH HOLIDAYS THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS Text: Numbers 29:1-6 Key Word: Trumpet Key Thought: What Changes Does the Trumpet Signal in Our Lives? Anyone who follows the Jewish calendar of events would know that
More informationTelling our own stories Kol Nidrei 2014 Rabbi Nancy Rita Myers
1 Telling our own stories Kol Nidrei 2014 Rabbi Nancy Rita Myers I read a book last spring called Wild by Cheryl Strayed. It s a about a woman in her twenties who decided that she would hike a thousand
More informationIMMERSION. Welcome to the Waters. A mikvah is a Jewish ritual bath in which people choose to immerse for a variety of reasons.
RIVERS Welcome to the Waters Naomi Malka Mikvah Director The waters of the Mikvah fell as rain. Before that, they were clouds, fog, lakes and oceans. Earlier still, they ran in rivers from deep springs
More informationCONTENTS. Much Love and Thanks... 9 A Place to Breathe 11 Part I: Exhaling 15. Part II: Inhaling 57. Free to Breathe 177
CONTENTS Much Love and Thanks... 9 A Place to Breathe 11 Part I: Exhaling 15 Chapter 1: Getting Real 16 Chapter 2: Talking It Out 29 Chapter 3: Finding the Right Road 42 Part II: Inhaling 57 Chapter 4:
More informationRosh Hashanah Morning Rabbi Susan Talve, Central Reform Congregation
Rosh Hashanah Morning 5772 Rabbi Susan Talve, Central Reform Congregation (After the reading of the Akeda and the first day Haftarah, before the shofar service) This story of Hannah always gives us hope.
More informationAs the New Year approaches, I resolve to focus on joy. This has been my kavanah (my intention) every year since 9/11.
We are a wordy people. The Machzor, our new Holy Day prayer book, is a great example. It s beautiful I love it! but I knew we were in trouble when I saw that it came in two volumes! We Jews defy the editing
More informationThe Common Denominator
The Common Denominator of Success By Albert E.N. Gray Foreword At many speaking engagements, I have referred to the words of Albert E.N. Gray and his speech, The Common Denominator of Success. Years of
More informationI m Sorry; Please Forgive Me Rev. Jennifer Ryu Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists October 5, 2008
I m Sorry; Please Forgive Me Rev. Jennifer Ryu Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists October 5, 2008 CALL TO WORSHIP Unitarian Universalism occupies an unusual place in the world of religion. Though we
More informationKavanot Speaking Up, Putting on Shoes and Pouring Tea Rabbi Stacy Offner Temple Beth Tikvah Erev Rosh Hashanah 5778 September 20, 2017
Kavanot Speaking Up, Putting on Shoes and Pouring Tea Rabbi Stacy Offner Temple Beth Tikvah Erev Rosh Hashanah 5778 September 20, 2017 A Kavanah for Speaking Up We are about to say our Amidah, the Standing
More informationHigh Holy Days -5778
2017 - High Holy Days -5778 Our High Holiday Committee, Ritual Committee, Rabbi Rascoe, and Cantor Deborah Zeitlen are planning another beautiful holiday season this year! Selichot Saturday, September
More informationACCEPT YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE
SESSION 1 ACCEPT YOUR LEADERSHIP ROLE The Point Leaders surrender to God s authority and direction. The Bible Meets Life Everybody leads in some capacity everybody. And as leaders, we must always be prepared
More informationHigh Holidays: It s Not Really About Doom and Gloom
Issue 8, Fall 2017 HaKol The Voice High Holidays: It s Not Really About Doom and Gloom Let s take a moment to think about the meaning of High Holidays. As a young person, High Holidays signified a day
More informationThe Art of. Christy Whitman s. Interview with. Andréa Albright
Christy Whitman s Interview with Andréa Albright Having it all is not about striving for perfection, or about living our lives according to someone else s standards or expectations (we ve done that for
More informationDo I Have To Believe In God To Be A Good Jew? Once upon a time, there was a great rabbinic sage who
Do I Have To Believe In God To Be A Good Jew? Rabbi Laurence W. Groffman Yom Kippur Morning 5777/2016 Once upon a time, there was a great rabbinic sage who came home to find his nine year old daughter
More informationThe Need for Vulnerability
The Need for Vulnerability Rosh Hashanah 5779 Day 1 Rabbi Ari Saks Huntington Jewish Center Stepping up to the scale of Judgement Today, Rosh Hashanah, is also known as Yom HaDin, the Day of Judgment.
