Rosh Hashanah & “Reclaiming Original Christianity”

Last night at sundown (Weds., Sept. 4, 2013), observant Jews began the Jewish High Holy Days, a 10-day period of time referred to as “The Days of Awe”.  This 10-day period begins with Rosh Hashanah, “The Head of the Year”, or the beginning of the Jewish new year.  This year, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated over the two-day span from sundown last night, Sept. 4, through sundown tomorrow night, Sept. 6.  "The Days of Awe" end with the observance of Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, celebrated this year from sundown on Sept. 13 through sundown on Sept. 14.  One of the focus areas in Jewish worship on Rosh Hashanah is the Creation, when the Spirit of the LORD hovered over the deep primordial chaos and brought forth order, life, and the world/cosmos as we know it.  “Awe” seems like an appropriate response to me!

But, Rosh Hashanah is also referred to as The Day of Remembrance because in addition to inaugurating the Jewish new year, it inaugurates the ten days to follow during which faithful and observant Jews recall their failings and sins of the past year as they prepare for the culmination of The Days of Awe, on Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement.  The reflection is also intended to result in reconciliation among one's neighbors.  All of this bears obvious resemblance to our season of Lent.

So, what does this have to do with Christianity?  I guess I would call it “original Christianity”, no disrespect to Judaism intended.  Rather, I rejoice over realizing the continuity between Christian faith and our Jewish roots.  These rhythms, not doubt, informed the worship life of the early church centered as it was in Jerusalem and grounded in its native Judaism.  These are also the rhythms of the faith that Jesus grew up in and practiced, and the more we know about how He lived His life and faith, the more authentic followers of His we’ll be. 

I’m going to be doing an “episodic” sermon series through the year this year, highlighting in some way the major Jewish Holidays as they come around and showing why and how they are relevant to Christian faith and practice.  I’m calling the series “Reclaiming Original Christianity”, and the first three will be over the next three Sundays: Sept. 8^th – Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 15^th – Yom Kippur, and Sept. 22^nd – the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth.  A friend and United Methodist colleague, Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter, who grew up Jewish and later became Christian and went on to ordained pastoral ministry in the United Methodist Church will be preaching on Sept. 22, lending an "in-the-flesh" sense of connection between Christianity and Judaism to our observance of the High Holy Days.

I hope to see you at Church in the coming weeks!

Steve

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