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"Sorry we are late," Debbie was breathless as she stood back, allowing Jared to help Granny up the stairs, not realizing there was a wheelchair ramp on the side of the mission that would have made it much easier.
Granny smiled as Jared settled her in a seat near Sheila, the chair hard and cold.
"Just a moment, I have a cushion in the back of the car," Debbie called softly over her shoulder before the door closed behind her.
Lachlan smiled at Arlana's brothers, writing down 3 adults. 1 senior.
"Don't forget..." Lachlan whispered, brushing her hand with his fingers before turning to crouch near David and Rose at the end of the row.
David shook his head, "No, we will pay for our own flight..."
Lachlan wasn't sure what to do but relayed Josiah's message.
"Josiah intends to pay for your flight. He said it is the least he can do for your introducing him to his wife."
The words stung Lachlan's mouth. He looked back down at the paper in his hand, hiding his emotions.
David nodded, whispering to his wife.
"Alright, but we will repay him some other way. When do we leave?"
"I'm not sure. Josiah said to book the last flight possible as we don't know what time the service will end. It's over an hour drive from here to the airport," he looked up as Josiah left the side room following Pastor Mosely up to the pulpit, their eyes meeting.
Lachlan nodded at his friend, before running down the back stairs, nearly colliding with Debbie.
"Oh I'm sorry," he moved to the side, "You need to speak with Arlana."
Then he was gone.
***
IT WAS RUDE TO TALK in church. Everyone knows that, or at least that is what Arlana thought. Reaching into her purse for a pen, she pulled out some paper, writing three notes, all identical.
"Josiah is taking us to Israel tonight. That is all I know. We leave after the service. Lachlan is booking the tickets right now. ~ Arlana ~"
She added her name by habit, passing the note to Jaira with a whispered "Give these to Adelaide."
Each bore the name of the intended recipient. "Gavin, Dad, Debbie."
She'd seen Lachlan speak to David already, so slipped her notepad back into her purse.
Arlana kept her eyes on the pulpit as whispering reached her ears. What was her family thinking? She was too nervous to find out.
Mercifully, the service began as Lachlan found a seat in the first row in front of the pulpit.
Pastor Mosely stood at the pulpit as Josiah raised his shofar. The congregation stood in unison. The blasts of the ram's horn were spine-tingling. Once the last of the call to worship had finished echoing among the rafters, Josiah lowered the instrument before leading the worship.
How great are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!
As for me, through Your abundant grace, I enter your house to worship with awe in Your sacred place.
O Lord, I love the House where you dwell and the place where your glory tabernacles.
I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the Lord my Maker.
To You, Eternal One goes my prayer: may this be a time of your favour. In Your abundant love, O God, answer me with the Truth of Your salvation.
Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, O God and merciful Father, praised by the mouth of thy people, lauded and glorified by the tongue of Thy loving ones and Thy servants.
We also will praise Thee, O Lord our God, with the songs of David Thy servant; with praises and psalms we will magnify, laud and glorify Thee, and we will make mention of Thy name, and proclaim Thee our King, O our God.
Josiah scanned the gathering of predominantly Jamaicans. Without any Kohanim, descendants of Aaron present, he, a Levite, led the Nishmat Kol Chay :
The soul of every living being shall bless Your Name, Hashem our God, the spirit of all flesh shall always glorify and exalt Your remembrance, our King. From this world to the World to Come, You are God, and other than You we have no king, redeemer, or saviour. He who liberates, rescues and sustains, answers and is merciful in every time of distress and anguish, we have no king, helper or supporter but You!
For every mouth shall offer thanks to You; every tongue shall vow allegiance to You; every knee shall bend to You; every erect spine shall prostrate itself before You; all hearts shall fear You; and all innermost feelings and thoughts shall sing praises to Your name, as it is written: "All my bones shall say, Hashem who is like You? You save the poor man from one who is stronger than he, the poor and destitute from the one who would rob him."
The outcry of the poor You hear, the screams of the destitute You listen to, and You save. And in the assemblies of the myriads of Your people, the House of Israel, it is the duty of all creatures, before you O Hashem, our God and God of our forefathers to thank, laud, praise, glorify, exalt, adore, render triumphant, bless, raise high, and sing praises - even beyond all expressions of the songs and praises of David, the son of Jesse, Your servant, Your anointed.
Exalted and hallowed be God's great name, in the world which God created, according to plan. May God's majesty be revealed in the days of your life and the life of all Israel - speedily, imminently. To which we say: Amen.
Blessed by God's great name to all eternity. Blessed, praised, honoured, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort, to which we say: Amen."
Josiah blew the shofar again, calling out, "Bless the Lord, the Blessed One! Blessed is the Lord, the Blessed One forever and ever," as he bowed toward Jerusalem.
Return in mercy to Jerusalem your city, and dwell in it as you have promised.
Rebuild it soon in our day as an eternal structure,
and quickly set up in it the throne of David.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.
May the worship of your people Israel always be acceptable to You.
And let our eyes behold your return in mercy to Zion.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.
We give thanks to you that you are the Lord our God
and the God of our fathers forever and ever.
May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times
and in every hour with your peace.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.
Congregation: "Accept in compassion and desire our prayers"
Josiah: "You will accept the prayer, awe, and reverence of all of Israel before their Father who is in heaven"
Congregation: "May His name be blessed from now until forever"
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel,
to which we say Amen.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us and to all Israel.
To which we say Amen.