Sukkot: A Mormon Christmas Advent

Why We Celebrate Miracles with 2 Holidays
Many state that unless you're a practicing Jew you should not observe Hanukkah because the whole holiday was founded to strengthen Jewish culture and religious dedication and to purify oneself from worldly influence. Thus being a non-Jew and observing this holiday undermines it very purposes.

So what is my Christian family with no biological ties to Judaism doing celebrating Hanukkah, and as an advent to Christ's birth no less?! Well, I strive to observe this historic holiday with reverence for my God and respect for the people who brought it into existence. We celebrate the legendary history of this Feast of Dedication because of its many spiritual lessons. Saying we're celebrating Sukkot (see Leviticus 23:33-44) the Messianic Jewish way is probably the most accurate explanation. Because I believe in celebrating "anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy" and I know many of you do as well, I have decide to continue this tradition another year and share with you my testimony as well as some logistics.

Hanukkah's History: The legends are nicer than the facts
While you may not have heard of Sukkot perhaps you have heard of the miracle of the oil burning for 8 days and nights. This special oil took time to be prepared enough to be temple-grade but the Maccabees wanted to keep the eternal flame lit and not wait. So they went forward in faith. So the story goes.

But while researching topics for our nightly devotionals I came across a disappointing story: the miracle is made up! Quoting from one website in summation of several:

Jewish Rabbi Daniel Kohn, in answer to the question, “Is the miracle of Chanukah made up?” stated that the whole concept of the miracle of the oil, was indeed untrue. While stating that the actual lighting of the Menorah for the dedication of the Temple was real and based on spiritual significance, the rabbinic writings in the Talmud took the shift from the Maccabeean military victory to that of a claimed miracle of the oil for the Menorah.

The perceived glory of the Maccabean victory became overshadowed due to all they did that caused harm to fellow Jews and their focus became viewed as dangerous and containing seditious ideas that were to be suppressed. The fear of glorifying the military success of the Maccabeans while under Roman rule, formed the basis for the idea of inventing the story of the miracle of the oil to become the focus and with it, masked the truth about the Maccabees and their shameful legacy for many years. By reinventing the stories, the rabbis kept the holiday alive with a shift in focus and thereby inserted more religious significance.

While I am an ardent defender and cultivator of truth, I find that this not-so-accurate legend still teaches me and my family. So we just tell the story for the legend that it is and glean truths from it that bring us closer to God.

Symbols of the Festival
While we have yet to build a sukkah and we do keep a small Christmas tree (two wrong ways to celebrate Sukkot), I find comfort and familiarity as a Mormon celebrating Hanukkah (which by the way has several acceptable spellings.) I love that the Hanukkiah (also known as the menorah) is a symbol of the tree of life. I love the symbolism of the Shamash candle or the servant candle (the one in the middle which is higher up than the others) being is used to light the other candles from right to left.

While playing dreidel is the closest we'll come in our family to any sort of gambling games, I love the message that is spelled out there. Nun, Gimmel, Hay, and Shin stand for "Nes gadol ha'ya shem" which translates to, "A Great miracle happened there." We hang a small banner proclaim thus over our homemade nativity. Tradition has it that the dreidel game was a cover up to fool the Romans since studying the Torah was forbidden. Our family deeply values studying the scriptures both individually and as a family and we are blessed to do so frequently and regularly. All these symbols tie in well to various themes for nightly devotionals.

Below is our proposed study schedule for the year:

Day #1, Sunday, also the 1st presidency devotional broadcast: the light of creation
Day #2, Monday, potluck dinner with the Meiers and Deckers: the light given to Adam (studying the fall and the sybollism of the Tree of Life)
Day #3, Tuesday: the light of the Messiah (specifically studying the resurrection and Christ as the Shamash)
Day #4, Wednesday: the light of the commandments (studying Psalms 119:9-11)
Day #5, Thursday: study the light of the Restoration and Joseph Smith as the Shamash
Day #6, Friday: the light of the Abrahamic covenant (studying temple covenants)
Day #7, Saturday, potluck dinner with the Savages and Shaws: the light of discipleship (Matt. 5:13-16 and this Ensign article)
Day #8, dinner and Family Home Evening with the YSA branch: Just as the Jews of old purified their temple, we must purify our lives to better shine the light of Christ and prepare for his 2nd coming.

While I'm not sure we'll keep up this tradition another year I know that all our family's traditions are carefully selected to bring us and those around us unto Christ. In the spirit of Hanukkah we share our light with the world. What traditions does your family have? How have they come about?

Recognizing and Celebrating Miracles Past and Present

This is a holiday post. This is a gratitude post. This a spiritual, thoughtful post. It also serves as a reflection of this past year and look forward to the coming year.

