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December will come. Are you ready for the session? Come on, get all the Christmas song lyrics now! Get the audio files for free. MP3, Midi, WMA, Audio, MPG, and more. Get all about Christmas here: Beritanatal.

Christmas Story - The Night Before Christmas

by Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

Don Moen - I Will Sing

How touchfull this comment:
"i really like this song... every time i open my computer i didn't forgot to log in this site just bcoz of the songs by DON MOEN.. wish we can sing like them on the chapel but we have not instrument like them no electricity in chapel..
I LOVE TO BE A BORN AGAIN A DAUGHTER OF CHRIST.... I LOVE YOU LORD"

- taken from youtube

Song Lyrics: Father Of Heaven

Father of Heaven, Whose love profound
A ransom for our souls hath found,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
To us Thy pardoning love extend.

Almighty Son, Incarnate Word,
Our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
To us Thy saving grace extend.

Eternal Spirit, by Whose breath
The soul is raised from sin and death,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
To us Thy quickening power extend.

Jehovah - Father, Spirit, Son -
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One,
Before Thy throne we sinners bend;
Grace, pardon, life to us extend.

Christian Articles: Pentecost History

History

Pentecostalism began among poor and disadvantaged people in the USA at the start of the Twentieth century.

Roots

Although the movement is a modern one (its foundation is usually taken to be the American Azusa Street revival in the first decade of the 20th century), its roots go back to the 18th century Wesleyan Holiness tradition, the 19th century Holiness movement and the late-Victorian Keswick Higher Life movement.

The Wesleyan Holiness movement was a reaction against the formality and ritualism of the traditional Christian churches of the time. It taught that Christians needed to be transformed by a personal experience of the truth of Christ which they could only get through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Members of this Methodist tradition experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit (which was given that name in 1771 by John Fletcher). Baptism in the Spirit was an important feature of all the Holiness churches.

The difference between these earlier traditions and the Pentecostal movement was, on the surface, speaking in tongues as a physical sign of baptism in the Spirit. The theological conflict underlying this was that members of the Holiness tradition believed that the Pentecost story did not need to be interpreted absolutely literally in modern times, while the early Pentecostals were committed to seeing baptism in the Spirit as an absolute re-enactment of the day of Pentecost.

Early twentieth century

Modern Pentecostalism began on January 1, 1901, when Agnes Ozman, a student at Charles F. Parham's Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, spoke in tongues (actually, the story is that she spoke in "Chinese", and did not speak English again for several days). On January 3, Parham and a dozen other students also spoke in tongues.

Parham and his followers later moved to Texas and began a spiritual revival in 1905.

This was followed by what became known as the Asuza Street revival, centered on the Apostolic Faith Gospel Mission in Azusa Street, Los Angeles, led by the African-American preacher William Joseph Seymour, who had studied with Parham.

In 1906 Seymour preached that God would "send a new Pentecost" if people prayed for one, and was rewarded when he and his congregation began speaking in tongues.

This event, greatly helped by apocalyptic thoughts prompted by the San Francisco Earthquake which happened soon after, sparked a powerful religious revival driven by the three doctrines of salvation, sanctification and baptism in the Spirit, and in which the gifts of the Spirit were seen on a large scale. Over 13,000 people are said to have spoken in tongues in the first year.

At first the Pentecostal ideas flourished in individual church groups across North America, and it was not until 1914 that the first Pentecostal denomination, the Church of God in Christ, was founded.

The first Pentecostal church in the UK was founded by William Oliver Hutchinson in 1908 at the Emmanuel Mission Hall, Bournemouth. It became the headquarters of a network of Pentecostal churches which became known as the Apostolic Faith Church.

Another early European Pentecostal denomination was the Elim Pentecostal Church, which was founded in 1915 in Ireland by a Welshman, George Jeffreys.

source: bbc. co. uk

Christian Articles: Pentecost in Scripture

The story of Pentecost is told in the Bible, in the Book of Acts of the Apostles chapter 2.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

"These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'
Acts 2:14-21

Peter was quoting this prophecy in the Old Testament Book of Joel, which he claimed was being fulfilled at Pentecost:

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Joel 2:28-29

teken from: bbc .co .uk

Christian Articles: The Church Year Pentecost

by: Dennis Bratcher

In many churches, the season leading up to Pentecost Sunday is one of the most neglected of the church calendar. Even in less liturgical churches that are beginning to place more emphasis on observing the church calendar, the momentum to carry observation of the church year through Pentecost (Whitsunday in some traditions) and Trinity Sunday (the first Sunday after Pentecost Sunday) seems to be lacking.

No doubt there are a variety of reasons for this neglect. There is the simple practical fact that after five months or more of concerted effort invested in special emphases and activities from Advent to Epiphany to Lent to Easter, both ministers and parishioners may simply be mentally and emotionally exhausted. After the intensity of Lent and Holy Week there is a certain psychological "let down" after Easter.

Also, there is caution in some church traditions concerning "Pentecostal" theology and styles of worship. The association of "Pentecostal" with sometimes more radical elements of the charismatic movement continues to foster suspicion, in spite of several church traditions who carry the name "Pentecostal" that are far from "radical." This caution sometimes leads to downplaying the role of Pentecost in the church year.

The general misgivings toward liturgy in more evangelical churches has also led to a neglect of the more formal aspects of the church calendar. While that is rapidly changing, that change has begun with the more visible seasons of Christmas and Easter and has not yet expanded to include Pentecost. In the same vein, the more open style of worship that has tended to dominate some church traditions likewise has not lent itself to observe seasons of the church year such as Pentecost.

This has often led to a general lack of theological and pastoral understanding about how to articulate theology in symbols of sacred time and sacred place, as well as in visual symbols. This likewise has left many people wondering what to do with parts of the church year like Pentecost. Whatever the reason for its neglect, such sacred times have value for the worshipping community and provide, not only opportunities to instruct in theology, but also new and varied opportunities for spiritual renewal, nurture, and growth.

Pentecost was originally an Old Testament festival, since the time of Josephus calculated as beginning on the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover. In the Christian calendar, it falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. It was called the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), and in the Old Testament was originally an agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early spring harvest (Lev 23, Exod 23, 34).

By the early New Testament period, it had gradually lost its association with agriculture and became associated with the celebration of God’s creation of His people and their religious history. By the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the festival focused exclusively on God’s gracious gift of Torah (the "Law") on Mount Sinai. It continues to be celebrated in this manner in modern Judaism.

While there are other references to Pentecost in the New Testament (e.g. 1 Cor 16:8), it is most significant in Acts 2 and the familiar scene of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those in the "upper room." The New Testament writers associate the events of Acts 2 with Pentecost, and relate it to the prophecies of Joel 2 and promises of Jesus (Acts 1:8). In both, the emphasis is on a empowerment through the Holy Spirit to enable the people of God to witness to Jesus the Christ.

There is much debate in some circles about exactly what happened at Pentecost, whether it is a repeatable event or only for the early church, or whether it should or should not become a paradigm for personal religious experience. Those who advocate it as a paradigm are sometimes termed Pentecostals, although that term usually refers more specifically to church traditions who advocate speaking in "tongues" or a special Spirit-inspired prayer or praise language.

In any case, what seems clear is that Pentecost represents God’s gracious, enabling presence actively at work among His people, calling and enabling them to live out in dynamic ways the witness of being His people. Perhaps at this point there is direct contact with the Pentecost of Judaism, for in Judaism the Torah, God’s instruction to His people, is the means by which they become His witness to the world.

The word “pentecost” means “fiftieth day.” In most Christian traditions, Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days following Easter Sunday (counting Easter Sunday since it is the first day of the week). Those 50 days span seven Sundays after Easter, so Pentecost is the seventh Sunday after Easter (7 weeks times 7 days = 49 days, plus Pentecost Sunday). Since Easter is a “movable feast,” meaning that it occurs on different days in different years (it is tied to the lunar cycle while the calendar is solar based), Pentecost is also moveable. It can occur as early as May 10 and as late as June 13 (see The Church Year for current dates). Some Christian traditions, Eastern Orthodox for example, use a different religious calendar and so have different dates for much of the Christian Year.

