All of the feasts begin at Sundown of the first date
Purim - March 24th
Begins Saturday night, March 23 and continues through Sunday, March 24
Passover: Sundown of Monday
April 22-30th
No work permitted on April 23 – 24 and April 29 – 30.
Feasts of Unleavened Bread
April 22-30th
Feast of First Fruits
Begins sunset of Tuesday, April 28th, 2024
Counting of the Omer
April 28th – June 16th
50 days
Shavuot/Day of Pentecost
Sunday, June 16
Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets
Thursday, October 3
Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement
Sundown of Friday October 11-12
Sukkot/ Feast of Tabernacles
October 17th – Day 8: October 24th
Hanukkah
Begins on Sunday down Wednesday December 25th, 2024
Ends on Thursday January 2nd, 2025
Purim: March 24th
Begins Saturday night, March 23 and continues through Sunday, March 24
Purim is not a God-commanded festival, however, we read in Esther 9:28 that "these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants."
How we observe: We gather on the Shabbat, telling the story of Esther and God’s faithfulness. Normal worship service. The Community is encouraged to dress up as characters of the story.
Passover: Sundown of Monday, April 22-30th
No work permitted on April 23 - 24 and April 29 - 30.
"In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD's Passover." (Leviticus 23:5) The Passover meal includes bitter herbs and unleavened bread and is eaten to commemorate the Israelites leaving Egypt in haste. It points to Yeshua, "For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." (1 Corinthians 5:7)
How We Observe: This is a Sabbath Feast, No work allowed. Remove all of the Matza (yeast products from the home) Gathering at the church on the twilight, for worship and the reading of the story (Haggadah) and partaking of a meal and communion together.
Feasts of Unleavened Bread April 22-30th
"...then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest." (Leviticus 23:10) This is the day when the first fruits of the barley harvest were brought into the temple. It commemorates the day Christ rose from the dead as the First Fruits of the resurrection giving us hope of eternal life.
How we observe: Removing Yeast from the Home for 7 days. The yeast is representative of sin in our life. The removal is symbolic of removing sin from our homes.
Feast of First Fruits
Begins sunset of Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Ends nightfall of Thursday, June 13, 2024
No work is permitted.
...then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest." (Leviticus 23:10) This is the day when the first fruits of the barley harvest were brought into the temple. It commemorates the day Christ rose from the dead as the First Fruits of the resurrection giving us hope of eternal life.
How We Observe: To be announced later.
Counting of the Omer (49 days)
"You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD." (Leviticus 23:16) These are the fifty days between Passover and Shavuot. They remind us of the link between Passover (which commemorates the exodus and the resurrection) to Shavuot (which commemorates the formal giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Holy Spirit).
Shavuot/Day of Pentecost: Sunday, June 16
No Work is permitted.
You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the LORD." (Leviticus 23:17) Shavuot commemorates three things: the day the first fruits of the wheat harvest were brought into the temple; the day the Law was written on stone by the Finger of God (Holy Spirit); and the day the Law began to be written on hearts through the Holy Spirit.
How we Observe: This is a sabbath day, we are commanded not to work. We will gather on that evening Tuesday for worship and celebration.
Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets: Thursday, October 3
No Work is permitted.
"...In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation." (Leviticus 23:24) This day is known by many names: Yom Teruah, Day of Noise, Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah. It is celebrated by blowing the shofar, a ram's horn. It points to the second coming of Messiah, as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:52, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement: Sundown of Friday October 11-12
No work is permitted.
"On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD." (Leviticus 23:27) Yom Kippur is a day of prayer, fasting, and repentance pointing us toward judgement day. We traditionally wear white to symbolize purity and forgiveness. "... though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
How We Observe: We fast for 25 hours and sabbath (No Work). Breaking our Sabbath on the evening of the 12th. Due to fasting, there will be no Oneg after service on the 12th which is the Shabbat.
Sukkot/ Feast of Tabernacles:
Day 1: October 17th – Day 8: October 24th
No work permitted on October 17 - 18.
This is an eight-day celebration. Many people spend this week camping and living in temporary dwellings. Others build a sukkah in their yard "so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 23:43). Sukkot points toward the millennial reign of Yeshua and the eternal rest with Him in New Jerusalem (8th day).
How we Celebrate: We will meet at Music Springs in Hawkins Texas. For worship and 8 days of living in a sukkah, fellowship, and camping. Registration is required. We will Shabbat the first Sabbath at Music Springs and be back in the building the second Sabbath.
Hanukkah:
Begins on Sunday down Wednesday December 25th, 2024
Ends on Thursday January 2nd, 2025
Work permitted, except Shabbat
Hanukkah is not a God-commanded festival. However, scripture shows Yeshua in Jerusalem at the time of the Feast of the Dedication. (John 10:22-23) It is an eight-day celebration to commemorate the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt of the second century BC.
How we Observe: Gather with us on the 28th (Sabbath – Oneg) for an afternoon of celebration, games, and our chili cookoff.