In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Temple Oseh Shalom meeting in the sanctuary and facilities of Lowcountry Presbyterian, Temple member, Martin Levinson constructed a Cabinet to be placed in the church’s narthex to hold the Temple’s 300 hundred year old Torah Scroll and the Family Bible of an LPC member. A brief service was held Thursday night to dedicate the Cabinet in the presence of leadership from both congregations. Temple President Barry Zwieban opened the service expressing appreciation for LPC’s hospitality and the intention of the Temple to show with the Cabinet the rich heritage of faith that these congregations share. The Torah Scroll and the Bible are currently opened to the Ten Commandments. Rev. Christine Herrin, pastor of LPC received the Cabinet on behalf of the congregation and closed the service with the following prayer recognizing the importance of God’s Word for both Jews and Christians:
“We are grateful O God for the partnership between LPC and Temple Oseh Shalom. How it must please you that we share this beautiful worship space where your Holy Word is both spoken and sung week after week, month after month, and year after year.
May this cabinet and your Word contained in it remind us, and everyone who sees it, of the precious gift your Word is to us. May it inspire us to not just revere and treasure your Holy Word, but to read it and digest it so that it becomes a part of us, a living Word in us, that resides deeps in our bones, our sinews, our tendons, our minds and our wills, so that we are drawn closer to you O God, and able to say like Isaiah when you call, “Here am I, send me.”
We pray that your Word given to your people, spoken to your prophets, etched in stone on Mt Sinai, now on deer skin and paper, become inscribed on our hearts; your Word that comforts, and sustains, perplexes and challenges, motivates and inspires. We pray that your Word would continue to shape us and form us so that as your beloved children and as congregations, we might share your love out into the community and the world in all that we say and do. Amen”
Afterwards, the attendees shared a meal together at Truffles; hopefully the first of more such encounters as both congregations look forward to deepening our partnership.