More informationThis morning we re going to be looking at Galatians 5, and I want you to see that The Spirit Leads You to Spiritual Growth. READ GALATIANS 5:16-26
How quickly a young child grows is always fascinating, isn t it? It s one of the first things you notice when seen a particular young person in awhile too. When I was growing up my dad kept track of height
More informationMaking Space for Growth By rick hoyt
Making Space for Growth By rick hoyt From a trusted source! Wisdom to share from Peleg Top The first act of creation is destruction we have to remove something already in existence in order to make the
More informationStarting the Saunter Isaiah 60:1-6 Matthew 2:1-12
Welcome to Epiphany Sunday. Starting the Saunter Isaiah 60:1-6 Matthew 2:1-12 Today is the day we traditionally celebrate the arrival of the Kings. Today is the twelfth day of Christmas (you know the song?)
More informationRest as Spiritual Discipline Stephanie May, ThD May 26, 2013
Rest as Spiritual Discipline Stephanie May, ThD May 26, 2013 Of course, officially, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have fallen in service to our country. Unofficially, it's the start of summer.
More informationYK AM 5778 Sanctuary: The Scrolls, Clocks, and Books of Our Lives. A scroll. A clock. A book. Three ways in which we record and measure our lives.
YK AM 5778 Sanctuary: The Scrolls, Clocks, and Books of Our Lives A scroll. A clock. A book. Three ways in which we record and measure our lives. First, scrolls: The days of our lives are like scrolls;
More informationJohn 1:1-14: 3: Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
September 30, 2018 Incarnation: God Comes in Jesus Pastor Vern Christopherson John 1:1-14: 3:16-17 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning
More informationLent 1 C 2019 page 1
Lent 1 C 2019 page 1 It had abnormally large eyes that would glow ever so slightly in the dark, it was much taller than I and quite strong. It had a low soothing voice that could easily lull you into a
More informationA Letter to Pop Rabbi A. Brian Stoller Rosh Hashanah Traditional Service 5776 / September 14, 2015
A Letter to Pop Rabbi A. Brian Stoller Rosh Hashanah Traditional Service 5776 / September 14, 2015 My grandfather, Louis Marks, passed away in April. He was 91 years old. We called him Pop. I had a great
More informationIt isn t a new statement, I have heard it before. It isn t the only pithy quote I have heard
RH Shacharit 5773 - Your future is now and it is your chess game to win 9.16.2012 Dusty Klass Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday. Thus read the bright blue and green bumper sticker attached
More informationLetting Go- Releasing to the Eyn Sof Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein Rosh Hashanah Day / 2015
Letting Go- Releasing to the Eyn Sof Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5776 / 2015 Good Yuntif. Today I will be talking about Letting Go and Releasing to the Eyn Sof (one of the names for God).
More informationI wonder if there isn t a little letdown after Christmas packages put. away decorations come down joyful music fades away until the next season -
Sermon, Called Out of Darkness, 1 Peter 2:9 1 I wonder if there isn t a little letdown after Christmas packages put away decorations come down joyful music fades away until the next season - family and
More informationThe 13 Mitzvot Temple Sinai
The 13 Mitzvot Program @ Temple Sinai The world depends on three things: Torah (study ) Avodah (prayer/rituals ) and Gemilut Hasadim (acts of lovingkindness, interpersonal mitzvot) Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel
More informationBy: April Akiva, MAJE
2 nd Day Rosh Hashanah Sermon By: April Akiva, MAJE Are you really happy? Do you get up in the morning looking forward to going to work? Or does each day blend one into the other as you count down to your
More informationRabbi Richard Agler October 12, 2015 Keys Jewish Community Center 10 Tishrei, What Does All This Tell Us About God?
