When I first visited First Church last year, I was intrigued by the ram’s horn blown at the first of every service. I didn’t know it was called a “shofar” or the history behind it. I’m glad Laura places information about it every week in the worship folder for our guests. I’m sure it startles some and raises questions for others, as it did for me.

I realize that First Church is a wonderfully unique place in many ways (history, location, people, etc.)! The blowing of the shofar is one of those distinctives of First Church. I’ve never seen that done in another United Methodist Church. What I’ve come to learn is that there is a rich history here of support for Israel as well. Now that I’ve had the privilege of traveling to Israel, I understand that valuable connection even more!

In our recent daily Bible readings, I discovered these verses about Israel:

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel – the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people who you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord, have become their God.”  II Samuel 7:22-24

God gave Israel their land and they are His chosen people. We’ve been grafted into His body as well through Jesus. Israel is important to us at First Church for several reasons. Our former Senior Pastor Nick Harris led many trips there, our First Church Choir has sang there several times including the last time a guest choir sung in Manger Square in Bethlehem in 1990, right before the first Gulf War. Our own Terri Morton leads the music for The Feast of Tabernacles each fall in Jerusalem and Kirk Norman and Laura Alfonzo have sung at The Feast as well. We support our own missionary Chuck King and his family in Israel where he works with ICEJ (International Christian Embassy –Jerusalem) as their Worship Director. I now “fly” the flag of Israel in my office!

I want to encourage you to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for this “new” nation celebrating it’s 60th birthday this year. We have a great opportunity to support Israel right here in OKC at A Night to Honor Israel on Sunday evening June 29 at Crossroads Church at 89th and South Shields. Chuck King will be involved and Terri and members of our choir will be joining others in bringing the worship music. Pastor John Hagee is the guest preacher and founder of Christians United for Israel too. It will be great! Shalom.

See you this Sunday! I can almost hear the shofar sounding now!

Yours in Christ,
Mark