The sanctuary color for Pentecost Sunday is red, the color of the church. Technically, red is used only for the Sunday of Pentecost, although some churches use red for the Sundays between Easter and Pentecost Sunday. The red symbolizes both the fire of Pentecost as well as the apostles and early followers of Jesus who were gathered in the Upper Room for the empowerment from God to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.

For Christians, Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate hope, a hope evoked by the knowledge that God through His Holy Spirit is at work among His people. It is a celebration of newness, of recreation, of renewal of purpose, mission, and calling as God’s people. It is a celebration of God’s ongoing work in the world. Yet, it is also a recognition that His work is done through His people as He pours out His presence upon them.

The Old Testament Lectionary reading for Pentecost Sunday from Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezek 37:1-14) dramatically illustrates this sense of newness and renewal of mission. The reading from Isaiah 44:1-8 also connects renewal with the "breathing" of God in beautiful imagery of "streams in the desert" and the recreation of His exiled people. The reading from Genesis 11:1-9 (see Commentary on Gen 11:1-9) emphasizes the restoration of community and unity of purpose that had been disrupted by sin and selfish ambition. The Psalm reading (104:24-34) is also in creation language that speaks of newness and renewal. The New Testament readings include Acts 2, as well as John 14:8-17, 16:5-15, 20:19-23, all of which carry through this theme of God enabled mission in the world. The Epistle reading from 1 Corinthians 12:3-13 emphasizes the gifts of the Spirit that enable God’s work in the world.

This focus on the church’s mission to the world, and the enabling presence of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in the church to empower that mission should provide a powerful impetus for churches, especially those in the evangelical traditions, to recover this season of the church year. There is tremendous opportunity to use this sacred time to call people to renewal though the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

taken from: crivoice .org

Hymns song at Pentecost

• Come down O Love Divine
• Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire
• Breathe on me breath of God
• O Breath of Life, come sweeping through us
• There's a spirit in the air
• Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me

Christian Articles: Pentecost

By : Kaufmann Kohler J. L. Magnus Executive Committee of the Editorial Board. Judah David Eisenstein

Name given by the Greek-speaking Jews to the festival which occurred fifty days (? ??????????, sc. ????? = "H.ag H.amishshim Yom"; comp. Lev. xxiii. 16) after the offering of the barley sheaf during the Passover feast (Tobit ii. 1; II Macc. xii. 32; Josephus, "Ant." iii. 10, § 6; I Cor. xvi. 8; Philo, "De Septenario," §21). The Feast of the Fiftieth Day has been a many-sided one (comp. Book of Jubilees, vi. 21: "This feast is twofold and of a double nature"), and as a consequence has been called by many names. In the Old Testament it is called the "Feast of Harvest" ("H.ag ha-K.az.ir"; Ex. xxiii. 16) and the "Feast of Weeks" ("H.ag Shabu'ot"; ib. xxxiv. 22; Deut. xvi. 10; II Chron. viii. 13; Aramaic, "H.agga di-Shebu'aya," Men. 65a; Greek, ????? ?????????), also the "Day of the First-Fruits" ("Yom ha-Bikkurim"; Num. xxviii. 26; ????? ??? ????, LXX.). In the later literature it was called also the "closing festival" ("'az.eret"; H.ag. ii. 4; Aramaic, "'az.arta"; Pes. 42b; Greek, ?????? Josephus, l.c.). It is called, too, the "closing season of the Passover" ("'az.eret shel Pesah."; Pesik.. xxx. 193) to distinguish it from the seventh day of Passover and from the closing day of the Feast of Tabernacles, i.e., the end of the fruit harvest (Lev. xxiii. 36; Num. xxix. 35; Deut. xvi. 8).

Connection with Harvest.
In Palestine the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of gladness (Jer. v. 24; Deut. xvi. 9; Isa. ix. 2). It began with the harvesting of the barley (Men. 65-66) during the Passover and ended with the harvesting of the wheat at Pentecost, the wheat being the last cereal to ripen. Pentecost was thus the concluding festival of the grain harvest, just as the eighth day of Tabernacles was the concluding festival of the fruit harvest (comp. Pesik.. xxx. 193). According to Ex. xxxiv. 18-26 (comp. ib. xxiii. 10-17), the Feast of Weeks is the second of the three festivals to be celebrated by the altar dance of all males at the sanctuary. They are to bring to the sanctuary "the first-fruits of wheat harvest," "the first-fruits of thy labors which thou hast sown in the field." These are not offerings definitely prescribed for the community; "but with a tribute of a free-will offering of thine hand . . . shalt thou [the individual] rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou and thy son and thy daughter, . . . the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow" (Deut. xvi. 9-12). In Lev. xxiii. 15-22, however, there is a regularly appointed first-fruit offering which the whole community must bring. It consists of two first-fruit loaves ("leh.em ha-bikkurim") of new meal, of two-tenths of an ephah, baked with leaven. The loaves were to be waved; hence the name "wave-loaves" ("leh.em tenufah"). Furthermore, various animal sacrifices were enjoined, and no work was permitted. In Num. xxviii. 26-31 the main pentecostal offering is one of new meal ("minh.ah h.adashah"). There is also a list of grain and animal offerings differing somewhat from that in Lev.xxiii.15-22. These offerings are to be made in addition to the fixed daily offering. In Men. iv. 5, x. 4 the list of Leviticus is referred to the sacrifices directly connected with the loaves, and the Numbers list is referred to the sacrifices for Pentecost considered as a special festival; the one was designated for the journeyings in the desert; the other was added after the Israelites had entered the promised land. The concluding festival of the harvest weeks was largely attended (Josephus, l.c. xvii. 10, § 2; idem, "B. J." ii., iii. 1; Acts ii. 5).K. J. L. M.

—In Rabbinical Literature:

The festival is known in Mishnah and Talmud as "'Az.eret" ( or ), excepting in Megillah Ta'anit i., where (= "the Feast of Weeks") occurs, which is explained as meaning "'Az.eret." "'Az.eret" is usually translated a "solemn assembly," meaning the congregation at the pilgrimage festivals. The name is applied also to Passover (Deut. xvi. 8) and to Sukkot (Lev. xxiii. 36). Ibn Ezra thinks "'Az.eret" denotes a holy day, a day of rest and cessation from work (comp. = "detained," I Sam. xxi. 7). In post-Talmudic and geonic literature the Biblicalname "Shabu'ot" was resumed. Pentecost falls on the 6th of Siwan and never occurs on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. Outside of Palestine the Orthodox Jews have since the exilic period celebrated the following day also, as "the second day of Shabu'ot." Pentecost is the fiftieth day of 'Omer, beginning from the second day of Passover. During the existence of the Temple the first-fruits were offered as well as a sacrifice of two loaves of bread from the new harvest, etc. (Lev. xxiii. 15-21).

