Membership

The spring semester New Members Class begins January 17th, 2009. This class will be from 9:30 am-10:30 am in Chaverah Hall and will follow the Adult Shabbat School schedule, running through May 23. If you are interested in becoming a member of Baruch HaShem, please join us for this class. The set of books required for the New Members Class are available in the Judaica shop for $35. Sign-up sheets are available in each foyer. Please fill out one of these forms and drop it in the Tzedakah box. You may also print a membership sign-up form from our web site, or use our web based e-mail membership sign-up form.

Membership courses are typically scheduled for the spring and fall in conjunction with the Shabbat School schedule.

The books that are required reading for the classes are:

"Our Hands are Stained with Blood" by Michael Brown,
"Restoring The Jewishness Of The Gospel" by David H. Stern, and
"Growing to Maturity" by Dan Juster.

All books are available in the Baruch HaShem Judaica Shop ($35 for all three).

Answers to frequently asked questions about membership at Baruch HaShem:

You must be 18 years old to become a member.
You must attend the new members class and go through the interview process.
Membership is open to both Jew and Gentile.
Membership cannot be transferred from another congregation (church or synagogue).
If you are coming from another Messianic Congregation, you still must take the classes and go through the same process.
Prospective new members will read the scheduled chapters in "Growing to Maturity" prior to class and complete the chapter work. The other two books need to be read before the last class is finished.
An exam will be given at the last class over the material covered in the class.
Upon completion of the class, reading all the material, taking the exam, an interview will be set up with each prospective new member.
One spouse can join without the other.
Childcare is provided for the classes (when arranged for in advance).
A letter with the class schedule and more detailed information will be sent to those who have signed up for the class.
You can take the membership classes without any obligation to join.

And for a Passover question and answer theme --
Four answers to "Why is this congregation different from all other congregations?":

1) As a Messianic synagogue, Baruch HaShem is not like other synagogues that do not know Yeshua as their Messiah;
2) As a Messianic synagogue, Baruch HaShem is not like church congregations that do not observe the fasts and feasts of the Torah and Jewish traditions;
3) Unlike some who claim to be Messianic, Baruch HaShem focuses on Yeshua as Messiah and not the "Jewish" religion or tradition. We strive to worship Messiah in a Jewish context without losing focus on Him.
4) Baruch HaShem has a unique history, community and vision for the context (physical location, membership constituency, where we are spiritually, opportunities in the larger community [geographically = local, regional, worldwide; and relationally]) in which the L-rd has placed us. Thus Baruch HaShem is different than other Messianic congregations.

Sign up sheets for the next membership course are available in the Front Foyer at the Welcome Table each Shabbat. You may also print a membership sign-up form from our web site, or use our web based e-mail membership sign-up form.