Listen to Pastor Nick read the “Firestarter” and Jonah 4:2-11.

In the course of the years of seminary, God blessed me with the friendship of a cantor in the Reformed tradition, the late Sidney Venetianer. Along with his family, Sid became my life-long, devoted friend until his death in 1993. One Yom Kippur, I joined him in a complete fast of twenty-four hours, prescribed by the Torah for this day. That day sealed for me what has become a love for Judaism and a desire that we rediscover its profound rhythms for prayer, devotion to the Lord and openness to the ongoing flow of God into our lives.

The essence of the day is prayer and repentance, with the assurance that God is listening and merciful. It is a day of closeness in the Jewish Community, both those on earth and those beyond the grave, as remembrances of names of the community rise forth at the service on this day. It is a fitting day to visit a synagogue. As Christians, we bring the assurance of God’s forgiveness and atonement in Jesus Christ.

The Book of Jonah is read in its entirety on this day. (You will find Firestarters for this book in the Eighth and Ninth Weeks of Pentecost, Year C.)

Jonah 1-4

Learn about Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example: Sifting till anger is gone. Jonah 4:10-11

The Saturday passages follow the reading list that Jewish people use in their synagogue worship
throughout the world. They are taken from
“The Torah,” the first five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy
that are read each year beginning with autumn.

For all the Firestarters I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet. Check the menu options at the site for more information