THE RETURN — NATIONAL AND GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER AND REPENTANCE, Saturday, September 26, Washington D.C.
Is there hope for America?
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:13-14).
Two separate mass gatherings calling for prayer for our nation will take place tomorrow (Saturday) on the National Mall in Washington.
The "Washington Prayer March 2020," will be led by evangelist Franklin Graham, and "The Return — National and Global Day of Prayer and Repentance," will be led by Jonathan Cahn, the Messianic rabbi known for his New York Times bestsellers, including The Harbinger and The Oracle.
Franklin Graham and Jonathan Cahn both say God led them separately to call for the mass assemblies, the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) reported.
In addition, Focus on the Family (founded by Dr. James Dobson) is holding a virtual pro-life event called "See Life 2020" at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday night.
"God is converging everything. That's how important this day is," Rabbi Jonathan Cahn said.
"We are at a more dangerous point than ever. We have an election that can change the course of the nation at such a time when so many signs are pointing to danger of judgment.”
"I believe that if we do not rise to this now, here, embodied by the return, we may pass the point of no return. That's why I'm calling on any believer who has any kind of burden for America to join, whether they come to Washington or wherever they are. But we need to do this as never before.”
The Sabbath (Saturday) before the Day of Atonement is historically known as Shabbat Shuvah ("Sabbath of Return" שבת שובה or Shabbat T'shuvah "Sabbath of Repentance" שבת תשובה).
“The Return” is a movement, an appointed time, and a specific day [the Sabbath of Return or Repentance] set apart for one purpose – the return to God by coming before His presence in humility, in sincerity, in prayer, and in repentance.
"The Return" will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time between the Washington Monument and the Capitol building. At noon, the prayer march will begin at the Lincoln Memorial, stopping for focused prayer at sites on the National Mall.
The Return begins this evening with the beginning of the Sabbath of Return/Repentance — Biblically, days begin at sunset, not midnight. Sabbath Eve events are from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The main events of The Return will be Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the National Mall and throughout the nation and world. The Sabbath of Return will be extended into Saturday night with events from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. All times are Eastern.
Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s prophetic Word to America will be given between 11:00 AM and Noon on Saturday, September 26. Everyone needs to hear this man of God speak!
You can hear Jonathan Cahn and take part in all of the activities of The Return wherever you are in America or around the world, by Live Stream on the Internet. Just go to The Return website and click “Watch the Live Stream Here” on the Home page. Here is the link:
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT SERVICES — Sunday, September 27, at 6:00 PM
Last Friday evening we celebrated the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). The Feast of Trumpets looks forward to the Second Coming of Jesus, Yeshua. The Return of the King will be with shouts of joy and the sounding of trumpets. The dead in Christ will rise, we who are alive and in Jesus, will be changed, and King Messiah will establish the Millennial Kingdom on this earth. In anticipation of his glorious Coming we sounded the shofar (rams horn, Biblical trumpet).
The Feast of Trumpets began the Ten Days of Awe, ten days of repentance and return — a time of deepened spiritual intensity. Tomorrow (Saturday) is the Sabbath of Return or Sabbath of Repentance, a day for deepening spirituality, sincere conversion, getting right with God as an individual, in our families, and as a nation, with a new determination — with the help of God’s grace — to live as becomes believers, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of (not merely in) Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
Monday is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This annual Holy Day is referenced in both the Old and New Covenant Scriptures.
The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah) looks forward to the Return of the King, while the Day of Atonement reminds us that when Jesus Returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords he will also be coming as Judge of the living and the dead. The Signs of the Times — especially the Super Sign, Israel — declare that his Return is rapidly approaching. As C. S. Lewis wrote, “Aslan is on the move!” Will you be ready for the Return of the King? Getting ready is what the Ten Days of Awe, the Sabbath of Return, and the Day of Atonement are all about!
The Day of Atonement begins Sunday evening, September 27th. We will have Evening Prayer for the Day of Atonement on Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. There will be no morning Service this Sunday.
Evening Prayer will include some enrichments from the Book of Common Prayer. The Decalogue and Summary of the Law will be recited as an examination of conscience, and the General Confession and absolution from the Prayer Book which was not included in The English Office Noted has been restored. The Psalms will be the seven traditional penitential psalms. The Scripture readings will be the ancient lections for this annual Holy Day: Leviticus 16:1-34 and Isaiah 57:14-58:14.
The Day of Atonement is also the Biblical “All Souls Day.” We will light a memorial candle and there will be prayer for our departed loved ones and friends after a short period of recollection. You will want to bring the names of the departed so you can remember them at this important Service.
The Day of Atonement is also a strict fast day. In fact, while fasting should be common and Wednesday and Friday fasting has been customary since the first century (see the Didache), the only regular strict fast day commanded in the Bible is the Day of Atonement. The Fast for the Day of Atonement is a fast from food, drink, marital relations and anything that would distract from the solemnity of the day. The Fast begins at Sundown on Sunday evening and lasts until Sundown on Monday.