Several of my readers may already be aware of our family's new year's resolutions for 2014 with the slogan being "MORE in two thousand FOURteen!" We've done pretty well on all of our goals, though some are still being realized. This most obviously includes our desire to have more children. As I look back over journal entries and countless spiritual experiences a few thoughts come forth that I feel are worth sharing as some of you surely have trials to face, hope to kindle, and faith-filled lives to live.

Let me begin by sharing an insight or two from Time Out For Women. From "How to Turn Futile Hopes into Fertile Hopes: An Exercise in Asking and Answering Questions" (just my working title for and a direct quote from one speaker's talk and the notes she encouraged us to take):

"Think of something in your past, something that part of you wishes you could undo...Now ask yourself this question: what is something that you learned from that experience that you will never forget and that makes you a better person?" There are countless answers that lead us to consider in gratitude the purpose of this life. Some of our limitations and perceived failures make us who we are. Now as you're pondering that, here's a somewhat related question for you to fill in the blank: Sometimes I think I could be so much more effective and fulfilling my mission from God if it weren't for ___? Whatever you chose to complete the sentence, it was probably something out of your control, right? Think of the Romans who controlled Israel at the time of Christ. Much like the ancient Jews who struggled to recognized the Messiah in their midst because they sought deliverance from the Romans, am I not fully recognizing the Messiah for "who He is...present in my life right now" as I seek deliverance from my own Romans?

Added December 23rd: Another great talk on recognizing the Lord for who He is. It also echoes the lesson I taught my adopted Primary class of 9 and 10 year olds this Sunday.

Healing from the Lord comes in unexpected ways. "True hope is founded in Christ's power to redeem." To help me better recognize the Lord's hand in my life and rekindle my hope and trust in Him, I have studied my past and even the scriptural past.

Journal entry for December 9th 2014: Hopeful Christmas (John 16:33)

 Most of the basic fertility tests have been done and even redone and the results are promising albeit they do not provide an answer for why our family is growing slower than expected. But as I pondered the miracles of Christmas and prepared my Hannukah decorations (we're celebrating both this year; see the picture above) I was touched by the story of Elizabeth conceiving in her old age and the strength she and her cousin shared in their miraculous experiences. It filled me with hope. As I wrote to Greg, "I wish I could share with you what I am feeling [right now]. This kind of lump in my throat is the best kind to have." Victoria has been sick off and on this past week and this afternoon she is sleeping. I am grateful to take the opportunity to slow down and cuddle more and do whatever she wants to do; even if she is too tired to do much of anything besides enjoy my company and watch me do things that we would normally do together. God has been good to me and my family. I am grateful for the hope that I feel springing within me once again. I hope to continue exercising my faith by not waiting for the next chapter of my life to begin.

 
 In a recent Facebook post, I shared four questions from a creative friend of mine, Brooke Schultz, to get the juices flowing as you prepare to make New Year's Resolutions. 1) What are you up against in 2015? 2) What are your secret goals that seem impossible? 3) What are you struggling with right now? 4) What do you wish for, creatively and personally? I humble submit that the answer to all of these can be found is you look inward to recognize your potential as a child of God, look outward in service to others, and look upward to God.

1. What am I up against for 2015? My sweet genius of a husband, Greg, will be doing the preliminary defense of his doctoral thesis, hopefully going to a large conference, and taking a class or two in addition to his current work load as an RA. Our toddler daughter is working on toilet training still. And I've signed up for a weekly babysitting job in our home. All these blessing and many more come from the Lord above.

2. What are your secret goals that seem impossible? Up until this month I probably would have said something about getting pregnant, but given my new-found hopes I am glad to relabel that task as POSSIBLE. I want to sing opera again but have come to admit that my work ethic needs work. I need to stay motivated in order to keep my talents cultivated. I want to do more with decorating our home on a budget which means that some projects (redoing my master bedroom and bathroom with homemade bedding and a paint job) will have to stay in the dream stage until we can afford them or I get creative enough to modify my existing ideas. Philippians 4:13 redefines impossible beautifully.

3. What are you struggling with? I don't want my soul to feel stifled as it waits for things. Whether it's an updated look for my home or a second child that's been sought after for years now, I want to find ways to express and fulfill myself even if it means not getting what I want. I need to make art that brings joy and beauty to myself and those around me independent of a few specific creative visions yet to be made real. All struggles are swallowed up in Christ's atonement. 

4. What do you wish for, creatively and personally? In short I hope to make the most of my opportunities to nurture others while nurturing myself. I know that the Lord will help me reach my divine potential as one of His children. Moses 1:39.

12 Days of Christmas (DIY advent)

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: CELEBRATING THE MESSIAH

**If you have less time or shorter attention spans in your family, feel free to break each day in half for a longer advent calendar.  If so, begin reading on December 1st instead of December 13th, ending Christmas Eve.

