We Practice...

We have chosen to unite with Israel in the keeping of the Hillel Calendar for the counting of the festivals. This calendar is the one that the Jewish people have kept for nearly 1700 years and is a calculated version of the Jewish calendar that Jesus kept. As such, our holidays fall on the same days as they do for the Jews in Israel, except for Pentecost (Shavuot) .

We practice the weekly seventh-day Sabbath as commanded in Scripture . The Sabbath begins from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday and this is the pattern that we find in Creation and in the early church . During this time, we abstain from all work (i.e. yard work, occupational work, and housework) and worship the Creator as the body of Christ . The Sabbath is also a prophetic memorial that points towards the eternal Sabbath where all believers will have rest with God eternally .

We keep the biblical holidays as commanded in Scripture . The Lord's holidays include Sabbath , Passover and the Unleavened Bread , Pentecost (Shavuot) , Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah) , the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) , and Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) . The other festivals in the Bible we observe are Purim and the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) . These particular holidays are not formal sabbaths, rather they are memorials, celebrating God's deliverance of His people in history.

We celebrate the Passover meal around twilight on the 14th day of Nisan (which is at the end of the 14th into the 15th). Passover is technically on the 15th day of the month . .

We do not eat lamb for the Passover meal for the following reasons: there is no temple; the Lamb was only to be sacrificed in Jerusalem ; and Jesus (Yeshua) is our Passover Lamb today who died once and for all. We now participate in consuming the Lamb (metaphorically) through faith in Jesus .

God has laid out a very specific set of guidelines within the Bible conveying to us what things He has created to be consumed as food . You'll note that God established everything on the testimony of two which includes those things that we may eat. Regarding animals, God has declared that all things that have cloven hooves and chew the cud are clean (we may eat them). And among the fish in the sea, God has declared that we may eat all those that have fins and scales .

We avoid eating the following: animals who have been sacrificed to an idol, animals that have been strangled, any blood from an animal , any fat from an animal that was dedicated to the Lord to be burnt on the altar , animals who have died of natural causes (though in rare cases is permitted) , land animals that do not have cloven hooves and chew the cud (i.e. pigs, rabbits, camels) , marine animals that don't have fins and scales (i.e. shellfish, sting rays, catfish) , certain winged animals (i.e. ostriches, vultures, bats) , arthropods that don't have wings and jointed legs above their feet (i.e. ants, spiders, cockroaches) .

We do not allow alcohol or drunkenness at any official Church sponsored-events because drunkenness strips away our self-control and discernment as well as the fact that we don't want to cause anyone in our community to stumble. This does not restrict you from drinking in your own homes (although you should not fall into drunkenness) , but it does mean that we will not tolerate drunkenness or alcohol at our ministry events or services .

It is important to point out that the word used to describe this section is 'complement', not compliment. Complement is defined as, "a thing that completes or brings to perfection."

We recognize that biological men and women are spiritually equal (all have equal value and all are loved the same by our LORD) . However, the Bible does differentiate the roles that biological men and women have within the Church and the home.

IN THE HOME - Men are called to be the authoritative head over the family, spiritually leading their homes in righteousness . Not with a dictatorial spirit but with humility bearing the heart of a servant , loving their wives as Christ loved the Church . And the wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord .

IN THE CHURCH - Scripture is clear that Church leadership is reserved for biblically qualified men only . Women are not permitted to teach or to have authority over a man . However, women are called to teach other women , instruct the children , and participate in spreading the Gospel . Ultimately, we see in Scripture (both Old and New Testament) that women play an instrumental role in the function of ministry. The need for godly women in the home and in the community is vital to the health of the body of Messiah.

We practice Appointment. This means that our community appoints elders instead of voting congregationally. We believe that this is what we see as the practice of Jesus , the Apostles , and Moses . Appointment is about choosing righteous and God-fearing men, who are full of the Holy Spirit to be leaders.