Our Friday service begins typically begins with the lighting of candles, which symbolizes the start of the Sabbath and the separation between the holy and the mundane. This is followed by the recitation of the Kiddush, which is a blessing over wine, and the blessing of the challah, which is a special unleavened bread eaten on Shabbat from an Essene tradition.
Next, on Shabbat morning, we move into the service of prayer, which consists of various blessings, prayers, and readings from the Torah and other sacred texts. During this time, we also engage in communal singing and chanting, which is an important part of our worship experience.
One of the central aspects of our Shabbat worship is the reading of the Torah. This typically takes place during the middle of the service and involves the chanting of a specific portion of the Torah scroll. The Torah reading is followed by a sermon or teaching, which offers insights and reflections on the meaning of the text and its relevance to our lives.
After the sermon, we continue with the Musaf service, which is an additional service that is added to the regular morning service on Shabbat. This includes additional prayers and blessings, as well as the repetition of the Amidah, which is a central prayer in the Jewish & Essene liturgy.
Finally, we conclude our Shabbat worship with the recitation of the Havdalah, which is a ritual that marks the end of the Sabbath and the transition back into the workweek. This involves the blessing of the wine, breaking bread, smelling sweet spices, and lighting a braided candle.
Overall, our Shabbat worship is a rich and meaningful experience that combines prayer, music, and communal engagement. We hope that our visitors will feel welcomed and inspired by our services and that they will find a deep connection to our Essene tradition through their participation in our worship.