"The Morrow After Sabbath."
Regarding the Biblical commandment to offer the 'omer "on the morrow after the Sabbath" = (ib. verse 11), the Rabbis maintained that "Sabbath" here means simply a day of rest and refers to Passover. The Sadducees (Boethusians) disputed this interpretation, contending that "Sabbath" meant "Saturday." Accordingly they would transfer the count of "seven weeks" from the morrow of the first Saturday in Passover, so that Pentecost would always fall on Sunday. The Boethusians advanced the argument "because Moses, as a friend of the Israelites, wished to give them an extended holy day by annexing Pentecost to the Sabbath." Johanan then turned to his disciples and pointed out that the Law purposely fixed the interval of fifty days in order to explain that the seven weeks, nominally, do not necessarily begin from Sunday (Men. 65a, b). See also Pharisees.Some claim that this controversy was the reason for the substitution by the Talmudists of "'Az.eret" for "Shabu'ot" or "Weeks," on which the Sadducees, and later the Karaites in the geonic period, based their adverse contention. Another reason might be to avoid confusion with "shebu'ot" = "oaths." The Septuagint translation ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ("on the morrow of the first day") confirms the rabbinical interpretation. Onk.elos paraphrases "mi-batar yoma t.aba" (="from after the holy day"). The Karaites accepted the Sadducees' view. They claim to have advanced "lion" (powerful) arguments at the time of Anan (840). In this discussion, they say, Anan sacrificed his life("Apiryon 'Asah Lo," ed. Neubauer, § 6, p. 11, Leipsic, 1866). Ibn Ezra (ad loc.) argues against the contention of the Karaites and claims that as all other holy days have fixed days in the month, it would be unreasonable to suppose that Pentecost depended on a certain day of the week. The original contention of the Sadducees was one of the reasons for fixing the Christian Passover on Sunday, in the year 325 (Pineles, "Darkeh shel Torah," p. 212, Vienna, 1861).

The Cabalists and Pentecost.
The traditional festival of Pentecost as the birthday of the Torah ( = "the time our Law was given"), when Israel became a constitutional body and "a distinguished people," remained the sole celebration after the Exile. The Shabu'ot prayers and Mah.zor have references to this and particularly to the precepts deduced from the Pentateuch. The cabalists arranged a special "tik.k.un" for Pentecost eve, consisting of excerpts from the beginning and end of every book of the Bible and Mishnah, which abridgment they considered tantamount to the reading of the complete works, and accepted as the approval of the Law. Apparently the custom of studying the Law all night of Pentecost is old (Zohar, Emor, 98a); but there is no record of the practise prior to the Safed cabalists headed by Isaac Luria in the sixteenth century. The custom has since been observed in the eastern states of Europe, and particularly in the Orient.

Tik.k.un Lel Shabu'ot.
The reading occupies the pious till morning; others finish it at midnight. The collection is called "Tik.k.un Lel Shabu'ot" (="Preparation for Pentecost Eve"; comp. the "Tik.k.un Lel Hosha'na Rabbah" for Tabernacles). The Pentateuch reading contains three to seven verses from the beginning and the end of every "parashah" ("sidra"). Some of the important sections are read in full, as follows: the days of Creation (Gen. i. 1-ii. 3); the Exodus and the song at the Red Sea (Ex. xiv. 1-xv. 27); the giving of the Decalogue on Mount Sinai (ib. xviii. 1-xx. 26, xxiv. 1-18, xxxiv. 27-35; Deut. v. 1-vi. 9); the historical review and part of "Shema'" (ib. x. 12-xi. 25). The same method is used with the excerpts from the Prophets: the important ch. i. of Ezekiel (the "Merkabah") is read in full. The Minor Prophets are considered as one book: the excerpts are from Hos. i.1-3, Hab. ii. 20-iii. 19, and Mal. iii. 22-24 (A. V. iv. 4-6). Ruth is read in full; and of the Psalms, Ps. i., xix., lxviii., cxix., cl. The order of the twenty-four books of the Scriptures is different from the accepted one: probably it is an ancient order, as follows: (Torah) Five Books of Moses; (Prophets) Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel; (Minor Prophets) [Hagiographa] Ruth, Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Daniel, Esther, Chronicles, Ezra = 24 books. Next, the excerpts from mishnayyot are read, the beginning and end of every treatise, in all sixty-three, with some important chapters in extenso; next, the "Sefer Yez.irah"; the 613 precepts as enumerated by Maimonides (see Commandments, The 613). Later, excerpts from the Zohar bearing on the subject were added, with opening and concluding prayers. The whole reading is divided into thirteen parts, after each of which a "K.addish di-Rabbanan" is recited.The Zohar calls the time between Passover and Pentecost the "courting days of the bridegroom Israel with the bride Torah." Those who participate in the tik.k.un celebration are the Temple-men = " of the King [God]." The Zohar has two epigrams on Pentecost: (1) "In the twin month [zodiac sign of Gemini] the twin Law [written and oral] was given to the children of twin Israel [Jacob and Esau]." (2) "In the third month [Siwan] the treble Law [Pentateuch, Prophets, and Hagiographa] was given to the third [best] people" (Zohar, Yitro, 78b).Because the Law was given on Pentecost, the Rabbis wished to make that day the most enjoyable holy day. R. Joseph ordered a third (best) calf for the festival, saying: "Were it not for this day how many Josephs would there be in the street!" ("without the Law there would be no distinction of scholarship," Pes. 68b). A popular custom on Pentecost is to eat dairy foods and cheese-cakes in honor of the Law, which is likened to "honey and milk" (Cant.iv. 11). The meat meal follows the milk meal. These two meals represent the two loaves of bread, formerly offered in the "bikkurim" offering at the Temple service.In the synagogue the scroll of Ruth is read because the story of Ruth embracing Judaism and the description of the scene of harvesting are appropriate to the festival of the Law and of the harvest. Another reason given is that King David, a descendant of Ruth, died on Pentecost ("Sha'are Teshubah" to Orah. H.ayyim, 494).

Floral Decorations and Confirmation.
The custom widely prevails of displaying greens on the floors and of otherwise decorating the home and the synagogue with plants, flowers, and even with trees. The greens serve to remind one of the green mountain of Sinai; the trees, of the judgment day for fruit-trees on Pentecost (R. H. i. 2); they also commemorate the harvest festival of former times.The rite of confirmation for Jewish girls in the synagogue on Pentecost was introduced by the Reform party. This festival was selected because it was the birthday of Judaism. The story of Ruth's recognition of the Jewish religion gives color to the exercise (see Confirmation).The exact day on which the Law was given is, however, in dispute. The Rabbis say it was the 6th of Siwan; according to R. Jose it was the 7th of that month. All agree that the Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Sinai on the new moon (Ex. xix. 1), and that the Decalogue was given on the following Saturday. But the question whether the new-moon day fell on Sunday or Monday is undecided (Shab. 86b).The three days preceding Pentecost are called "the three days of the bounds" () to commemorate the incident of the three days' preparation before Mount Sinai (Ex. xix. 11, 12). These days are distinguished by the permission of marriage celebrations, which are prohibited on the other days of Sefirah save Lag be-'Omer and Rosh-H.odesh. See Ak.damut; First-Fruits; Flowers in the Home and the Synagogue; Law, Reading from the; Pilgrimages to the Holy Land; Prayer.Bibliography: Halakot Gedolot, ed. Berlin, 1888, i. 146; Shulh.an 'Aruk, Orah. Hayyim, 494; Der Jude, pp. 42-48. Leipsic, 1769; Hebrew Review, ii. 152-157; Addresses to Young Children, xxi. 189-201, London, 1858; Friedländer, Jewish Religion, pp. 393-394, 2d ed., London, 1900; Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. xiv. 64. For the interpretation of "the morrow after Sabbath": Aaron of Nicomedia (Karaite), Keter Torah, Lev. 65a, Eupatoria, 1866; Pinsker, Lik.k.ut.e K.admoniyyot, Appendix, p. 96; Cusari, iii. 41; Lichtenstadt, K.unt.ros mi-Moh.orot ha-Shabbat, Vienna, 1860; Gottlober, Bik.k.orotle-Toledot ha-K.ara'im, p. 84, Wilna, 1865; Ha-Maggid, 1840, iv., No. 40; 1879, xxiii., No. 22; Frankel, Vorstudien zu der Septuaginta, pp. 190-191, Leipsic, 1841; Geiger, Urschrift, p. 138, Breslau, 1857; Wellhausen, Pharisäer und Sadducäer, p. 59, Bamberg, 1874.E. C. J. D. E.

According to the Sects.


