10 Oct 2008 – SUCCOTH (3rd Hag)

A 7-Day festival recalling the 40 years of Wandering in the Wilderness, when God miraculously provided for Israel as they travelled and dwelt in Succoth, referring to portable booths or tents.

It concludes on Hoshana Rabbah, “Great Hosanna” (save now) and is followed by 2 special days, seen as one long day.

18 October 2008 – FEAST OF TABERNACLES

Succoth is also known as the Feast of Ingathering of the harvest. The “Blessing of the Lulah” is performed and the Book of Ecclesiastes is read on Succoth Sabbath. It is the third Hag, or pilgrim festival.

The two special days of Shemini Atzereth and Simchath Torah are combined today in Israel. On this last great day, the annual cycle of Torah readings end and begin again. The scriptures are removed from the Ark and the people dance with great joy while embracing the Torah Scrolls.

Zeman Simhatenu is the rabbinic name for Succoth and means “The Season of our Joy.”

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www.biblicalholidays.com - tabernacles

http://www.thewatchman.org/en/sukkot.php - Do five things :

1. Build a Tabernacle – ‘Sukkah’ – Hebrews 11
2. Teach About the Second Coming – 2 Peter 1:16
3. Feast of Joy and Praise – Philippians 4:4
4. Bless Israel – Romans 11:15, 31
5. Harvest Celebration – Lev 23:39

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_Tabernacles 

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm - joyful, unity and joy; Leviticus 23:33ff.

http://www.jewishrecipes.org/judaism/sukkot.html - food!

You may print page and post with cheque (payable to DK Fullerton) to:

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Solemn Assembly

  C/- 128 Peacocks Road

 Hamilton 3206 

 OR

You may e-mail completed registration form and pay on entry.

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Registration  Form
for Solemn Assembly 10-12 October 2008

Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Town / City : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Phone : ……………………………………………………………………… 

Mob : …………………………………………………………………………

E mail : ………………………………………………………………………..

Church : ………………………………………………………………………

Cost  (circle one) :   $25 single  :   $40 couple  :   $20 one day

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email registration form to:  click

In my dream I was helping to set up a garden.  As there were insufficient plants to fill the area, I took some of my own and planted those to fill the gap. 

I observed the garden full of flowers, and then I wanted to establish another garden, so I began to thin out the established plants (these were spring flowers) to take and plant in the new garden. 

This raised some objection, but a man (a retired pastor) stepped forth and said “She is quite within her rights because she has previously sown into this garden.  Therefore let her take from this bed so she can she can establish another garden.”

- Carol A

Garden Dream Interpretation

At the time of this dream, it was impressed upon me that the garden represented the Solemn Assembly I had just attended in Wellington, and that in transplanting the bulbs, we were to establish another Solemn Assembly in Hamilton.

My prayer partner Robyn has been training for some time in the area of dream interpretation, and when she heard of the dream; she shed further light upon it. The fact that someone spoke directly to me is, she says, to be taken literally, and not symbolically. Secondly it was a leader of the church, so he had authority to speak into the situation.

One morning at Sue’s prayer group, I began to get the words ‘Blow the Trumpet in Zion’, ‘Blow the Trumpet in Zion’. This is also part of the Joel chapter two call for a solemn assembly, I later discovered.

While praying later that week with my prayer partner, I asked the Lord for more specific direction, and I got ‘January’, and ‘prayer retreat’. At this stage I felt we were on the right track, and then shared this at a meeting with those who also attended the Wellington Assembly. We subsequently meet to seek the Lord for direction whether to hold a Solemn Assembly in our region. After the weekend of prayer and fasting, we unanimously agreed that He was calling us to do so.

Initially we met as a team monthly, while I continued to pray about it weekly with Robyn. This is not something any of us set out to initiate, rather it has been step by step obedience to the Lord’s leading. Although I agreed to coordinate the prayer meetings, it has been a corporate team effort, each one responding to the call of the Lord to use their talents and gifts to see His will fulfilled for the betterment of our loved ones, our churches, city and nation.

Is God calling you to join with us,
and partner with Him to see true revival in our land?

• The First Solemn Assembly - Mt Sinai – Exodus ch. 19
• Solemn Assembly Call – Joel ch. 2 especially v 12-19 

It is interesting to read it in its context observing what precedes the grain, wine and oil – a Solemn Assembly              

“Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,

Let the priests, Who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar; let them say,
Spare Your people, O Lord……….”

Joel 2:15-17

Fasting is recommended, although not compulsory.

There are many types of fasts (see articles below) and some people cannot fast for medical reasons.

Do not fast if you are : pregnant or nursing; malnourished; Type 1 diabetic; taking medications; have heart conditions; recovering from surgery; frail elderly.

Feel free to bring food/juice if you need it, but be sensitive to those who are fasting.

A “Hebrew” fast is from after dinner one day until dinner the next day.

A “Daniel” fast (Daniel 10:2-3) is fruit, vegetables only, no seasonings, savoury food or sweets, but could include nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

Side effects could include: headache, stomach ache, coated tongue, tiredness, or moodiness. There may be opposition eg. from family, Satan. Pray for grace, healing, whatever you need. Press in to God, resist the devil – and your flesh – and continue fasting.

Tea, coffee, milo, and water will be available on the day.

Further reading :

http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/fasting/index.htm - includes types, reasons, who, precautions, preparation

The prophet Isaiah writes: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
- Isaiah 58:6

http://www.ccci.org/growth/growing-closer-to-god/how-to-fast/index.aspx - How to Fast by Bill Bright

… I am convinced that when God’s people fast with a proper Biblical motive-seeking God’s face not His hand-with a broken, repentant, and contrite spirit, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our churches, our communities, our nation and world. Fasting and prayer can bring about revival – a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of earth and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. …

http://www.kencollins.com/pray-02.htm

 … How many of us fast, as Jesus fasted, as an adjunct to prayer? Jesus never ran a homeless shelter. He never picketed for new legislation. He didn’t start study groups on end-time events. But He prayed all night on the mountain, and once He fasted for forty days. Are we truly imitating Christ, or are we rationalizing our behavior? …

… Orthodox Christians recognize five levels of fasting:

• Abstaining from meat
• Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, and cheese
• Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, and fish
• Abstaining from meat, eggs, milk, butter, cheese, fish, oil, and wine
• Abstaining from all foods and beverages except bread, water, juices, honey, and nuts.

Welcome to our website for the Solemn Assembly in Hamilton, NZ..

Venue: