Beit Tikvah

As Alex, a member of our Russian congregation, pulled into our parking lot with his huge semi, I realized it was really happening. We were moving! After eleven years at this location in north Bellevue, and after nineteen years from our inception, Beit Tikvah had purchased a beautiful piece of property and was moving to Newcastle. With fifty people helping on June 24th, we were packed and moved in one day. The sound system was dismantled, banners taken off the walls, shelving units, tables and chairs were loaded into waiting trucks, computers and office equipment packed securely and our ark was transported with tender loving care. And boxes and more boxes. It was amazing to see all the busy bodies working together in harmony for the sake of the Kingdom of God. It was not without a glitch, but the problems were few. Thank you Janice for coordinating the move, and for all who helped on that infamous day.

When my family relocated to Washington from Arizona in 1996, I was handed a packet by our facility search committee describing what we would need when we moved. Six years later this has become a reality. See online photos of our new home. We have a beautiful sanctuary, large foyer, fellowship hall, classrooms and offices. Situated on five acres and surrounded by tall timber, we have plenty of parking and room to grow. Our sanctuary is fine for our regular services but will be too small for some of the holidays coming up. So you will notice on our events page of this newsletter that our Rosh Hashana service is at a different location this year. Keep us in prayer, as we need wisdom from above concerning future expansion plans.

Our new home needs lots of work. We are accepting bids on a new roof for the sanctuary building. We have been scraping, sanding, priming and painting for weeks. We are in the process of installing additional lighting for the grounds and securing doors with proper locks, closures and panic hardware. We have lots of grass and weeds to mow on a regular basis, so there is room for many hands to contribute their time and talents. Our children finally have a fenced playground with swings, slide and other equipment to play on. Do you know of a McDonald's going out of business? I'd love to obtain some high quality play equipment for the children.

Another major change for our congregation is our new name: Beit Tikvah, House of Hope. Our initial theme verse is from Colossians 1:27, "Messiah in you, the hope of glory." Our website, email and all advertising will reflect both the old and new names for some time. This name is appropriate as many have come to us and received healing, restoration and refreshing. It also reflects a closer tie to the Jewish community with a name that is common and easy to pronounce. After months of discussion, fasting and prayer, there were no objections to the name change. So Beit Tikvah it is.

New home. New name. New logo. New sign. New letterhead and business cards. New life. New creature. New wine. One new man. New and living way. New tongues. New Covenant. New heavens and new earth. New Jerusalem. "Behold, I am making all things new. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son." (Rev 21:5-7)

Come join us for our holiday services as we celebrate the Fall Moedim, the Appointed Times of the Lord. May God grant you the freedom to walk in His grace and to experience His presence where there is fullness of joy. We are excited about our future because we know God holds the future. "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope ." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Rabbi Hylan

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