Preparing for Awe

In Jesus' day they actually too the time to get ready for God each new year with "10 days of awe."

This is from Judaism 101.  The ten days, starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance. This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur.

One of the ongoing themes of the Days of Awe is the concept that God has "books" that he writes our names in, writing down who will live and who will die, who will have a good life and who will have a bad life, for the next year. These books are written in on Rosh Hashanah, but our actions during the Days of Awe can alter God's decree. The actions that change the decree are "teshuvah, tefilah and tzedakah," repentance, prayer, good deeds (usually, charity). These "books" are sealed on Yom Kippur. This concept of writing in books is the source of the common greeting during this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

This Sunday we will officially begin our week of awe at Connections.  But if you want to get a head start, take some time on January 1 & 2 to make preparations.  Begin your time or repentance, prayer and charity.  Then on Sunday we'll give you the whole plan!