—Critical View:

In the Old Testament the exact day of the celebration of Pentecost is not given. It is seen from Ex. xxiii. 10-17, xxxiv. 18 that it was celebrated some time in the late spring or the early summer. In Deut. xvi. 9 (R. V.) the date is given "seven weeks from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing corn." In Lev. xxiii. 15, 16 the date is more definitely given: "And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete. Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days." The meaning of the word "Sabbath" in the phrase "after the Sabbath" ("mimoh.orat ha-Shabbat") and, consequently, the question as to the day upon which the Pentecost was to fall have constituted a chief point of difference between Jewish sects (comp. Charles, "The Book of Jubilees," vi. 22, 32; xvi. 3). Sabbath may mean either a "festival" (Lev. xxv. 2, 46) or the weekly Sabbath. In the general sense of "festival" the day of bringing the sheaf of the wave-offering ("yom h.anef"), i.e., "the day after the Sabbath," would mean the day after either the first or the last day of Passover. (a) That the "Sabbath" in this case means the first day of Passover is the view of the Septuagint, Targ. pseudo-Jonathan, Targ. Onk.elos, Josephus ("Ant." iii. 10, § 5), Philo ("De Septenario," § 20; comp. H.ag. ii. 4, Men. vi. 1-3), and of the later rabbinic literature. Since, according to this view, the sheaf-offering was waved on the 16th of Nisan, Pentecost, fifty days later, was celebrated on the 6th of Siwan without regard to the day of the week on which that fell. (b) That the "Sabbath," according to the general meaning "festival," signifies the seventh day of Passover, i.e., 21st of Nisan, without regard to the day of the week, is the view of the Falashas of Abyssinia, the Syriac version of Lev. xxiii. 11, 15, and the Book of Jubilees (c. 135 B.C.). The "day after the Sabbath" is, accordingly, the 22d of Nisan. The Falashas reckon fifty days according to a system of months alternating thirty and twenty-nine days, the Feast of Weeks thus falling on Siwan 12. In Jubilees the Feast of Weeks and Feast of First-Fruits of the Harvest are celebrated on Siwan 15 (Jubilees, xvi. 1, xliv. 4). Reckoning fifty days backward, with an ecclesiastical month of twenty-eight days, one arrives at Nisan 22 as the date when the wave-sheaf was offered. (c) The term "Sabbath," as is shown above, was taken to mean also the weekly Sabbath.

Association with the Giving of the Law.
It is difficult to determine whether the controversy as to the date of the celebration of Pentecost was merely a question of calendation or whether it had its origin in the attempt to assign to the festival a historical motive such as was lacking in the Old Testament. Just as Passover and Tabernacles were associated with historical events, so Pentecost was brought together with the day on which the Torah was given on Sinai (Ex. R. xxxi.; Shab. 88a; Pes. 68b; Maimonides, "Moreh," iii. 41; comp. Ex. xix. 1). That this association had something to do with the calendar controversy would seem to follow from the fact that both Philo and Josephus make no mention of either the giving of the Law on that day or of the calendar dispute. Some insight into the origin of this association of Pentecost with the giving of the Law is afforded by Jubilees where the covenant with Noah as regards the eating of blood is made on the Feast of Weeks. This covenant is renewed with Abraham and with Moses on the same day. Itneeded but a step for later times to place the covenant on Sinai also on the same day.According to Jubilees, Isaac was born (xvi. 13), Abraham died (xxii. 1), Judah was born (xxviii. 15), and Jacob and Laban bound themselves by mutual vows (xxix. 7) on the Feast of Weeks. See Jew. Encyc. v. 374b, s.v. Festivals (Shabu'ot). The relation of the Jewish to the Christian Pentecost with its pouring out of the spirit as an analogy to the giving the Law in seventy languages is obvious.Bibliography: Charles, The Book of Jubilees, London, 1902; Frankel, Einfluss der Palästinensischen Exegese auf die Alexandrinische Hermeneutik, pp. 136-137, Leipsic, 1851.K. J. L. M.

taken from: jewish encyclopedia .com

Christian Articles: Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit: One of Three Persons of God
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For many of us, this is a difficult concept to grasp. The Bible declares that there is only one living God, yet we learn from scripture that He comprises three separate personages. One way to partially visualize this concept is to examine the nature of water (H2O). Water is a single compound that can exist in three states – liquid, ice and vapor. An egg is another picture. It is comprised of the white, the yoke and the shell, yet it is still one egg. Of course, by no means do these examples paint a complete picture of our God, but they are illustrative of the fact that His three “persons” in no way invalidate His oneness.

Holy Spirit: Much More that an Ethereal Life Force
The Holy Spirit is not a vague, ethereal life force. He is not impersonal or unthinking. The Holy Spirit is a “person” equal in every way with God, the Father, and God, the Son. The Bible tells us that all the characteristics of God apparent in the Father and the Son are equally apparent in the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is composed of intellect, emotions and will. In 1 Corinthians 2:11, we see an example of the Holy Spirit’s intellect and will: “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”

In Romans 15:30, we see the Holy Spirit has emotion, as represented by the capacity to love:“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;”

Although the Holy Spirit has all the characteristics of God, He has specific roles and functions in our lives. In John 16:13, we see the Spirit of Truth as our guide: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.”

In John 14:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor and teacher: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

In 1 Corinthians 3:16, we see that the Holy Spirit lives inside us: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

In Acts 1:8, we understand where our power comes from: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."

In Romans 8:14, we understand where our direction comes from: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

In Romans 8:26, we learn that the Holy Spirit is there for us in times of weakness and prayer: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

In Hebrews 9:14, we see that the Holy Spirit is eternal. In 1 Corinthians 2:11, we see that the Holy Spirit is all-knowing. In Psalm 139, we see that the Holy Spirit is everywhere.

Holy Spirit: Attributes of God
The Holy Spirit, Father and Son all comprise a unified Godhead known in Christianity as the “Trinity.” A common misconception is that Christians believe in three different gods. This isn’t correct. While each “personage” is distinct in function, each shares together in the same deity and each reflects the divine attributes of the one living God.

source: allabout god .com

Nama-nama Roh Kudus

Roh
Wahyu 22:17 Roh dan pengantin perempuan itu berkata: "Marilah!" Dan barangsiapa yang mendengarnya, hendaklah ia berkata: "Marilah!" Dan barangsiapa yang haus, hendaklah ia datang, dan barangsiapa yang mau, hendaklah ia mengambil air kehidupan dengan cuma-cuma!


Roh Allah
Kejadian 1:2 Bumi belum berbentuk dan kosong; gelap gulita menutupi samudera raya, dan Roh Allah melayang-layang di atas permukaan air.

Roh Kudus
Lukas 11:13 Jadi jika kamu yang jahat tahu memberi pemberian yang baik kepada anak-anakmu, apalagi Bapamu yang di sorga! Ia akan memberikan Roh Kudus kepada mereka yang meminta kepada-Nya."


Roh Kudus Allah
Efesus 4:30 Dan janganlah kamu mendukakan Roh Kudus Allah, yang telah memeteraikan kamu menjelang hari penyelamatan.

RohKu
Mazmur 139:7 Ke mana aku dapat pergi menjauhi roh-Mu, ke mana aku dapat lari dari hadapan-Mu?


Roh Kudus
Mazmur 51:11 (51-13) Janganlah membuang aku dari hadapan-Mu, dan janganlah mengambil roh-Mu yang kudus dari padaku!

RohMu yang Rela
Mazmur 51:12 (51-14) Bangkitkanlah kembali padaku kegirangan karena selamat yang dari pada-Mu, dan lengkapilah aku dengan roh yang rela!

RohMu yang baik
Nehemia 9:20 Dan Engkau memberikan kepada mereka Roh-Mu yang baik untuk mengajar mereka. Juga manna-Mu tidak Kautahan dari mulut mereka dan Engkau memberikan air kepada mereka untuk melepaskan dahaga.

Roh Allah
1 Korintus 12:3 Karena itu aku mau meyakinkan kamu, bahwa tidak ada seorangpun yang berkata-kata oleh Roh Allah, dapat berkata: "Terkutuklah Yesus!" dan tidak ada seorangpun, yang dapat mengaku: "Yesus adalah Tuhan", selain oleh Roh Kudus.

