Messianic Synagoges (is that how you spell it?)

[mjterry87]

I currently go to a Church of Christ, and I was wondering what happens at a messianic synagog. Do you recieve communion? What do you do there?

[Talmidah]

I'm sure you'll receive many widely varying answers to this question. I wonder if there is such thing as a 'typical' messianic service. I can let you know what the one I used to attend was like.

The shofar would be sounded to start the service, a prayer would be said, then music and dancing would begin. The worship part would last about 1/2 hour-45 minutes. Then some sections of the traditional Hebrew prayers would be said and there would be a Torah service. The Torah was taken out of the Ark and there would be a procession around the room. Someone would go up to read from the Torah, and the new testament. The Torah was returned to the Ark and the children would be dismissed to shabbat school. The 'congregation leader' would give a sermon, then the service would conclude with more music and dancing. After the service there was sometimes some food and then a time of study for those who wanted to, using materials by First Fruits of Zion.

'Communion' was not received there, although I have heard of messianic congregations which do include communion.

[simchat_torah]

There are as many types of messianic congregations as there are colors of the rainbow.

[Henaynei]

There are as many types of messianic congregations as there are colors of the rainbow.
Yafet's standard (and true and wise) answer ;)

[P_G]

The congregation at Nehemiah Center
Follows basically the same as Talmidah outlinded
save we do not procession the Torah scrolls as
we simply do not have them.

We do however always read the law before the word.
And we have no children for shabbat school.

And I am really bad at Shofar blowing basically only getting 1 good note! :D


Blessings

Pastor George

[rooster]

It will be interesting to visit a messianic congregation.

My church sometimes have shofars blowing and magen davids flying when we gather to pray for isreal. But to visit a synagogue would be something else.

[HappyDave]

I think the general consensus amongst messianic Jews is that communion is something invented by the church and is a distortion of the traditional Jewish practices (seder/kiddush etc) described in the Bible. Hence they don't have it in their gatherings.

[Henaynei]

As a member of the Messianic Jewish community - I can tell you, just as simchat_torah said, the practices within the Messianic Jewish community is is varies as the colors of the rainbow. From very "church-y" congregations whose only distinctive toward Messianic practice is some songs in Hebrew and "David" dance (but otherwise continue to allow and even encourage and promote most of the standard church traditions) all the way to Messianic Jewish congregations that are essentially indistinguishable from Orthodox Judaism except for the inclusion and aknowledgement of Yeshua in their services and practice. I personally have been in Messianic congregations that DID practice "communion" monthly - in spite of strong feelings among some of the members that it was inappropiate and I have been in other congregations (and in our own home) where the event is remembered only at the Passover seder - and at the point in the seder where Yeshua taught (so we believe) us to remember it.

Do be cautious making blanket statements about Messianic belief - you will certainly be wrong about a sizable portion of the Messianic Community ;)

[mjterry87]

Thanks for the info. It kind of sounds like a church, (but only the without Pegan influences :clap: .)

[Sephania]

Oh, you can be sure some of that "stuff" transferred over. ;)

[Henaynei]

where there are humans there are pagan influences

perhaps, G-d willing, in the MJ movement at large there are fewer......