Rabbi Richard Agler October 12, 2015 Keys Jewish Community Center 10 Tishrei, 5777 Tavernier, FL Yom Kippur What Does All This Tell Us About God? We ve traveled a good distance since Rosh Hashanah morning.
More informationStepping Out In Faith Trusting God s Promises
Stepping Out In Faith Trusting God s Promises 1.6.19 If you re a guest joining us this morning, we think you ve picked a great time to do be with us as we re kicking off a brand-new sermon series called
More informationHow To Feel Brave When You Don't Feel Brave
How To Feel Brave When You Don't Feel Brave By Kelly Swanson Huffington Post (12/8/16) The Fear Epidemic Whenever I sit in a meeting, I don t say what I m thinking. I sit there with all these ideas and
More informationFollow the leader. Watch the Video. Joshua 1:1-18. Notes
Follow the leader Joshua 1:1-18 1 Core Idea: Obedience requires courage. If comfort is our goal, the abundant life will be little more than wishful thinking. Basic Principle: God will not tell us something
More informationFaith Can Do It 1. Thrust statement: We can accomplish what God requires when we believe what God says.
1 Thrust statement: We can accomplish what God requires when we believe what God says. Scripture Readings: And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26 Now they departed and came back
More informationPromise in Prison 1
Promise in Prison Westminster Presbyterian Church Matthew 5:11-12, 43-45 Pastor Doug Browne Genesis 39:1-23 September 23, 2018 Matthew 5:11-12, 43-45 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute
More informationNeville I REMEMBER WHEN
Neville 04-10-1968 I REMEMBER WHEN When I receive a great revelation concerning the creative power of God I cannot keep it to myself, but must share it with all that will listen. Here is one I received
More informationGetting in Step Genesis 12:1-4 ~ Mark 1:14-20 January 21, 2018 The Rev. Dr. Laurie Brubaker Davis
1 Getting in Step Genesis 12:1-4 ~ Mark 1:14-20 January 21, 2018 The Rev. Dr. Laurie Brubaker Davis You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, you put your right foot in and you shake it
More informationYom Kippur 5777 The Bucket List
Yom Kippur 5777 The Bucket List A few weeks ago a 102-year-old Missouri woman named Edie Simms was arrested. The police came to the local senior center and, in front of all her stunned elderly friends,
More informationTake The Plunge Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky The Jewish Center At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last year a discussion broke out on
Take The Plunge Rabbi Ariel Rackovsky The Jewish Center 5770 At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last year a discussion broke out on whether or not the firm Lehman Brothers would have failed
More informationSAYING YES, YES, YES TO LIFE!
SAYING YES, YES, YES TO LIFE! Today we re continuing to celebrate our 50th anniversary year with sending forth our precious seniors to bless the world. Hasn t today been inspirational to honor four of
More information9:30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.
Exodus 34:29-35 BE TRANSFORMED SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 34: 29-35; LUKE 9: 28-36 GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ASHEVILLE, NC March 3, 2019 The Rev. Dr. Marcia Mount Shoop, Pastor 34:29 Moses came down from
More informationPHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION W E E K 1 0 D A Y 1 : M E A N I N G O F L I F E
PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION W E E K 1 0 D A Y 1 : M E A N I N G O F L I F E CHARACTERS (REFERENCE) Joe Main DeDe Joe s Coworker Mr. Waturi Joe s Boss Mr. Graynamore Old man that offers Joe new job Marshall
More informationSermon Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Sermon Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost Text: Luke 21:10-12,18,19 He went on to say, "Countries will fight each other; kingdoms will attack one another. There will be terrible earthquakes, famines,
More informationThe Revelation of God s Wrath:
The Revelation of God s Wrath: A Holy God in the Hands of Sinful Man Part 2 Romans 1:18-23 April 26 th, 2008 Scripture For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness
More informationAnita Farber-Robertson 1
Anita Farber-Robertson 1 Thought for Contemplation: It is not more light we need, but more warmth! We die of cold, not of darkness. It is not the night that kills, but the frost. -Miguel de Unamuno Once
More informationSermon Let s Be Honest
Sermon Let s Be Honest One of our core values is Authentic Community. Authentic Community We genuinely care for one another inside and outside the church s walls by showing acceptance, compassion, and
More informationTake out the cereal box with HHH label on it. Healthy Heart Habits worthy of daily consumption.
B rosh Hashanah yikateyvun, uv yom tzom kippur yechateymun (sing) On Rosh Hashanah our future is inscribed, on Yom Kippur it is sealed. A teaching from Rabbi Rachel Barenblat: Our futures are inscribed
More informationTeshuvah through Mindfulness Erev Rosh HaShanah 5775 Rabbi Gary Pokras. Yes, under this robe, there is much less of me than there used to be.
Teshuvah through Mindfulness Erev Rosh HaShanah 5775 Rabbi Gary Pokras Good Yuntif! It s been a whole year since we gathered together, and a lot has happened during the interim. The world seems even more
More informationJesus. Recently I was invited by an old friend to join him and six other
Contents Introduction...9 1. Jesus...15 2. Act 1: God.... 25 3. Act 2: Creation... 45 4. Act 3: Rebellion..................................................... 63 5. Act 4: Rescue... 87 6. Intermission...1
More informationPre-Passover Purification Shabbat HaChodesh 5778
Pre-Passover Purification Shabbat HaChodesh 5778 March 16, 2018 Rabbi Barry H. Block Years ago, during Passover, I went to dinner at a favorite Mexican restaurant. As I walked in the door, I saw a couple
More informationWhat Does Archery have to do with Judaism? Rabbi Jamie Korngold
What Does Archery have to do with Judaism? Rabbi Jamie Korngold Subject Area: Eco-Judaism, High Holidays Single/Multi-unit lesson plan single Target Age: 8 and up Objectives: 1. Introduce students to Concepts
More informationTHE BARRIERS IN OUR PATH
Rabbi David Holtz Kol Nidre, 5773 Temple Beth Abraham Tarrytown, NY THE BARRIERS IN OUR PATH A story: Once there was a king with magical powers. Using his magic, he surrounded his palace with the illusion
More informationA Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness High Holiday Repentance Workbook 2015 / 5776
A Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness High Holiday Repentance Workbook 2015 / 5776 by Rabbi Michael Lerner The Jewish High Holy Days are meant to be days for reflection on where we may have missed the mark,
More informationSTEPPING OUT AND TAKING THE RISK
Matthew 14:22-33--August 10, 2014 STEPPING OUT AND TAKING THE RISK Did you notice that there are two levels to this morning s reading from Matthew's Gospel? The first level is seeing Jesus as the stiller
More informationcopyrighted material Introduction from The Spirit and I: The Evolution of Soul. Copyright 2009 (PDF edition) by Bernard Willemsen.