Roh Tuhan
Yesaya 40:7 Rumput menjadi kering, bunga menjadi layu, apabila TUHAN menghembusnya dengan nafas-Nya. Sesungguhnyalah bangsa itu seperti rumput.

Roh Tuhan Allah
Yesaya 61:1 Roh Tuhan ALLAH ada padaku, oleh karena TUHAN telah mengurapi aku; Ia telah mengutus aku untuk menyampaikan kabar baik kepada orang-orang sengsara, dan merawat orang-orang yang remuk hati, untuk memberitakan pembebasan kepada orang-orang tawanan, dan kepada orang-orang yang terkurung kelepasan dari penjara,

Roh Kristus
1 Petrus 1:11 Dan mereka meneliti saat yang mana dan yang bagaimana yang dimaksudkan oleh Roh Kristus, yang ada di dalam mereka, yaitu Roh yang sebelumnya memberi kesaksian tentang segala penderitaan yang akan menimpa Kristus dan tentang segala kemuliaan yang menyusul sesudah itu.

Roh yang mengadili
Yesaya 4:4 apabila TUHAN telah membersihkan kekotoran puteri Sion dan menghapuskan segala noda darah Yerusalem dari tengah-tengahnya dengan roh yang mengadili dan yang membakar.

Roh yang membakar
Yesaya 4:4 apabila TUHAN telah membersihkan kekotoran puteri Sion dan menghapuskan segala noda darah Yerusalem dari tengah-tengahnya dengan roh yang mengadili dan yang membakar.

Roh Hikmat dan Pengertian
Yesaya 11:2 Roh TUHAN akan ada padanya, roh hikmat dan pengertian, roh nasihat dan keperkasaan, roh pengenalan dan takut akan TUHAN;

Roh Nasehat dan Keperkasaan
Yesaya 11:2 Roh TUHAN akan ada padanya, roh hikmat dan pengertian, roh nasihat dan keperkasaan, roh pengenalan dan takut akan TUHAN;

Roh Pengenalan dan Roh Takut akan TUHAN
Yesaya 11:2 Roh TUHAN akan ada padanya, roh hikmat dan pengertian, roh nasihat dan keperkasaan, roh pengenalan dan takut akan TUHAN;

Roh yang Luar Biasa
Daniel 5:12 karena pada orang itu terdapat roh yang luar biasa dan pengetahuan dan akal budi, sehingga dapat menerangkan mimpi, menyingkapkan hal-hal yang tersembunyi dan menguraikan kekusutan, yakni pada Daniel yang dinamai Beltsazar oleh raja. Baiklah sekarang Daniel dipanggil dan ia akan memberitahukan maknanya!"

Roh Kasih Karunia
Ibrani 10:29 Betapa lebih beratnya hukuman yang harus dijatuhkan atas dia, yang menginjak-injak Anak Allah, yang menganggap najis darah perjanjian yang menguduskannya, dan yang menghina Roh kasih karunia?

Roh Pengasihan dan Permohonan
Zakharia 12:10 "Aku akan mencurahkan roh pengasihan dan roh permohonan atas keluarga Daud dan atas penduduk Yerusalem, dan mereka akan memandang kepada dia yang telah mereka tikam, dan akan meratapi dia seperti orang meratapi anak tunggal, dan akan menangisi dia dengan pedih seperti orang menangisi anak sulung.

Penghibur
Yohanes 14:26 tetapi Penghibur, yaitu Roh Kudus, yang akan diutus oleh Bapa dalam nama-Ku, Dialah yang akan mengajarkan segala sesuatu kepadamu dan akan mengingatkan kamu akan semua yang telah Kukatakan kepadamu.

Roh Kebenaran
Yohanes 14:17 yaitu Roh Kebenaran. Dunia tidak dapat menerima Dia, sebab dunia tidak melihat Dia dan tidak mengenal Dia. Tetapi kamu mengenal Dia, sebab Ia menyertai kamu dan akan diam di dalam kamu.

Roh Kekudusan
Roma 1:4 dan menurut Roh kekudusan dinyatakan oleh kebangkitan-Nya dari antara orang mati, bahwa Ia adalah Anak Allah yang berkuasa, Yesus Kristus Tuhan kita.

Roh Iman
2 Korintus 4:13 Namun karena kami memiliki roh iman yang sama, seperti ada tertulis: "Aku percaya, sebab itu aku berkata-kata", maka kami juga percaya dan sebab itu kami juga berkata-kata.

Roh Kudus yang Dijanjikan
Efesus 1:13 Di dalam Dia kamu juga—karena kamu telah mendengar firman kebenaran, yaitu Injil keselamatanmu—di dalam Dia kamu juga, ketika kamu percaya, dimeteraikan dengan Roh Kudus, yang dijanjikan-Nya itu.

Roh yang Kekal
Ibrani 9:14 betapa lebihnya darah Kristus, yang oleh Roh yang kekal telah mempersembahkan diri-Nya sendiri kepada Allah sebagai persembahan yang tak bercacat, akan menyucikan hati nurani kita dari perbuatan-perbuatan yang sia-sia, supaya kita dapat beribadah kepada Allah yang hidup.

Roh Kemuliaan dan Roh Allah
1 Petrus 4:14 Berbahagialah kamu, jika kamu dinista karena nama Kristus, sebab Roh kemuliaan, yaitu Roh Allah ada padamu.

Overcoming Confusion by the Power of The Holy Spirit

Confusion comes of the devil, because there is no truth in him. He is a liar and a thief, and Lucifer will always try and confuse, confound, and mislead us. We can overcome confusion through the Word, and through the Blood of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Here are some scriptures that clearly define and contrast the works of the Father vs. the fallen angel Lucifer (not God’s opposite, but a fallen angel who was created).

Of the devil (Jesus here speaking to the Pharisees who interestingly enough were trying to cause confusion)…John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him (i.e. – only lies and confusion). When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

However, we know that Jesus came to destroy ALL the works of the devil, even confusion and the obstruction of truth…

1 John 3:8 …For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

God is a God of order. He created the universe and the very laws of science that hold everything in place. He gave us His Word, & and He gives peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (here, the term peace can also be translated to mean a quiet and restful mind, not troubled by confusion or doubt).

We must not allow ourselves to concentrate on the confusion or the lies, but look instead to the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus spent little time being distracted by the works of the devil…in fact He would not allow the demonic to even speak but commanded the to “hold their peace” or to not speak forth things that would add confusion.

Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

Therefore, when confusion comes in, we must take authority over the confusion by pleading the Blood of Jesus Christ and by standing on what God PROMISES us as believers and children. We must be proactive in our warfare against confusion as Paul states…

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations (literally - confused thoughts), and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We should not fear this warfare but have knowledge that through Christ there is love, power and clarity of thought.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Praying in the Spirit helps to bring us out of these times of confusion because when we know not what to pray the Spirit will intercede…

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Pray without ceasing in the Spirit especially during those times when confusion abounds because we are promised…

Isaiah 59:19 … When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

Finally…be proactive in giving your mind a preventative remedy against the confusion returning…

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

source: theholyspirit .com

Easter Article: Good Friday

Good Friday is a very important day for all Christians. On Good Friday, Christians remember that Jesus died for everyone. He was crucified by the Romans on a hill outside Jerusalem although he had not done anything wrong. When a person was crucified, they were tied and nailed by the wrists and feet to a large wooden cross or scaffold and left to die. This is why a cross if often used as a symbol of the Christian faith. You can read more about How and why Jesus was crucified in the Story Section.

The 'Good' in Good Friday comes from old English when Good meant Holy. So you could call Good Friday, 'Holy Friday'.

There are parades all over the world to celebrate and remember Good Friday. In Spain and some other countries, people who are very sorry for their wrong doings (called 'Penitents') walk through the streets wearing long robes with hoods and carrying a big cross of wood.

