The Invitation
So … Sukkot … It’s not till October, right? BUT … if you’re putting on a Sukkot Camping Festival on virgin land with just a logging road it feels like it’s TOMORROW … there’s so much to do, and it’s all getting done.
There’s a road going in, curving its way straight up the mountain (with gorgeous views), a 40×60 worship tent and an even larger pole barn (roof only) being erected, bathrooms and showers being installed, permits drawn … camping tents being purchased, land being leveled, trees being mulched … worshipers and workshop leaders being invited, a schedule being created (we will see what God does with it!) AND … YOU ARE INVITED!
It’s been a JOY putting together “Sukkot Under the Stars.” I’m dreaming about sitting with God under His vast canopy of lights, camping, eating yummy food, praising Him through worship and workshops, being filled with JOY, LAUGHTER, PEACE, CELEBRATION, and WONDER, sharing His delight with others. Intimacy with God, His Creation, each other and ourselves.
YOU ARE INVITED!
And, of course, if you prefer not to “rough it,” there is nice lodging within twenty minutes of us.
There’s Always a Backstory…
It all began when a friend, who is new to her Hebraic roots, asked me to create a celebration for Sukkot. I was planning on going to Israel, but felt G-d’s inclination to say yes to her, so I did.
And then, in the midst of our planning, G-d stopped me short. A bit of a truncated, paraphrased conversation follows. He actually sounded very dramatic, His point very clear:
G-D: You live on former Cherokee land.
Me: Yes?
G-D: I want you to honor the Cherokee.
Me: OK. How?
G-D: Invite them as MY guests for Sukkot. Welcome them home in My Name. (I felt a bit perplexed. Just how was I supposed to do that?) Follow my lead, and I will invite them and welcome them home through you.
My brain kicked in. Write a letter to the Cherokee leadership in my area. Talk to the Cherokee that I know. Tell everyone about God’s directive. I started churning out ideas like you churn ice cream. And then … His reminder. “I will invite them through you. Sit still. Slow down. Listen. Follow My scent.”
He led me to have dinner with one particular person. That conversation produced miracles within the first ten minutes … far beyond the Sukkot Festival.
In the meantime, I discovered that my land is in the ancient Cherokee Hunting Grounds and that the Cherokee had relinquished it in the DeWitt Treaty of 1777. I knew the Cherokee were sometimes considered one of the Lost Tribes of Israel and I had an inclination that was true, but during this time someone also shared this website with me. https://accessgenealogy.com/native/cherokee-dna.htm. The Cherokee have DNA markers that identify them with the Middle East and Israel. Interesting …
The Essence of Sukkot
My mind turned back to the essence of Sukkot
Worshiping God under the stars
Celebrating His goodness
Listening to His Ruach, His Spirit, rustling in the leaves
Dreaming about His vastness
Looking out over His immenseness of hills and mountains
Remembering how He took care of us in the wilderness
Thanking Him for bringing us to the Promised Land
Considering my fragility and my need for Him
I wondered what God was going to do. I wanted in on His plan.
His response:
“The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.”
Wait upon the Wind of His Spirit. The physical wind has been blowing a lot recently, on cue, confirming His word when He speaks, a reminder that when I’m on His journey I’m always home with Him.
“Trust in My Spirit. Lay down your burden. Rest. Relax. I will show the way.”
The essence of Sukkot.
YOU ARE INVITED!
Information
Sunday night, October 9th until Tuesday morning, October 18.
Please join us for as many days as you can.
Location: the hills north of Traveler’s Rest, SC.
We will supply you with details of the location when you register.
Cost: See below
Volunteering
Whoohoo! If you want to come for free you can volunteer. For every full day you volunteer you will get one free day’s registration, with lodging and workshops included. We need people in advance, during the festivities, and afterwards. If you can stay in a tent for a week or two before the festivities we would really appreciate it. Just let us know …
Many Thanks for Your Help!
It is not cheap to put on a festival on virgin land … and make it comfortable for those attending. We appreciate all your blessings, in prayers, in finances and in goods. Please contact us if you want to help. Wendy@HousesofBeauty.org That would be awesome! Thanks in advance… Much Love and Much Shalom!
Wendy Cohen
AND HERE ARE MORE DETAILS (Seriously)
Please contact greg@HousesofBeauty.org to ask for a registration packet.
