02/17/2024
Shabbat Shalom, Friends.
It's a peaceful, beautiful day. I'm full of gratitude today -- this weekend is the last Dance Competition of the year and I am so ready to get back to normal life. This one is local -- we stay home. I just dropped Miss Dancer off at her studio for their Workshoppes today. Tomorrow, she has the Stage, down in Franklin.
Community.
Randy and I have been being pulled toward a longing for _Community_. But HaShem has made it clear to us both that He doesn't want us going out to search for one -- He wants to bring one to _us_. We're to prepare. To build this house up as His home, live how He is leading us --- and He will bring people. He wants us as partners in His mission. Does He *need* us? No. Far from; we serve a God Of Miracles. He could lead on His own, with pillars of smoke and fire, if He wished. He _wants_ us. Calls us.
We have the vision. Within 5 years, this home will be a functioning Monastery -- a learning house. Beit Arukah: the House of Restoration. A Celtic Monastery: where people come to learn. Learn who HaShem is, yes, but more than that. Learn the arts. Learn to cook. Learn self-sufficiency. Learn canning. Learn to homeschool their children with confidence. Learn geometry. Learn to Homestead. But in the city. Where we're secluded, but accessible. Local.
It will be a house of _study_. For people of _all_ backgrounds. No strings or faith expectations attached. We believe that when people see the love Our Father has for them, regardless of their heart's posture toward Him, they will begin to naturally fall in love with Him as well. There's no forcing that. There's no timeline on it, either. Our job isn't to "convert". It's just to love, and to teach.
We're figuring out how to put the infrastructure in place. Obviously, we need gardens and chicken coops and the workshop fixed up. We need the downstairs bathroom renovated. We need to figure out how to put a chimney in the wall so that the wood-stove can be used. The Attic and Crawlspace both want work. And we need rooms for visitors to stay for a while for learning. We're considering second-hand (or third-hand) RVs that people no longer want, cleaned up and arranged nicely as short-term dormitories.
It's a thought.
There are so many steps in between here and there. My heart wants to skip over all of them, and just *be there already*. But the trials teach us things, and we cannot be prepared without experiencing the preparation. Patience.
Anyway, in the short term, I'll issue an open invitation:
Resuming next week, we're open for visitors and Community. Please come join us. Arrive for whatever part of the schedule you'd like; stay as late as you want.
Shabbat Schedule (weekly):
11:00 -- Communal viewing of Out of Ashes Ministries livestream teaching. Kids welcome.
1:00 -- Potluck lunch and conversation: please bring a hot dish or carry-in (restrictions: no pork and shellfish, please.)
3:00 -- Torah Club. This is a Bible Study program we've enjoyed; we've been studying and discussing the annual Torah Cycle and its relevance in our daily lives. Teens welcome. Activities available for kids.
If you're around late enough for dinner, we'd love to have you for that, too. ❤️
Sunday Schedule:
Sundays, for us, are a Work Day. If you're free and you need Volunteer Hours for *literally any organization*, we've got stuff to be done. We'll happily accept your hard work -- and feed you, too.
I'm trying to set up a weekly Sunday Workshop at 1 pm. Playing with how that (and registration for it!) will work.
This month I am focusing on Canning. I know there are people who are afraid to pressure can, because it's intimidating. I've been doing it for years, and I'd love to help others overcome their fears and get started. So anyway -- next week, Sunday, 1 pm, my kitchen, Canning Lessons. I'll post better details tomorrow.
Have a blessed Day Of Rest. ❤️❤️