In some countries, including the U.K., sometimes a single person or group of church members carry a large wooden cross, around the streets near the church, before the Good Friday service. They may be also followed by the rest of the people going to church. Sometimes they will stop and have a reading from the Bible or sing a song before going to the service.

In some Central and South American countries there will be a procession of statues to the church before the service. These are often statues of Jesus, Mary and other saints. In Greece, people go to the church in a procession as if they were going to a funeral. Some Orthodox and Catholic churches have models of tombs as the centre piece of the service to help people remember Jesus died.

In most Anglican churches, there are no flowers or decoration such as alter-cloths in the church on Good Friday.

One of my favourite Good Friday customs is Hot Cross buns! These are yeast dough buns with currants and raisins in them and they have a cross on the top. You can eat them cold. I prefer to cut them in half, toasted with butter and jam on!

source: why easter .com

Easter Pray: Catholic Collect for Easter Sunday

God our Father,
by raising Christ your Son
you conquered the power of death
and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Let our celebration today raise us up
and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Easter Pray: Eastern Prayer of Christ Resurrected

Christ, rising again from the dead
dieth now no more:
death shall no more have dominion over him;
for in that he died, he died once:
but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God,
alleluia, alleluia.

Let the Jews now tell us,
how the soldiers,
who guarded the sepulchre,
lost the King,
though they had placed a rock over him.
Why kept they not the Rock of Justice?
Either let them restore the buried One,
or adore with us the risen One, saying:
But in that he liveth,
he liveth unto God,
alleluia, alleluia.
The Liturgical Year: Book 7

Easter Pray: Anglican Collect for Easter Day

O God,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection
delivered us from the power of our enemy:
Grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live
with him in the joy of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Free Download MP3 Instrumental: Traditional Hymns - Instrumental

I Need Thee Every Hour
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Wonderful Words of Life
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Just as I am
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There is a Fountain
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Abide with me
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Faith of our Fathers
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Give your Best to the Master
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Holy, Holy, Holy
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Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
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Jesus Paid it All
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Near the Cross
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O Worship the King
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Praise Him Praise Him
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Praise to the Lord
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Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
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Trust and Obey
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Easter Article: About Easter

Easter is the time of the Christian year when Christians remember the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus, who they believe was the son of God, died for everyone's wrong-doings and then came back to life three days later to defeat death and evil: so if you believe in Him you will live forever in Heaven.

The word 'Easter' comes from two old pagan spring festivals. The old European pagan festival of 'Ostara' that celebrated new life and Arabian Sun festival of 'Ishtar'. The early Christians took over the festivals and turned the pagan festivals of new life to mean the new life that Jesus gave the world when he rose from the dead. Unlike Christmas, when Jesus's birth is celebrated (although we don't know what time of year Jesus was born!), Easter is celebrated around the same time of year that he was killed. This is because Jesus died at the time of the Jewish Passover festival.

The Passover festival dates from about 4,000 years ago when Jewish people remember that God saved them from slavery in Egypt. Jesus was a Jew and so celebrated the Passover. Passover takes place in the first month of the Jewish New Year (14-15 of the month of Nisan). The Jewish calendar follows the cycle of the moon, so the date changes a bit every year.

The first Jewish Christians added Easter celebrations to the Passover festival and because Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday, so Easter Day became the first Sunday after Passover.

Over the years, the Christian festival moved in date slightly from the Jewish Passover, so they don't now have the same date, but sometimes they are very close! The Christian date for Easter also follows the moon, so it also changes every year. To make things even more complicated, Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter, like Christmas, on a different day to Catholic and Western Christians!!!!

For Christians, the full Easter period lasted for a long time. Easter officially starts with Lent on Ash Wednesday, 40 days before Easter Day. Then 40 days after Easter Day, Christians celebrate Ascension Day, when they remember Jesus going back into Heaven and promising to come back to earth one day. Easter officially ends 50 days after Easter Day with the Christian Festival of Pentecost or Whitsun, when Christians remember that God sent his Holy Spirit to help Christians. So Easter is a very busy time for Christians!

source: why easter .com

Easter Crafts: Simnel Cake

You will need :

1/2 lb unsalted butter
zest of 2 large lemons
1/2 lb caster sugar
4 large eggs
6 oz chopped mixed peel
6 oz sultanas
1 1/4 lb currants
14 oz plain flour
salt
baking powder
1 level teaspoon mixed spice

for decoration
4 oz ground almonds
4 oz icing sugar
4 oz caster sugar
1 large egg
lemon essence
3 teaspoons strained lemon juice
chocolate eggs
ribbon

Grease a 9 inch round deep cake tin and line it with greased greaseproof paper. Pre-heat the oven to 160C. Cream together the butter, lemon zest and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time and stir in the peel and fruit.

Sift the flour with a little salt, a good pinch of baking powder and the spice. Fold this into the creamed mixture. If necessary add 1-2 tablespoons of milk to relax the mixture if it is too thick. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top. Bake in the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Once the cake is cooked, cool it on a wire rack.

Meanwhile mix together the ground almonds and all the sugar. Add half of the lightly beaten egg with a few drops of lemon essence and the strained lemon juice. Knead thoroughly until the almond paste is smooth. Roll out 2/3 of the almond paste and cover the cooled cake with it. Make sure that the cake is completely cool before you start decorating it.

Shape the remaining almond paste into 11 balls - to represent the Apostles, excluding Judas - and set them around the edge of the cake. Tie a ribbon around the side of the cake and decorate the centre of the cake with chocolate eggs.

Easter Crafts: Hot Cross Buns

You will need:

1 lb plain flour
1 level teaspoon caster sugar
1 oz fresh yeast (or 1 level tablespoon dried yeast)
1/4 pint lukewarm milk
2 fluid oz warm water
1 level teaspoon each of salt and mixed spice
2 oz caster sugar
2 oz melted butter
1 beaten egg
1 oz currants
1-2 oz chopped mixed peel

Grease and flour two baking trays and preheat oven to 190C. Sift 4 oz of the flour with the sugar. Crumble in the yeast and stir in the milk & water. Leave the mixture in a warm place for 20-30 mins until frothy.

Meanwhile sift the remaining flour with the salt & spice. Add the sugar. Stir the melted butter together with the egg into the risen yeast mixture. Gradually fold in the flour, currants and peel. Knead the dough on a floured surface until perfectly smooth. Divide into 12 pieces and shape into buns. Set the buns well apart on the prepared trays and leave them in a warm place until doubled in size. Make two cuts on the top of each bun to form a cross.

Bake just above the centre of the oven for 15-20 mins. Leave the buns to cool on a wire rack; while still warm brush them with a glaze made from 1 1/2 oz caster sugar dissolved in 2 tablespoons water.

Easter Crafts: Easter Nests

You will need:

Shredded Wheat (or similar cereal)
Cooking chocolate
Mini eggs

Combine crushed Shredded Wheat with melted chocolate and shape into nest shapes in bun cases. Once the chocolate has set, place 2-3 mini eggs into your chocolate nests.

Easter Crafts: Easter Basket

You will need

• Coloured cardboard
• Tissue paper
• Decorated eggs or chocolate eggs

On a rectangular piece of cardboard draw another rectangle about 2 - 3 cm (one inch) inside and carefully score (don't cut) along the lines with the point of scissors so it can bend easily. Fold in the edges of your rectangle, snipping out the extra card at the corners, to form a basket shape with a lip all around the edge and secure firmly.

Take another long thin strip of cardboard and secure it to both sides of your basket to create a handle before padding the bottom with crumpled tissue paper and filling it with your choice of decorated or chocolate eggs.

Easter Crafts: Easter Bonnet

You will need :

• Flexible coloured cardboard
• Tissue paper
• Ribbon or crepe paper

Firstly draw a circle on the cardboard using a dinner plate as a guide then carefully cut round the line. Cut a straight line up towards the middle of your circle before folding the two sides over one another until to have a bonnet shape that is flat at the back and peaked at the front then secure.