DAY  1 (Dec. 13):  The year is 1742 and autumn is in the air.  An elderly gentleman sighs then says to his secretary, “God has visited me.”  In a mere 24 days Handel composed his most outstanding work!   Initially he thought this would take a year to complete.  Handel wrote Messiah with careful simplicity and it is best performed accordingly.  Part I (songs #1-21) contains many prophecies about the Messiah, most of which are from Isaiah.  Part II (songs #22-44) deals mainly with the suffering, Crucifixion, and Atonement of Christ.  Part III (songs #45-53) is concerned with the Resurrection.   

Read the following scriptures to introduce the oratorio: 1 Tim. 3:16, Col. 2:2-3.

DAY 2 (Dec. 14):  Read and discuss “Handel and the gift of the Messiah” by Elder Condie in the Ensign December 2010, pages 23-24, 26-27.

DAY 3 (Dec. 15): #3-7, 9-11 are prophecies of the Second Coming.  Here are the references:

Isaiah 40:1-5

Haggai 2:6-7, Malachi 3:1

Malachi 3:2-3

Isaiah 40:9; 60:1

Isaiah 9:2-3

DAY 4 (Dec. 16): #8, 12, 14-17 Are prophecies about Christ’s birth.  In #17 Handel inserted Italian directions for this number, translated as follows: as from a distance and rather softly.  He wanted the chorus to sound like the Angelic hosts coming down from Heaven to visit the shepherds. Listen to “For Unto Us a Child is Born” online. Here are the references:

Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23

Isaiah 9:6

Luke 2:8-11, 13-14

DAY 5 (Dec. 17): #18-21 Are general prophecies about the Savior. Here are the references:

Zechariah 9:9-10

Isaiah 35:5-6

Isaiah 40:11

Matthew 11:28-30

DAY 6 (Dec. 18):  #22-25, 30-32 Describe explicit and exquisite suffering, including the Father’s reaction.  Here are the references:

John 1:29  This song is marked “Largo”, a tempo reserved for a king’s entry or a death march—this is both.  The words are what John the Baptism said when introducing Christ.

Isaiah 53:3-5 The first four notes of verse 5 are sung using “the cross motif” (if you connect the notes you get a cross laying on its side.)  This was used by Bach and since then, people had learned to recognize the melody and associate it with the cross of Christ.

Lamentations 1:12

Isaiah 50:6

Isaiah 53:8

Psalm 16:10

DAY 7 (Dec. 19):  #26-29 Are the reactions of people now and then towards Christ.   Psalms 22:8 is a fugue so each of the four voice parts takes a turn singing the melody and then it gets broken into pieces and everyone starts singing something different at the same time.  The melismas (lots of notes on one word or syllable) on the word delight often sound like mean laughter.  Sometimes the characters singing here in verse 8 sounds like the smug Pharisees, but Handel also has sections that sound more like Christ’s disciples who were disappointed and confused that Christ allowed himself to die.  Part of being the Messiah meant that He had to choose to die, but they did not understand that.  Here are the references:

Isaiah 53:6

Psalm 22:7-8

Psalm 69:20

DAY 8 (Dec. 20):  #33-44 Describe some of the results of the Atonement.  Here are the references:   

Psalm 24: 7-10

Heb. 1:5-6

Psalm 68: 11, 16

Romans 10:15, 18

Psalm 2:1-4, 9

Revelation 19:6,16; 11:15

DAY 9 (Dec. 21):  Listen to the Hallelujah chorus online and discuss.  Why do we stand for the Hallelujah chorus (#44)?

The tradition of standing during the Hallelujah Chorus began during a performance on March 23, 1743 [its first performance in England]. King George II was attending the performance. When the Hallelujah Chorus began King George rose. It is unclear why he stood up, he may have been stretching his legs, it is possible that King George, who was partially deaf, mistook the opening notes for the national anthem, or he may have risen to his feet out of respect.

No one knows why King George stood but we do know that people around the world still rise to their feet whenever they hear first notes of the Hallelujah Chorus.

(Read more at Suite101: Handel's Hallelujah Chorus: The Story of the Culminating Chorus in The Messiah http://www.suite101.com/content/handels-hallelujah-chorus-a34854#ixzz17MLvDgpz)

DAY 10 (Dec. 22):  #45-50 testify of the resurrection of our living Lord.  Here are the references:

Job 19:25-26, 1 Cor. 15:20

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

1 Corinthians 15:52-56

DAY 11 (Dec. 23):  #51-53 highlight especially the gratitude we should all feel for what Christ did so that we each might live.  Here are the references:

1 Corinthians 15:57

Romans 8:31, 33-34

Revelations 5:12-13

DAY 12 (Dec. 24): Testimony bearing with friends and family

Let me know how this worked (or didn't) for your family? What other traditions do you have for Christmas? How do you strike a balance between the religious and commercial?