We are continuing with our series that features understanding Jesus’ time through various events dealing with food. The series began in Lent and started again in Sept., 2013 with "Picnic on the Beach" featuring the return of Christ in the Gospel of John
Now in this Harvest season we will be doing "the Harvest Feast" spotlighting agriculture in the 1st century.
In addition to enjoying food from the time of Jesus, which will include flat bread, roasted grains, bulgur and parsley salad, spicy split peas, lamb shish kebabs and dried fruit pastries, we will be talking about agriculture in the time of Jesus, the importance of grain, and also the festivals that were centered around the agriculture of the time.
Those in the first century saw it was a miracle from God that new plants emerged from what looked like to be dead seeds. For that reason wheat and grains were symbols of resurrection. "Fertility, the mysteries of life, nourishment and vitality were also represented by grains" as the authors explain.
Grains typically grew in the valleys. A 1000 years before Jesus time farmers terraced many of the hills so that crops could be grown on them without fear erosion. Olive fruit trees , vineyards and some vegetables crops were grown there
Please let Catherine know if you plan to attend. If anyone would like to help prepare this meal, please let Catherine know as well (540) 809-7489.