Who We Are
We are Messianic Jews. We are in love with our Jewish traditions
and we are excited about them. We have come alive in our Jewish
faith. This happened because in Yeshua our Messiah, we have discovered
a dimension of life and an intimacy with G-d that we had not experienced
before. This deeper involvement has led to an ardent appreciation
of the richness and beauty of our Jewish traditions and heritage.
Ohr Chadash is a Messianic Jewish Synagogue committed to Yeshua
the Messiah as Redeemer and L-rd. We are a congregation of Jews
and Gentiles who come together in common faith to serve the living
G-d of Israel, and to worship him through the beauty of our traditions.
We eagerly anticipate the return of Yeshua our Messiah to Earth
in fulfillment of Scripture, and we rejoice in the rebirth of the
nation Israel, for we believe it is a sovereign work of G-d in our
time.
Shabbat Services
We meet for worship each Friday evening. Our services are traditionally
Jewish and they provide a unique opportunity to experience the joy
of the Sabbath and the richness of life in Yeshua, as his early
followers did. We also meet weekly for in-depth study of the Bible
and other topics related to our heritage and growth in Yeshua.
Shabbat School
Classes are offered each Friday evening to increase understanding
and assist growth in areas relevant to our faith and lives. Classes
are primarily for grades pre-school through bar and bat mitzvah
classes.
Social Events
These may include kosher hot dog roasts at a nearby park; dinners
at the synagogue or at a restaurant, hayrides, or fellowship in
a private home.
Special Activities
We share regularly in celebrating our Jewish holidays and in enjoying
other times of celebration and festivity.
Advisory Council
The administrative body of Ohr Chadash is made up of members of
the congregation who work with our Rabbi in governing the affairs
and activities of the synagogue. These are dedicated men and women
who spend a great deal of time in prayer and consultation to carry
out the various duties assigned to them.
A VISION FOR CONGREGATION OHR CHADASH
Any thriving congregation exhibits growth and vitality in several
key areas. A Messianic synagogue strives to accomplish these same
goals within its own distinct religious heritage and calling.
Our vision for Congregation Ohr Chadash focuses on:
G-d - Each person should be involved in an intimate, growing relationship
with G-d. Therefore, he or she should not only be a committed follower
of Yeshua but should also help others strengthen their own commitment.
This necessitates that each person be Spirit-filled, i.e. living
under the direction and control of the Ruach HaShem (Spirit of G-d),
as described in the Scriptures (Ezek. 36:25-27; Eph. 5:18-21; Rom.
8:4; Gal 5:22-23).
The Scriptures - The Bible is our guidebook for living. Therefore,
in the synagogue the teaching and preaching need to be clear, systematic
presentations of what the Bible says. In addition, everyone in the
congregation needs to be carefully studying the Scriptures regularly
on his or her own.
The Traditions - As a Messianic synagogue, we want to learn to
know, love, and respect our traditions. There is a vitality, beauty,
richness, and value to our traditions; and people need to make the
effort to understand them. The traditions can teach us about G-d
and Yeshua; and they communicate his truths and principles. We must
realize their historical and biblical validity, and remember that
G-d laid the foundation for our traditions. As a congregation, therefore,
we need to be authentic and consistent in our observance of them;
and, we should be creative in developing other relevant traditions
drawn from the er Testament, as well as from our heritage, which
focus on Yeshua.
People - A congregation should provide an environment where people
experience love, acceptance, support, appreciation and encouragement;
where they can focus on the positive and good in each other; and
where they can develop deep and lasting relationships. It should
also foster a sense of community and cohesiveness for those inside
the congregation, as well as develop an active compassion and concern
for those outside it. The latter involves concretely reaching out
to the needy and accurately communicating Yeshua's message to our
community.
Leadership - The leadership of the congregation should be a team
of mature believers committed to Yeshua, to each other, and to the
congregation. The leaders need to be actively involved in all phases
of synagogue life and leadership. They should also view their role
- based on the biblical model - as one of being servants to the
congregation. The leaders need to discover and develop not only
their own spiritual gifts, but encourage the members to do so as
well. These gifts must be used to build and enrich the body, and
not become a means of drawing attention to the gift or the individual.
Education - The synagogue needs to be a place where its members
learn about G-d, the Scriptures, their traditions, and themselves;
as well as how to function as effective, productive members of their
own families, the congregation family, and society as a whole. The
synagogue also seeks to develop to the point where it can serve
as a center to which others can come in order to train for involvement
in congregational life and leadership. It can then function as a
pattern or model that can be transferred to other locales. In this
way, people can observe and participate in Congregation Ohr Chadash,
and then put into practice what they experience here, when they
go elsewhere. |
