More ideas for Shavuot:
DIY Shavuot Cupcake Toppers
Shavuot Surprise Gift Exchange Game
Seven Ways to Celebrate Shavuot
Showing posts with label how to celebrate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to celebrate. Show all posts
Milk and Honey Desserts for Shavuot
More ideas for Shavuot:
DIY Shavuot Cupcake Toppers
Shavuot Surprise Gift Exchange Game
Seven Ways to Celebrate Shavuot
Seven Ways to Celebrate Shavuot
When the omer count finally makes it to fifty it's
Shavuot! Then what? Here are a few ways you can celebrate this year.
-Watch
the wheat harvest. Shavuot is about the wheat harvest
and celebrating the bread of life. Get in touch with a local farm or farmer to
see when they will be harvesting their wheat, and if you can visit. Seeing cows
and beehives would also be fitting. If nothing else, go for a drive or bike
ride to see if you can find a farmer gathering their wheat. Usually the timing
is just about right here in the Midwest and farmers harvest the wheat around
Shavuot. Or think about taking family pictures in front of a wheat field.
-Give
the word to someone. On Shavuot we celebrate the giving of
the Torah, why not keep that gift going? Purchase a Bible for someone who
doesn't have one or would benefit from a different translation. Or gather
Bibles to give to a nonprofit like a soup kitchen or homeless shelter so they
can share them with their clients. Children (or adults) could memorize a verse
to recite to grandparents or the congregation as a way to share the word with
others.
-Have
two loaves of bread. Leviticus 23:17 says to bring two
loaves of bread as a wave offering to YHWH. Why not try your hand at baking
bread or purchase a couple of delicious loafs from a bakery? Maybe a new recipe
or trying an unusual kind would make it even more wonderful. Serve them with
different spreads and toppings to make a bruschetta bar or do-it-yourself
grilled cheese. Seeing not one, but two loafs of bread is a reminder that YHWH takes
care of our needs. Thank him for the provision before digging in.
-Get
immersed. In Acts 2 believers were baptized in the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Shavuot. Spend your Shavuot at the lake or on
the beach and get immersed. This would be a great opportunity for meditation on
that passage of Scripture or a group discussion about it.
-Throw
a painting party! Get together a group of friends and render
Bible verses to canvas. Paint or handwrite the words to a favorite verse or the
fruit of the Spirit or the ten commandments. Even if it doesn't turn out a
masterpiece it's still a fun way to focus on Scripture and spend time with
others. Provide canvases, brushes, paint, and lots of newspaper to keep things
clean. A painted or printed out Scripture would also make a great Shavuot gift
for a friend. Another way to give the word.
-Study
Scripture. Aren't we celebrating that we received YHWH's
word? That could look like having friends over for a late night Bible study,
having a picnic near a wheat field to read the book of Ruth, kids acting out a
Bible story, or a dramatic reading. Delving into Scripture is a foundational
part any feast and it should be a joy!
-Provide
for the poor. At the end of the instructions for
Shavuot in Leviticus 23:22, we are reminded to not use all of our resources on
ourselves but leave some for those in need. Could you donate clothing to a
women's shelter at this time of year or non perishables to a food pantry? How
about volunteering as a family at a local nonprofit? Putting together action
packs for Voice of the Martyrs was a memorable Shavuot activity for our congregation.
Donate financially to a missions cause you believe in.
Have a very happy Shavuot!
Happy Shavuot Printable
Click here to download this Happy Shavuot printable. It is free for your personal use. Have a lovely set apart time!
Passover Bucket List + Printable
Make your own bucket list or download mine. Obviously, it doesn't need to be this big but hanging up a large print can serve twofold as a decoration throughout the week of Unleavened Bread and as a reminder of fun things to do to make this time special.
You can download this here, and then print it off on regular paper or have it printed. I had mine printed at Staples for about $1.75. It is free for your personal use and I hope it helps make Matzah Week a little more fun!
What's on your bucket list for this Passover season?
Six Things You Can Do Now to Get Ready for the Spring Feasts
What can we do to start preparing for the Bible holidays of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits?
When you're new to celebrating the Bible holidays, it can be hard to know what to do or how to spend this time. Take some time to consider what your goals are for this year's feast days. Maybe that's doing something for Passover for the first time ever. Maybe that's putting up decorations around your home. Maybe that's taking the week off from work. That could be be traveling to celebrate with a group of believers or inviting friends over to learn about these special times. Whatever your hopes, now is the time to prepare to make that happen.
Six things you can do now to get ready for the Spring feasts:
Prepare your calendar. Different groups use different calendars, but Passover is coming up around the beginning of April. Decide on which calendar you're using and then be sure to clear your schedule then! Put in for time off work, don't schedule any appointments or major home projects then, clear other commitments from your schedule if need be. Let your children's teachers know if they'll be missing any school, etc.
Make plans. Do you want to have your family over for a Passover supper? Invite them and start thinking about a menu. Do you want to celebrate with a group of believers? If so, see about finding a group you can join, and find out when they'll be gathering. Could you invite friends over for a Bible study or see about having your small group have a time of communion and foot washing?
Study to learn about Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Whether this is your first year celebrating or fiftieth, there is something new to be learned this year. Read through the stories of Exodus and the crucifixion. You could also read books on the feasts by Eddie Chumney or Anne Elliott, among others. Studying Scripture always gives me fresh ideas and motivation for honoring YHWH's set apart times.
Do your shopping. Do you want to deck your house in crepe paper and balloons? Or give a Passover themed gift to family members? Do you need to order matzah? Are you hoping to find Passover shirts or signs? Do you need supplies to make Passover craft projects with your kids? Make a list of what you'll need for Passover and Unleavened Bread and get your times ordered or make it a point to go to the store so you don't have to rush at the last minute.
Start getting the leaven out of your house. Go through your cupboards and freezer and see what leavened items you have to use by Passover. Get those used up or donate anything you can't use to a food pantry. Leavened items are mostly breads, and things with breadcrumbs in them such as meatballs or breaded chicken. If you're not familiar with leavening, start learning now!
Take time to spiritually prepare. Removing the natural leaven from our homes is a picture of removing the spiritual leaven from our hearts. Has YHWH been speaking to you to let go of something or an area that hasn't been fully surrendered to him? Pray and ask to see what he wants to do and is doing in your life. Spend time worshipping and studying his word.
Preparing for any of the Biblical holidays is a special thing, but if you're reading this smack in the middle of the week of Unleavened Bread, don't despair! The Bible's directions for these holidays are simple enough so that anyone can participate in them. Start now and do what you can to join in the holidays the Creator made for us and to remember the amazing works of the Messiah that happened during these days!
More posts to help get ready for the Bible holidays:
Preparing Spiritually and Emotionally for Passover
The Beginner's Guide to Unleavened Bread
Kids Crafts for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits
Preparing Spiritually and Emotionally for Passover
The Beginner's Guide to Unleavened Bread
Kids Crafts for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits
Sukkah Inspiration
This year pushed Sukkos style to the next level! So many gorgeous sukkahs showed up in my inbox this year and I wanted to share a few. Thanks to everyone that sent their photos to me, it's an absolute joy to see YHWH's festivals being celebrated worldwide. I would be thrilled to celebrate Sukkot in any of these!
#sukkahgoals for sure!
For more inspiration check out last year's favorite sukkahs or my sukkah.
12 Ways to Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread
1. Bake matzah bread. I know the rabbinical rules to 'unleavened' can be a little intimidating but really what YHWH says is just to not let your bread rise or ferment. Making your own matzah is not difficult and it's SO MUCH BETTER than the boxed kind. Here's my recipe for matzah made with einkorn flour.
2. Read Scripture. This is something we desperately need to reclaim as a joy instead of drudgery. Read appropriate passages out loud, ask children to act them out, memorize a verse this week, or art journal. Our lives and special times will be so much better if YHWH's word is the cornerstone.
3. Make a matzah pinata. Isn't little Lior who made his own mini matzah pinata the cutest? Here are my directions for this super fun Unleavened Bread Week decoration and tradition. Maybe the kids could smash it and get out the goodies at the end of the week?
