Sacred Assembly
This Sunday, at the Crossing we will join an ancient tradition, designed and set aside by God to bring His people together for something really significant. We’ll be coming together in a Sacred Assembly, a common occurrence in the Old Testament (go here to view a bible search of “sacred Assembly: www.biblegateway.com ). As part of his Jewish heritage, Jesus Himself would have participated in sacred assemblies and, this Sunday, His Spirit will be with us, sharing in ours.
As the Sacred Assembly approaches, consider a fast from Saturday morning until the Crossing on Sunday. This will help with physical and spiritual preparation. As you make your way to the Sacred Assembly, we ask that you try to set aside your distractions, self-consciousness, and cynicism so that you are open to everything God wants to say and do among us.
The sacred assemblies described in the scriptures served a few different purposes. All of them are as important now as they were then. Here are some of the things God has in mind when He calls people to gather in sacred assemblies:
Remembrance: a Sacred Assembly is a time to recall all that God is and has done for us…not only as individuals, but especially as a community, and as part of a long line of people of faith.
Repentance: Sacred Assemblies are perfect chances to reconsider where our lives are headed and to rethink the things we’ve considered important. It might be that we need to make some changes that take us closer to God. This is the time to do it!
Redirection: God wants to have some say in our lives in this place and time. He is working in specific ways and He wants us to join him. We need to give Him time and space to speak to our future and expect Him to speak! Our future together depends on His leading.
Reconnection: Jesus’ life, death and resurrection made it possible for messed-up people to be in God’s good graces and to experience BIG life. Sunday we’ll celebrate communion and baptism, both expressions that Jesus endorsed to connect us to Him, to each other, and to greater meaning in the Kingdom. If you are interested in being baptized, please send us an email at luminus@zoominternet.net
Restoration: In the book of Romans, it says that the entire “creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” In 2nd Chronicles, God says “I will hear from heaven and will forgive your sin and will your heal land.” God has been working to help us embrace our standing with Him and to accept the healing and role that He has dreamed for us from the very start. The process starts when we believe what He says. The Sacred Assembly is the time to believe together.
Rest: Knowing the make-up of people, God knows that we need time to stop working and relax into His presence. Prepare to let your guard down, absorb the peace and love of God. Allow Him to recharge you. We also encourage you to avoid work the whole day on Sunday. Enjoy it. Let work wait until Monday.
We hope that you will put aside any inhibitions or reservations you have and that you will join us on Sunday to experience all of these things. We have this burning feeling that this is a vital time in our lives together as Jesus’ body. We don’t want anyone to miss out on what God has in store for us!
(if you’d like to hear portions of the Sacred Assembly, go here and select the Sacred Assembly audiocast: Audio )
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