Using lots of different coloured tissue paper cut out small pieces and scrunch or roll them up to create flowers to stick all over your bonnet or if you prefer just round the edges. Finally make a small hole on each side of your bonnet to thread through ribbon or a strip of crepe paper to create ties to hold your bonnet firmly in place.

An alternative Easter bonnet could be made using an old hat and fabric flowers to brighten it up and again adding brightly coloured ribbon to create ties.

Easter greetings in many languages

KALO PASKA (grec)

FOUAI HWO GIE QUAI LE (chinois)

EID-FOSS’H MUBARAK (arabe)

SRETUN USKRS (croate)

VESELE VANOCE (tchèque)

FROHE OSTERN (allemand)

KALO PASKA (grec)

BUONA PASQUA (italien)

SOUK SAN VAN EASTER (laotien)

SREKEN VELIGDEN (macédonien)

Easter Dates: List of Easter Sunday Dates 1700-1799

 11th April 1700    1st April 1725   29th March 1750   16th April 1775
27th March 1701   21st April 1726   11th April 1751    7th April 1776
16th April 1702   13th April 1727    2nd April 1752   30th March 1777
 8th April 1703   28th March 1728   22nd April 1753   19th April 1778
23rd March 1704   17th April 1729   14th April 1754    4th April 1779
12th April 1705    9th April 1730   30th March 1755   26th March 1780
 4th April 1706   25th March 1731   18th April 1756   15th April 1781
24th April 1707   13th April 1732   10th April 1757   31st March 1782
 8th April 1708    5th April 1733   26th March 1758   20th April 1783
31st March 1709   25th April 1734   15th April 1759   11th April 1784
20th April 1710   10th April 1735    6th April 1760   27th March 1785
 5th April 1711    1st April 1736   22nd March 1761   16th April 1786
27th March 1712   21st April 1737   11th April 1762    8th April 1787
16th April 1713    6th April 1738    3rd April 1763   23rd March 1788
 1st April 1714   29th March 1739   22nd April 1764   12th April 1789
21st April 1715   17th April 1740    7th April 1765    4th April 1790
12th April 1716    2nd April 1741   30th March 1766   24th April 1791
28th March 1717   25th March 1742   19th April 1767    8th April 1792
17th April 1718   14th April 1743    3rd April 1768   31st March 1793
 9th April 1719    5th April 1744   26th March 1769   20th April 1794
31st March 1720   18th April 1745   15th April 1770    5th April 1795
13th April 1721   10th April 1746   31st March 1771   27th March 1796
 5th April 1722    2nd April 1747   19th April 1772   16th April 1797
28th March 1723   14th April 1748   11th April 1773    8th April 1798
16th April 1724    6th April 1749    3rd April 1774   24th March 1799

Easter Crafts: Egg Tree

You will need :

• Plasticine or flower oasis (from your local florist)
• Small twigs or branches
• Green crepe paper or moss (from your local florist)
• Narrow ribbon
• Blown eggshells
• Decorating materials

To make your egg tree first of all you will need to collect whole eggshells which have had their insides blown out. Make a small hole in one end of the egg and a slightly larger one in the other using a large needle then gently blow the contents into a bowl. You could collect the shells from eggs used in cooking.

Now it is time to decorate your eggs whatever way you like. Use lots of bright colours and shiny bits like glitter or foil to create colourful eggs. A good decoration tip for younger children is to coat the eggshells in glue then roll them in glitter. Then carefully glue a length of narrow ribbon lengthways around the egg ensuring it is long enough to tie a loop at the top.

To create your tree place the oasis or plasticine on a small plate then carefully arrange your twigs in it until they form a small tree like shape. Green crepe paper or moss can be wrapped around the bottom to disguise the base then hang your eggs from the branches to complete your tree.

Easter Article: Easter Candles

To celebrate the resurrection of Lord Jesus, Easter candles are lighted in churches. These decorative candles for Easter symbolize the Jesus' return to life. They are associated with new life. Among the Easter candles, the most famous one is the Paschal candle. These paschal candles comprise of engravings of cross and the Greek letters alpha and omega that signify that the Lord is omnipresent.

The beeswax, out of which the Easter candle is prepared, represents the purity of Jesus Christ, its wick signifies humanity and the flame is indicative of the Jesus' divine nature. These decorative Easter candles not just adorn the house but also have a social message attached to them. This explains the reason why beautifully decorated Easter candles are selling like real hot cakes in the market.

The trend of embellishing the house with homemade Easter candles is very in. They are inexpensive and enable you to tantalize your senses and come up with some creative ideas. Making candles at home is great fun. Easter bunny candles are among the kids' favorite crafts. So light the candles and let the light of Jesus come into your house.

source: indobase .com

Easter Article: Easter Eggs

When the time approaches for Easter celebration, the first thing that strikes our mind are Easter eggs. In the catalog of Easter symbols, Easter eggs occupy the top most position. Eggs symbolize fertility. For many decades, it has been a trend of exchanging Easter eggs among friends and relatives. Easter egg decoration is the favorite fun activity of kids during Easter week. In fact every Easter, Easter egg-coloring competitions are held.

It is on Easter, ladies prepare yummy recipes and in this special menu, chocolate Easter eggs are almost like a must. During Easter festivity, Easter eggs make a place for themselves everywhere, then be it Easter table decorations or Easter delicious recipes. These days Easter eggshell ornaments are very in. People embellish their house with handmade painted Easter eggs.

In the ancient times, these Easter eggs were very brightly colored, giving a warm welcome to the spring season. The color of Easter eggs also has its own significance. For example red Easter egg symbolizes the blood that Jesus Christ had shed for the goodness of mankind. Green color represents holiness. There is a social message attached to different colored Easter eggs, which if followed, can take the life of man to the path of success.

source: indobase .com

Easter Article: Easter Bunny

When the spring season heads its way towards us, the first thought that strikes our mind is undoubtedly Easter festivity. And when the talk is about Easter, it is definitely incomplete without the mention of Easter bunny and Easter eggs. Most of us are ignorant about the origin of Easter bunny. Easter bunny is a symbol associated with fertility and the reason behind is that, it has a very quick speed of reproduction.

There are many legends associated with the history of Easter bunny. Some legends suggest that this grand festival Easter got its name from the Anglo- Saxon goddess called Eostre, who was always seen along with her pet bunny rabbit. It's astonishing to know that, it was this very bunny of Goddess that had laid the first colored eggs. Easter bunny has become famous for starting the tradition of Easter egg hiding. Thus, the kids' favorite game of Easter egg hunt can be attributed to Easter bunnies.

Today, Easter bunny occupies the most dominant position amongst all symbols of Easter. In the contemporary times, Easter bunnies are found sailing smoothly virtually everywhere. The gift galleries are stocked with cute bunny rabbit stuff toys. Not only are they adorning homes, but have become the source of flourishing business for confectionary shops too. Chocolate bunny rabbit cookies and cakes sell like real hot cakes during the Easter spring season. This symbol of Pagan times, Easter bunny, symbolizes new life.

source: indobase .com

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Allahku Dahsyat

Franky Sihombing
Key: Bm

Bm7   AM7/B      Bm7  AM7/B
 Dari  utara ke sela-tan
Bm7   AM7/B          Em7
 terdengar pujian bagi Allah
Bm7   AM7/B         Bm7  AM7/B
 Dari barat sampai ke timur
Bm7   AM7/B       Em7      Bm7
 nama Yesus disanjung tinggi
       Em7   Bm7    Em7    Bm7
 Dari pulau-pulau, lembah-lembah
  Em7    Bm7             F#sus F#
 gunung-gunung yang tinggi

KemuliaanNya disaksikan
kebesaranNya dic'ritakan
Yesus Yesus nama Yesus
nama yesus disanjung tinggi
Dari pulau-pulau, lembah-lembah
gunung-gunung yang tinggi

Reff:
Bm7  /F# /A            Bm7  /F# /A
Al - lah-ku dahsyat berkuasa
             Em7  /B  /E
S'luruh bumi su - jud   menyembah
A           F#
tinggikan namaMu
Bm7  /F# /A            Bm7  /F# /A
Al - lah-ku dahsyat berkuasa
             Em7  /B  /E
S'luruh bumi su - jud   menyembah
A           F#   Bm7
tinggikan namaMu o...

