SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Shalom Mishpacha,
You may have heard President Trump’s declaration that all houses of worship are now considered essential and ordered the governors to allow them to open their doors immediately. We have met as leadership to discuss how this will work. Please know that we are prayerfully discussing and planning the steps necessary for us to be able to return to worship. The governor has not yet given any guidelines or protocols for us to open our doors, but we are expecting him to discuss this soon. We remain vigilant in our determination to follow the protocols of medical officials in how to resume services and maintain everyone’s safety at such time when we gather together once again. Please watch for updates on our website and via e-mail. There are no set dates for reopening, but we anticipate that it will not be much longer.
Please also be aware that once we do reopen, there will be changes based on safety guidelines and everyone will be expected to follow these guidelines. Those wishing to be present for services will be expected to comply with the guidelines that will be sent out.
We are aware that there are diverse opinions on the virus and how it has been handled by both medical personnel as well as government officials. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but we ask that you keep those opinions to yourself when we return to worship at temple. When we gather for Shabbat, it is for the purpose of resting in Adonai and praising His Name. We come together in community for study, prayer, and worship of the L-rd G-d of Israel. It is neither the time nor the place for disputes and contention, and we respectfully ask that you adhere to a spirit of love and compassion that is embodied in the Shema.
We are very excited to see all of you again! Please continue to watch for updates. We love you and continue to pray for you. May you be greatly blessed this week.
Lev HaShem Leadership
Due to the new social distancing guidelines we have limited seating at our services. We are requiring registration to attend our Saturday 10:30 AM service.
Please register for our service by clicking the button below.
Lev HaShem Messianic Jewish Synagogue
Rabbi Jered Hundley
Live Services and older Shabbat Teachings
are available on our social media video pages.
Along with all of you, we are heartbroken and angry about the senseless death of George Floyd. This was a horrific act of violence. The investigation is still under way, and we do not know if his death was racially motivated. Be that as it may, the ensuing social unrest has fostered a feeling of racial inequality that continues to be an unfortunate feature of life in the United States, and indeed around the world. We have been given an opportunity for dialogue.
We, as a society, must be willing to have difficult conversations about the reality of racial divisions that stain our great nation. We must be willing to have real, raw conversations in order to come up with solutions.
Our heart also goes out to the brave men and women in uniform who put their life on the line day and night to keep order and uphold the law. We recognize that the overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers are good and courageous people who love what they do and are careful with the power with which they have been entrusted.
The leadership of Lev HaShem is heartbroken by recent events in our nation, and we urge people to remember that we are ALL children of the L-rd G-d of Israel. We are also saddened when these assaults on human dignity and life lead to escalating violence, discord, contention, and profound chaos. Evil has never been resolved by combating it with more evil.
Each and every individual should be treated with dignity and love as the Holy One commanded: “You shall love the L-RD your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” – D’varim (Deuteronomy) 6:5. And again: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mark 12:31. HaShem calls each of us to forsake attitudes of prejudice against anyone or any group of His children. We may not always agree with lifestyles or choices, but we can speak the truth in love.
We have a need to foster a fundamental respect for the human dignity of every human soul, regardless of their color, religious creed, or cause, and we need to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding rather than creating walls of segregation.
May we each find it in our heart to love more and deeply. May we take joy in all of G-d’s creation and love each of His precious children. May we reach out with kindness and embrace our differences and seek to be a nation of inclusion, even when we disagree.
