What Is The Torah? | Reece's Peaces

Through June, we will be wrapping up our study of the Torah. With that in mind, I thought this would be the perfect time to explore exactly what the Torah is and why it matters to us. 

Technically, the Torah consists of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. While Christians sometimes use the term "Torah" to refer to the Old Testament as a whole, it actually only applies to these first five books. 

Traditionally, Moses is credited with writing them. While this claim isn’t explicitly made within the scripture itself, appearing instead in the Talmud (a collection of Jewish rabbinic teachings), these books have been attributed to Moses since the time of Christ. 

In fact, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, many influential Jewish groups viewed only the Torah as authoritative Scripture. The other books of the Hebrew Bible were seen as valuable and meritorious, but not on the same level as these first five books. This highlights the immense weight the Torah holds. 

These books serve as the foundational core of the Jewish faith, which means they are the building blocks of our faith, too, since Christianity grows directly out of Judaism. For the earliest Christians in the decades following Jesus’ resurrection, the Torah was their primary Holy Scripture, as the books of the New Testament had not yet been written! 

While the laws and genealogies in these books might seem antiquated to us  today,  they are still vital to our spiritual journey. Without the foundation laid in the Torah, we cannot fully understand our faith. It is here that God first formed His covenant relationship with humanity, a relationship that was built upon by each generation until its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. To have the fullest understanding of our relationship with God today, we must understand the Torah. 

Harmony in Freedom: Celebrating Juneteenth through Song | Marc's Music Notables

As we move into the warmth of June, Hurstbourne Christian Church prepares to observe a significant milestone in our nation’s journey toward justice: Juneteenth. Join us on Sunday, June 21st, as we observe this national holiday and celebrate through word and song. While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that the news of freedom finally reached the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas.

For us as a community of faith, Juneteenth is not just a historical marker; it is a spiritual celebration of God’s desire for liberation and the inherent dignity of every human being. This year, our service is anchored by a musical liturgy designed to take us on a journey from the "sorrow songs" of the past to the hopeful anthems of the future.

The Power of the Spirituals

When selecting music for a Juneteenth service, we look for pieces that do more than just sound beautiful. We look for songs that carry the weight of history. The spirituals were the original "protest songs," often containing coded messages about escape while providing a soul-sustaining connection to the Divine.

We begin by acknowledging the movement of the Holy Spirit - the same Spirit that sustained those waiting for freedom for two long years after the law had promised it. Our opening hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, often referred to as the Black National Anthem, this hymn is a masterpiece of resilience. Accompanied by the stirring tones of strings, it invites us to "let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies. Two of our special songs, "Steal Away to Heaven" & "Deep River", featuring Aundrey Ligon, represent the deep longing for a "home" where justice is complete. "Steal Away" was historically used to signal a gathering or an escape, while "Deep River" speaks to the peace found on the other side of Jordan.

Coty will lead us in a prayerful piano reflection, "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power", reminding us of the theological foundation of our hope: that no matter the struggle, the grace and power of God remain steadfast.

We conclude our service by joining our voices in the definitive anthem, of the Civil Rights movement, “We Shall Overcome”. It is our communal promise to keep walking toward the "bright star" of equality.

Why We Sing

We choose these songs because music has a way of bypassing the intellect and speaking directly to the heart. On Juneteenth, we don't just talk about freedom; we sing it. We honor those who sang these songs in the fields, in the secret "hush harbors," and on the long march toward justice. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the truth that, in Christ, we are all called to be free - and to work until that freedom is a reality for everyone.

Easy Keto Taquitos | Jenna's Favorite Recipes

These taquitos may be keto friendly, but whether you love carbs or avoid them, this recipe could be your new favorite snack! It's so easy and only requires a few ingredients. I recommend using food safe gloves for the rolling part, to avoid burning your fingers, but other than that, you won't believe how simple it is to make these tasty taquitos!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, or 12 slices

• 1 1/2 cups shredded chicken, pork or beef

• 1/2 cup salsa of choice

• 2 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 2 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp chili powder or cayenne

• Sour cream, guacamole, or hot sauce for serving

Directions

1. Preheat oven to at least 375 degrees (400 if your oven doesn't run too hot and heats evenly).

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Evenly distribute the cheese slices with an inch between them, or sprinkle the shredded cheese into even circles.

