Happy Rosh Hashana

Tonight at sunset begins Rosh Hashana, the anniversary of the first day of Creation Week, and the birthday of Jesus Christ. This is the anniversary of the day that the “Word,” who was in the beginning with God and through whom all things were made, “became flesh and dwelled among us,” appeared in the creation through the Virgin birth. The data for calculating Jesus’ birthday is given in Revelation 12. The woman (Virgo) clothed with the sun and the moon beneath her feet, brought forth the “Man-child” who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron (Psalm 2). This sign occurs only one day every year on Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year), known in Leviticus 23 as the Feast of Blowing of Trumpets. In the year of Jesus’ birth (4BC) this sign occurred on Sept. 22 (on the new moon between Sept. 5 and Oct. 5).

As I type this, Diane is busy decorating for our celebration tonight. We have been without power for over a week due to extensive damage from Helene, with no end in sight. Our property had some significant damage, lots of trees down. Yet we are the fortunate ones, with a lot to be thankful for, including a working generator. While we are celebrating and turning our thoughts towards the significance of this night, let’s remember in our prayers all those whose lives have been devasted by the storm and are suffering and in desperate need, and help wherever we can. The rest we must leave in the hands of our merciful God.