4. Wear something festive. This Yeshua is the afikomen tee is on sale, or you could wear this shirt! Grab a matzah tie, or even get your dog involved in the festivities with a bandana or collar. Matzah socks, anyone?
5. Celebrate with a sweet kosher-for-Passover treat. Not baking with flour doesn't mean you can't enjoy a special dessert! Try these chocolate donuts, or a mixed berry pavlova, or these walnut-crusted cherry tarts from Love and Lemons.
6. Make a matzo house. Definitely the answer to the traditional gingerbread house. Decorate with fruit, nuts, or candy. Use frosting or peanut butter for the glue. Martha Stewart shows us how.
7. Get your omer counter ready to go. You can make your own or print one of, but either way counting fifty days to get to Shavuot is a commandment of YHWH. Last year I did a DIY flair one that was such fun to put together. Torah Sisters Magazine also has the prettiest printable cards to use and a kids counter, and both are free!
8. Watch a movie. From The Prince of Egypt to Exodus: Gods and Kings to The Ten Commandments to shorter kids movies there is a fair amount of media that portrays the Exodus story, albeit not usually in a 100% Scripturally accurate way. I find visual aids very helpful, but of course use discernment about what media you consume and be ready to fact check and discuss discrepancies with your fellow movie goers. Here is a children's cartoon on the Israelites leaving Egypt that you can watch for free.
9. Decorate with a printable. 1 Corinthians 5:8 should be central to our focus during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, so print it off as a reminder. Lots of other Feast appropriate printables can be found here.
10. Clay matzos. I showed you how to make these last week. Use them for jewelry, barettes, doll houses, as flair for your omer calendar, magnets, or to decorate an inexpensive picture frame with.
11. Send a card. Receiving cards in the mail was always a marker of a special time to me as a child. Use this chag sameach card from The Climbing Tree or make your own. Sending to friends and family who also celebrate the Feast is fun for all, and sending to those who don't celebrate can be a thoughtful gesture that you're thinking of them.
12. Invite someone to dinner. This is special and memorable. Serve unleavened bread and maybe one or two of these recipes. This simple brunch is a huge crowd pleaser with cream cheese, smoked salmon, and cucumbers on fresh matzah. Discuss the meaning of the Feast and how it pertains to Yahusha to introduce your guests to this aspect of the kingdom.
How will you be celebrating Matzah week?
How will you be celebrating Matzah week?
20 Fun Ideas for the Fall Feasts
October is going to be a busy time for those of us celebrating the Feasts of YHWH. Whether you are new to the festivals or seasoned Methuselah I'm sharing some great ideas to make them extra special this year.
If you're staying at home you'll want to make a sukkah, like this one from Chai and Life.
Or you could go camping...
Sukkot foliage like palm leaves make a great table runner.
From Sugar & Cloth.
You'll be outside a lot so be prepared for the weather with this DIY lemon (or etrog!) umbrella.
From Studio DIY.
Wear this shirt.
From Mt. Tabor Tees.
Order these cookies or get cutters to make your own version.
Make DIY stained 'glass' with your kids to teach them about the feasts.
From The Climbing Tree.
Make these easy palm leaf sticks to stir your Sukkot drinks.
From The Merry Thought.
Have friends over for a potluck dinner in your sukkah.
From Chai and Home.
How good does this apple stuffed challah look?
From Torah Sisters Magazine.
Stay warm with this DIY constellation scarf.
From A Beautiful Mess.
From A Beautiful Mess.
Keep the kiddos entertained with finger puppets, especially handy on Yom Kippur.
Spend time under the stars.
From The Climbing Tree.
From The Climbing Tree.
Get a better idea what you're looking at with this constellation map.
From Mr. Printables.
Decorate with letter balloons.
Transform any dessert with this Chag Sameach topper.
From Chai and Home.
From Chai and Home.
Take a virtual tour of the Sukkah PDX exhibit from the Oregon Jewish Museum.
Take notes from this gorgeous party. Can you say #sukkahgoals?
How will you be celebrating?
PS - I'm posting late this week so Shabbat shalom!
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