When you register you will choose from the following smorgasbord
Finances: Full Time Attendance:
Registration: $75
Meals $350 for full meal ticket
(You can also buy individual meals, see A La Carte, or bring your own food)
Lodging for all 9 nights:
In your own tents: $100
One person camping in tents we provide: $200
Two or more people camping in tents we provide: $120 per person
Note: We have some tents for up to 10 people, and others for up to 20
Workshops:
Workshops, Monday through Friday, Inclusive:
(You can also purchase individual workshops. See A La Carte)
One Morning Workshop $50
Two Morning Workshops $95
One Afternoon Workshops $100
Two Afternoon Workshops $190
All Four Workshops $175
Art workshops have a materials fee which varies according to the medium
Finances: A La Carte Attendance:
Registration: $25 a day
Meals: $10 breakfast, $15 lunch, $18 dinner, $22 Shabbat dinner
Lodging per night:
In your own tents: $25
One person camping in tents we provide: $35
Two or more people camping in tents we provide: $20 per person
Note: We have some tents for up to 10 people, and others for up to 20
Workshops, Per Day
One Morning Workshop $15
Two Morning Workshops $25
One Afternoon Workshops $25
Two Afternoon Workshops $45
All Four Workshops: $70
Art workshops have a materials fee which varies by the workshop
So, if you choose to do EVERYTHING, buy the whole shebang, and stay in our tents, it will cost you $800. If you choose to bring your own tent, relax and hang out, volunteer a bit, worship and walk the hills it will cost you $175. You can customize it, adding whatever pleases you the most …Workshop and Activity Information: Living God in Life
Living God in Life (Free Activities)
Worship, evenings, and much of the day on Shabbat, Sunday and Monday
We surrender our worship to the LORD.
We EXPECT to be worshiping Him in two different ways:
- “Fire circles” where people gather to sing and rejoice and celebrate together. Please feel free to bring your instruments and be part of the festivities!
- Worshipers leading us in celebration.
Taming the Wilderness, Monday through Friday mornings from 9am-12pm.
Want to help us make Beit Tiferet Emunah beautiful? We need help making paths, planting the Hefzibah garden (think Song of Solomon, fragrances, flowers, butterflies), planting bulbs, clearing out underbrush so people can see our incredible views, making tree houses. ) Interested?
Storytelling, See the Schedule at the Storytelling Tent.
Storytelling for Children (and children at heart)
Workshops
Morning Workshops: One Hour
Discovery: So …Nu? Why Should We Care about Sukkot and the Hebraic Feasts? M-F, 10-11
Monday: The Overarching Story: What is the Parable that All the Feasts Tell?
Tuesday: Sukkot, the Final Feast, Its prophetic, historical and personal significance
Wednesday: Waiting in the Wilderness, Arriving in the Promised Land
Thursday: Are We the Second Generation? The Generation that Can Enter the Promised Land?
Friday: The Bride and the Bridegroom, The Spirit and the Bride Say Come
Saturday: Messianic Judaism
Sunday: Remembering God’s Glory. Returning to Our Meekness.
Monday: Honestly! Meeting God Just Where We AreGardening,
Shepherding and Homesteading, M-F, 11:30-12:30
Classes about homesteading, raising livestock, making cheese, growing successful vegetable and herb gardens
Monday: Raising Livestock
Tuesday: Milking animals and making cheese
Wednesday: Growing successful vegetable and herb gardens, even in a small space
Thursday: Ins and outs of Solar Energy
Friday: Making an herb garden in a pot. (Materials Cost: $20)
Afternoon Workshops: Two Hours
heART inspire, “The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s People, went up before God from the angel’s hand.” Rev 8:4, M-F, 1:45-3:45
Monday: Letters Tell Stories: Each Hebrew letter has meaning, each tells a story. We will make beautiful hanging glass reflectors out of the Hebrew letters, learning about their significance and creating meaning-filled works of art. Each person will make two reflectors. One to be used in the Heftzibah Garden (His Delight is Towards Me) on the property and the other to go home with you. We pray that every time you look at your reflector you will pray for us. Cost of materials: $25
Tuesday: Stepping Stones: Each step of our lives, we begin and continue and complete a journey. We usually write journals of our steps on paper. But what if you could capture one moment of your journey and put it on a stone? Each participant will make two glass decorated concrete stepping stones, one to be used in the Heftzibah Garden (His Delight is Towards Me) on the property and the other to go home with you. We pray that every time you step on your stone you will pray for us. Cost of materials: $30
Wednesday: Rocks of Remembrance. Rocks are markers in our lives. They mark our paths, and we use them, symbolically, to remember God’s Presence in our lives. In this workshop we will ask the LORD to remind us of Scriptures that have become our cornerstones, scriptures that we live within. We will paint then on stones. Then, we will paint the stones they way God leads us to communicate the essence of His word. No artistic experience is needed. You cannot mess this up. You are painting your personal response to God’s Word. Each person will paint two stones. One will be used along the pathways on the property and the other will go home with you. We pray that every time you look at your stone you will remember to pray for us. Cost of materials: $15
Thursday: Art for Healing. All our problems can be resolved when we understand the truth behind the lies, and choose the truth over the deceptions. When we do that, we erase the pain of the problems and enter into the joy of God’s Resolution for us. Now imagine … you can paint your way through the challenges in your life, learning how God wants to resolve whatever your issues are, and you can walk out the other side healed.) Cost of Materials: $15
Friday: Prophetic Art (More Information coming soon) Cost of Materials: $15
Our Bodies Are Instruments of Praise, M-F , 4:15-6:15
Monday: Telling Our Own Stories
Tuesday: Theater Workshop based upon our Testimonies
Wednesday: Freeing our Voices and Bodies as Creative Instruments
Thursday: Davidic Dancing
Friday: Davidic Dancing Part II
Looking forward to celebrating our LORD together with you during Sukkot!
To Register please contact Greg@HousesofBeauty.Org
Shalom! Shalom! Wendy for Houses of Beauty
FREEDOM 