Do not undertake this fast in its full rigor (or at all) if it would be unhealthy for you. Do not harm yourself fasting, that is not what fasting is about. Take all of your medications with water, and if necessary food. Listen to your health care provider. Millions of our Jewish brethren keep this fast every year, as did the early christians as well as tens of thousands of Christians today, but it is new to most Christians. Can’t keep a 24 hour fast? Do what you can. Perhaps try fasting from the beginning of Services Sunday evening until you awaken on Monday. Then, see if you can go a little longer. Do what you can, but make a start.
Our Jewish brethren will participate in five separate services on the Day of Atonement, and will read the entire Book of Jonah on Monday. They will be almost constantly in worship all day Monday, as well as Sunday evening. We have only begun to keep the Feasts of the LORD, and the only Service for the Day of Atonement at Holy Cross this year will be Sunday evening. The Scripture lessons which normally would be read, and the memorial of the departed, which would normally take place on Monday will be incorporated into our Evening Prayer (Ma’ariv/Vespers) Service Sunday evening. However, everyone is encouraged to sit down and read the entire Book of Jonah on the Day of Atonement — it’s only four chapters!
If you are a friend of Holy Cross, but do not live in our area and would like to pray Evening Prayer at home on Sunday evening, you can email us and ask for a copy of our Day of Atonement Evening Prayer Service. We would be happy to email it to you. Write me at:
Remember, the Day of Atonement begins Sunday evening, September 27th. We will have Evening Prayer for the Day of Atonement on Sunday evening at 6:00 PM. There will be no morning Service this Sunday.
WEBSITE MAKEOVER!
A big thank you to Cheri who has given our parish website a thorough makeover. The text is all fresh and new, and there are many new photographs. Cheri spent late nights everyday this week working on the website, but she did a great job.
The Holy Cross website is fresh, informative and user friendly. The site links to our parish Facebook page, my blog, KCRO Radio where people can listen live to our twice weekly radio broadcast, and to our archived radio broadcasts.
I hope that you will check out our website and share the link with family and friends. Why not use social media to spread the word? Here is the link:
THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED RADIO BROADCAST — Now Twice weekly!
Join my co-host Michael C and I for The Faith Once Delivered radio broadcast on Saturday morning at 9:30 AM (Central Time) and Sunday evening at 9:30 PM (Central Time), on KCRO Radio 660 AM in Omaha, and 106.7 FM in Lincoln. KCRO is Nebraska’s premier Christian radio station and can reach 1.3 million listeners in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Tomorrow’s broadcast will be our 52nd weekly episode! Can you believe it? We will complete our first year of broadcasting with tomorrow’s show! This week we will be reviewing a year of broadcasting, and continuing our study of the Kingdom of God. Don’t miss it!
Not only have we completed a year on the air, but we have doubled our air time. We have now begun broadcasting twice a week! God has been very good to us, and we are truly thankful. Next week we will begin our second year on the radio. To God be the glory great things He has done!
Not in eastern Nebraska or western Iowa? No problem!
You can listen to The Faith Once Delivered radio broadcast via the Internet from anywhere in the world. Just go to the KCRO Radio website at air time and click Listen Live. Here is the link:
The Faith Once Delivered is the weekly 30 minute radio teaching ministry of Holy Cross parish. Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, teach the faith which was once delivered in the first century (Jude 3), and to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. You will not want to miss this popular and informative full message broadcast.
THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED — PODCASTS
In addition to the live broadcast every Saturday morning at 9:30 AM and Sunday evening at 9:30 PM on KCRO Radio 660 AM in Omaha and 106.7 FM in Lincoln, each episode of The Faith Once Delivered is archived and can be listened to anytime as a Podcast. You can access the Podcasts here:
https://thefaithoncedelivered.podomatic.com
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
New posts are made on the Holy Cross Parish Facebook page regularly. We hope that you will visit our Facebook page and check back with it often. Better yet, visit our Facebook page and become a Follower. That way you will not miss a single post.
You can access the Holy Cross Parish Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Cross-Parish-362370402748
EVERYONE IS INVITED AND VISITORS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!
Holy Cross is a teaching congregation. We take Bible study seriously and are a congregation of intentional disciples. Where else can you find such constant, and in-depth teaching from the pulpit, over the airwaves, on social media, in print, and by email? Believe me, it is very rare. Holy Cross is very special!
If you want to be fed with spiritual food rather than milk, and want to grow in grace, in your understanding of the Holy Scriptures, in your Faith in God, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Messiah — then Holy Cross is the congregation you have been looking for.
Our mission is to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, teach “the faith which was once delivered” (Jude 3) in the first century, and prepare a people for the Coming of the Lord. We have much to learn and some things to unlearn. Come and learn with us!
I hope that you will accept my personal invitation to join us this Sunday evening at 6:00 PM for Evening Prayer on the Day of Atonement. There will be no Sunday morning Service this week.
We are a faithful and friendly congregation, and we have a place for you. I hope to see you on Sunday evening!
HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX CHURCH
7545 Main Street
Ralston, Nebraska 68127
(402) 573-6558
