Page 4 - May 2021 Prayer Guide

COUNTING OF THE OMER

You shall count for yourselves -- from the day after the Sabbath, from the day when you bring the Omer
of the waving -- seven Sabbaths, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh Sabbath, you
shall count, fifty days... Leviticus 23:15-16.

God instructed the Israelites to count the days from Passover to the Feast of Pentecost in anticipation of
Pentecost (see Leviticus 23:16). This 50-day period is known as the Counting of the Omer. Counting the Omer
reminds us of the link between Passover and Pentecost, which celebrates the Giving of the Law in the Old
Testament and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. An "Omer" is a unit of measure for grain in ancient
Israel. Counting the Omer began with the symbolic offering of an omer of barley ("FirstFruits") in
the Jerusalem Temple and continued up until the day before a symbolic offering of wheat was brought to the
Temple on the day of Pentecost or Shavuot. The act of Counting the Omer is a part of Jewish tradition.
Encourage your children to “Count the Omer” in preparation for Pentecost. See page 4 for the additional
instructions.

THE FEAST OF PENTECOST

The Feast of Pentecost celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament and the Holy
Spirit in the New Testament. This feast is to be filled with joy and thanksgiving for God’s bountiful blessings of
the harvest. During the celebration of Pentecost, believers will bring the firstfruits of any financial income since
the Passover. This offering is called the latter firstfruit offering and symbolizes our thanksgiving to God for
providing the “latter” spring harvest. The Church Family will offer its latter firstfruits at the Pentecost Worship
Celebration, Sunday, May 16, 2021.

Things You Need to Know

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• Pentecost begins sundown, May 16 and ends at sundown, May 17th.
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• The Pentecost Worship Celebration will be held Sunday, May 16 at 7:00 pm. The Church
Family will offer its latter firstfruits during service.
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• Prepare to offer your latter firstfruit offering on Sunday, May 16th, during the Pentecost
Worship Celebration. This is a special offering from any financial income since the Passover
Festivals. If you are unable to meet God’s appointed time, you may bring your offering to The
KBC drop box, use the mobile app, give online, text: GIVE & your dollar amount to 713-322-
7711 or mail.
 OF R

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