'Happy New Year' might seem a strange greeting for this time of year, but it was one received by the pastor on a card from Israel last week.
Rev. Peter Richmond explained on Sunday that The Jewish New Year, or Feast of Trumpets is a joyous celebration of new beginnings, leading to the 'Day of Atonement' through the ten 'Days of Awe'. It is also a time of preparation, confessing sins and repentance.
It is a new moon festival. Malachi 4:2 speaks of the Christ as the Sun of Righteousness. Believers can reflect his light. At first their illumination can hardly be seen, but as their lives revolve around God they reflect more and more of his glory.
White is the colour of the season, to symbolise that 'scarlet sins can be made as white as snow.' It is traditional to throw stones, or breadcrumbs, into the sea to symbolise the way God deals with sin:
"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin...? You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19)
That is why everyone left the service with a small bag of breadcrumbs and may have been spotted later 'casting their bread on the waters!'
Don't forget the Celebration of Compassion - Songs of Praise evening tomorrow (Saturday) at 7 pm in Deer Park Church.
Hesed services are held every Sunday at 4.15 pm in Carringtons Restaurant, The Esplanade, Tenby. For more details visit http://www.hesedcf.co.uk">www.hesedcf.co.uk