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Aku Mengasihi Engkau Yesus

Ir. Niko Njotorahardjo
Key: G

      G    Bm    C     G
Aku Mengasihi Engkau Yesus
C        D         G  D
dengan segenap hatiku
      G    Bm    C     G
Aku Mengasihi Engkau Yesus
C        D         G  D
dengan segenap jiwaku

Reff:
         G               Bm
Ku Renungkan Firman-Mu siang dan malam
     C             Am         D
Ku pegang p'rintah-Mu dan kulakukan
         G              Bm
Engkau tahu ya Tuhan, tujuan hidupku
     C     Am       D            G
Hanyalah untuk menyenangkan hati-Mu

Music Note Lagu Rohani: YESUS DATANG MEMBAWA KESEMBUHAN

Niko N. & Welyar K.
4/4 G=Do


G G/B C
YESUS DATANG MEMBAWA KELIMPAHAN
A/C# D11 D
YESUS DATANG MEMBAWA KESEMBUHAN
B/D# Em7 D C
KASIH-NYA YANG S'LALU MEMULIHKAN
G/D D11 G
SEMUA YANG PERCAYA

G G/B C
YESUS DATANG MEMB'RIKU KELIMPAHAN
A/C# D11 D
YESUS DATANG MEMB'RIKU KESEMBUHAN
B/D# Em7 D C
KASIH-NYA YANG S'LALU PULIHKANKU
G/D D11 G
YESUS KU PERCAYA

REFF:
G C Cm/Eb G/D A/C# A7 Dsus D
HALELUYA, HALELU-------YA, TERPUJILAH TUHAN
G7/F C/E Cm/Eb G/D Am7 Dsus G
HALELU-----YA, HALELU-------YA. HALELUYA AMIN

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Yesus Ku MenyembahMu

Ir. Djohan E. Handojo
Key: F

F     Gm7  F/A    Bb         C11  F
Yesus kemu-liaanMu, pulihkan hati-ku
F     Gm7  F/A    Bb        C11  F
Yesus kemu-liaanMu, berkati hidupku

Reff:
F          C/E         Dm7   F/C
 S'gala pujian syukur bagiMu
Bb          Gm7       C11
 Kau hadir dalam hidupku
  Bb/D  C/E   F          Am7       Dm
 Ki -  ni     ku datang sujud dihadapanMu
    Bb  C/Bb   Am7    Dm7
 MemujiMu   menyembahMu
    Gm7     C11    F
 Yesus kumenyembahMu

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Bapa Yang Kekal

Julita Manik
Key: D

D                 A/C#    (/B  /A)
Kasih yang sempurna  telah
F#/Bb (/F#)     Bm
kut'ri-ma dari-Mu
(/A)       G        A
Bukan kar'na kebaikanku
      D             A/C#  (/B  /A)
Hanya oleh kasih karunia-Mu
F#/Bb          Bm  Bm/A     G
Kau pulihkan aku   layakkanku
                  A
Tuk dapat memanggilMu, Bapa

Reff:
D                   F#m
Kau b'ri yang kupinta
        Bm                F#m
Saat kumencari kumendapatkan
             G                 D
Kuketuk pintu-Mu dan Kau bukakan
             E7                A
S'bab Kau Bapaku, Bapa yang kekal

D               F#m
Takkan Kau biarkan
        Bm                  F#m
Aku melangkah hanya sendirian
            G        D/F#
Kau selalu a-da bagiku
             G      A          D
S'bab Kau Bapaku, Bapa yang kekal

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Sbab Tuhan Maha Besar

Ir. Welyar Kauntu
Key: C

Bait:
C     F/C    G/C    C     Am     F        Bb  G
Ceritakanlah kemuliaanNya diantara segala bangsa
C         F/C         E        Am
Dan perbuatanNya yang sungguh ajaib
  F      G        C  Bb  Am7  Bb  C  Bb  Am7  Bb
diantara suku bangsa
C     F/C    G/C    C     Am     F        Bb  G
Ceritakanlah kemuliaanNya diantara segala bangsa
C         F/C         E        Am
Dan perbuatanNya yang sungguh ajaib
  F      G        C   F  G
diantara suku bangsa

Reff:
        C          C/E     F           C
S'bab Tuhan maha besar dan sangat terpuji
          F         G             C  /D  /E  F  /E  /F  G
Dia lebih dahsyat dari s'gala allah
        C          C/E     F           C
S'bab Tuhan maha besar dan sangat terpuji
          F  Em  Dm       G             C  Bb Am7  Bb
KuasaNya dah  -  syat menghancurkan musuh
C  Bb  Am7  Bb

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Pujilah Tuhan Sang Raja

Jo­ach­im Ne­an­der
Key: F

Bait 1:
F  F/A   C/E   F  A/C#   Dm   Am  Bb
Pu-ji -  lah   Tu - han, Sang Ra- ja
F    Bb C  Gm7  C  F
yang Ma-ha Mu - li-a!
F  F/A   C/E   F  A/C#  Dm
Se-ge -  nap   ha - ti  dan
Am  Bb F   Bb C  Gm7  C  F
Ji- wa-ku, pu-ji-lah  Di-a!
F  F/A   F  Bb
Da-tang  berkaum,
F   Bb/D  C  Dm7  C7/E   F  C
b'rilah   mu-sik- Mu     bergaung,
F/A   Bb Gm6  F/A   C7/E   F  Csus  C  F
ang - katlah  pu -  ji  \  pu-ji   -   an!


Bait 2:
Pujilah Tuhan; segala kuasa padaNya!
Sayap kasihNya yang aman mendukung anakNya!
Tiada terp'ri yang kepadamu dib'ri;
tidakkah itu kaurasa?

Bait 3:
Pujilah Tuhan yang bijak menggubah tubuhmu;
dalam kasihNya seluruh hidupmu tertuntun;
hatimu tahu; berulang kali engkau
oleh sayapNya terlindung.

Bait 4:
Pujilah Tuhan yang dapat dan mau melakukan
jauh melebihi doamu dan yang kaurindukan.
Ingat teguh: Ia berkuasa penuh!
KasihNya t'rus kautemukan.

Bait 5:
Pujilah Tuhan! Hai jiwaku, mari bernyanyi!
Semua makhluk bernafas, iringilah kami!
Puji terus Nama Yang Mahakudus!
Padukan suaramu: Amin.

Music Note Lagu Rohani: Ku MenyembahMu

Robert & Lea S.
Key: Em

Verse:
   Em      D/F#    G
Di hadapan tahta kudusMu
   C          Am       Bsus  B
Ku tersungkur menyembahMu
   Em        D/F#    G   C
Persembahkan doa dan pujian
Am    B      Em
Bagi Anak Domba

Interlude:
. /D . | C . B . | Em . /D . | A . . .

(Verse)

Reff:
E    Am7  D   GM7  C  Am-5  B7    Em  D/F#  E/G#
Ku menyem -bahMu,   kusem  -   bahMu  Tu  - han
     Am7  D   GM7  C   Am-5/F#  B      Em
Ku menyem -bahMu,   ya Allah    yang kudus

Interlude:
D . . . | C . . . | B . . .

Music Chord Lagu Rohani: Kau Allah Yang Besar

Ir. Welyar Kauntu
Key: G

          G          B7          Em7   G/D
Kau Allah yang besar,  ajaib dan mulia
      C              Am7         D11    D
Kau Yesus yang s'lalu  membuatku terpesona
       G     B7       Em7     G/D
S'gala pujian  bagiMu ya Tuhan
      Am7           D11  D    G
Hanya Kau yang layak   kuagungkan