3. Bake the cheese for 8-10 minutes until it's starting to get brown and crispy.

4. While cheese is baking, combine the shredded meat, salsa, and seasonings.

5. Remove the cheese from the oven. Let cool 1-2 minutes.

6. Using food safe gloves, place a couple tablespoons of the meat mixture onto each one. Quickly roll the cheese around the meat and place the outside edge down so it doesn't unroll. (If the cheese cooled too much to roll, just put the tray back in the oven for 30 seconds to heat it up again.)

7. If you want the taquitos crispier, put the tray back in the oven for a few minutes, until the cheese is browned.

8. Let taquitos cool for a few minutes before serving so the shells harden. Enjoy with your choice of toppings or condiments!

This recipe took inspiration from www.kimspireddiy.com

The Book Of Genesis | Reece's Peaces

Genesis does not derive its title from a label assigned by an author, but rather from the very first word found in the text. The book opens with the Hebrew word bereshit, which translates to "in the beginning." Our modern title comes from the Greek word génesis,  which also carries the meaning of origin or beginning. This shared meaning across languages is actually quite unique, as Genesis is the only book of the Torah to follow this specific pattern. Unlike Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, where the Greek and English titles describe themes that differ from the literal Hebrew opening words, Genesis is named perfectly for its content. The first word serves as a perfect summary because Genesis is, at its heart, the story of all beginnings. 

This book acts as the foundational building block for the rest of Holy Scripture. The narrative begins by covering the origin of the world and the dawn of God's relationship with humankind in chapters one through eleven, before narrowing its focus to the beginnings of God’s covenant people in chapters twelve through fifty. By exploring the lives of the patriarchs and the early covenants God established with humanity, we begin to see the framework of the entire biblical story.

It is a vital book to study because it documents the earliest interactions between the Creator and His creation, showing us both the mistakes people make and the consistent way God responds. While these events can feel incredibly distant, the timeline is actually quite striking. The birth of Joseph occurred roughly 4,000 years ago, placing his life about as far away from the birth of Jesus as we are from the life of Christ today. This perspective helps us realize that even before history was recorded in a modern sense, God was actively at work. Since the very first beginning, God has been present with His people, and He remains just as present with us today. 

“How Do You Pick the Music for Our Worship Services?” | Marc's Music Notables

People sometimes ask me how I pick the music for our worship services, so I thought I would take a moment to give you a peek behind the curtain and explain my process. Selecting the right hymns and anthems/solos each week is a deeply rewarding task, but there are quite a few moving parts that go into making sure our musical offerings enhance our time together in the sanctuary.

I usually start with the lectionary, a structured, three-year calendar of Bible readings used for worship services around the world. As a Disciples of Christ church, we follow the basic liturgical calendar of the church year—moving together through Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and ordinary time. Naturally, the first step is ensuring the hymns match the liturgical season we are in. If you want to see how this works in practice, take a look at the top corner of each hymn in the *Chalice Hymnal*. You will notice they are intentionally organized by themes. Furthermore, if you look at the index in the back of the hymnal, you will find the hymns categorized by both topic and scripture reference, which is an invaluable tool when planning a service.

That brings me to the next major step: finding hymns that closely match Ben’s sermon topics. Currently, Ben has begun an ambitious new sermon series, preaching through the Bible in one year. This requires a slightly different approach on my end. Because our faith traditions and hymnody focus primarily on the New Testament, there aren't many hymns that directly retell Old Testament stories. When we are in the Old Testament, I do my best to find hymns that match the broader *themes* and theological lessons of the weekly readings, even if the lyrics don't mention specific biblical characters by name.

Finally, the familiarity of the tune makes a massive impact on the congregation's experience. I’ll admit, there have been a few times in the past when I realized I was the only person singing an unfamiliar hymn! To avoid those awkward solos, I do my best to ensure the hymns we sing are well-known to the congregation. When we do introduce new music, I try to pick melodies that are intuitive and easy enough to learn that people can catch on quickly.

While it is sometimes nearly impossible to match the themes perfectly, I hope you can see the effort put into ensuring that worship is a time of deep connection with scripture and the Holy Spirit. Removing any distractions or barriers to that connection is always my primary goal. My prayer is that the music we sing and offer in praise will be found pleasing to our Lord's ear and honor Him for all He has done for us.

As we lift our voices together each Sunday, I am often reminded of the words of Psalm 95:1-3:

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

I look forward to singing with you this Sunday!