Introduction from The Spirit and I: The Evolution of Soul. Copyright 2009 (PDF edition) by Bernard Willemsen. Introduction There is a natural drive within each and every one of us to expand and grow. It
More informationH.E. MENNA RAWLINGS CMG, BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER GRADUATION SPEECH, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA
H.E. MENNA RAWLINGS CMG, BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER GRADUATION SPEECH, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA I d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I d also
More informationThe Journey Workbook
The Journey Workbook Teacher s Manual Part I Lesson One The Invisible Path Lesson Two Getting an Identity Makeover Lesson Three Navigational Tools Word and Spirit Lesson Four Discipleship and Ministry
More informationMiriam s Healing A Study Guide
Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Miriam s Healing A Study Guide WHERE IS GOD? This study explores the eternal question of Where God is when bad things happen to good people? Miriam
More informationChristmas Movies at the Port The Island of Misfit Toys Westport Christian Church
Christmas Movies at the Port The Island of Misfit Toys Westport Christian Church December 21, 2014 When you are talking to someone about the church, not this congregation but the Church in general, do
More informationGOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY?
Matthew 6: 5-13; Job 38: 1-7, 25-30 GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY? God the Father? Almighty? We don t hear those words very much, do we? Here in church we address God in prayer every week, but we rarely, if
More informationWhat did Lewis & Clark Do, Anyway?
What did Lewis & Clark Do, Anyway? Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on a great expedition in May, 1804. They set out on a great journey across what was then the Louisiana Territory.
More informationRabbi Noah Arnow Kol Rinah Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 5778/2017
Rabbi Noah Arnow Kol Rinah Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 5778/2017 What are you longing for this Rosh Hashanah? What is your heart, your soul, yearning for this year, this moment? The matriarchs we read about today,
More informationINVITATION TO BIBLICAL PREACHING
INVITATION TO BIBLICAL PREACHING Dr. Don Sunukjian The Urban Ministry Institute of Los Angeles April 14, 2012 Introduction 1 The Bible comes alive when the message is: 1. 2. 3. 4. Step I Study the passage
More informationKeeping Grounded When the Wind Blows
Keeping Grounded When the Wind Blows Matthew 14:22-33 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. Matthew 14:24 The Reverend Joanna Adams Morningside
More informationYom Kippur 2017 Rabbi Chai Levy Three Principles of Faith for Turbulent Times
1 Yom Kippur 2017 Rabbi Chai Levy Three Principles of Faith for Turbulent Times So I didn t write a rock n roll sermon for you this Yom Kippur. The truth is, I didn t do much song writing this past year.
More informationIMPORTANT FIGURES & LEADERS/ HISTORY
Judaism IMPORTANT FIGURES & LEADERS/ HISTORY Important Figures & Leaders ABRAHAM Father of Judaism First to proclaim only One God (Monotheism) Asked to sacrifice son Isaac as show of faith. Pass the test
More informationPREPARING FOR THE FOURTH TRADITION. TRADITION FOUR: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.
PREPARING FOR THE FOURTH TRADITION (Read pp.146-149 of the 12 & 12. ) TRADITION FOUR: Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. 1. Let us start to think
More informationJump in the Deep End Part 2 Staying Awake
Rev. 2:1-5, Mark 2:18-22 Jump in the Deep End Part 2 Staying Awake No one puts new wine in old wineskins.but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins This morning we continue our series on Jumping in the
More informationThe Value of Science
The Value of Science by Richard Feynman, 1918-1988 For educational and personal use only, pdf version by J. Wang, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Introduction When I was younger, I thought science
More information26. The Overman. Stephen Hicks 71
Stephen Hicks 71 rality is an unhealthy development that must be overcome. 75 The fate of the human species depends upon it. We must go beyond good and evil. 26. The Overman Nietzsche once said that he
More informationWEEK 5 THE IMMORAL WOMAN
WEEK 5 THE IMMORAL WOMAN Proverbs 5 & 7 She couldn t help but take notice of him. At least that s what she told herself. She was married to Potiphar, a man highly esteemed as Pharaoh s officer and the
More informationFile Name: A6R Animals are Smart Argument/Opinion Grade 6 Range of Writing
File Name: A6R Animals are Smart Argument/Opinion Grade 6 Range of Writing Animals are Smart Some people think that we are superior to animals but I think that animals are as smart as we are. Pets react
More information