Annual prayer breakfast to feature judge, Sandi Patty as special guests
The Passover Seder isn’t complete without the traditional four cups of wine.
Oklahoma Israel Exchange (OKIE) is hosting an Israeli wine-tasting event on Thursday to give the local Jewish community an opportunity to sample different wines from Israel that they may wish to include in their sacred Passover meal.
And the gathering also is open to non-Jews who may be interested in tasting some of the Israeli wines, said Susan Robertson, the organization’s executive director.
Robertson said the wine-tasting at The Tasting Room, 4322 N Western, fits within the mission of Oklahoma Israel Exchange, which is to foster enhanced cooperation between the state of Israel and the state of Oklahoma in commerce, agriculture, culture and education.
With the eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover set to begin at sundown April 10, Robertson and OKIE President Edie Roodman said it seemed like a good time to highlight an Israeli industry that has evolved into an award-winning and competitive commercial enterprise.
The pair said the winetasting event will feature the Yarden wine label from the Golan Heights Winery on the Golan Heights in Israel. Robertson said the featured wine will be available for purchase from Beau’s Wine Bin, and attendees at Thursday’s event will be offered a discount that evening.
Wine of freedom
The Passover Seder is a sacred meal in which food and drink symbolize part of the Passover story.
The meal is traditional held in Jewish homes and
Tim Philpot, a family court judge from Kentucky, will be the keynote speaker at the 34th annual OKC Metro Prayer Breakfast set for 6:30 p.m. April 19 at the Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens.
Philpot, 65, a Lexington, Kentucky, native, is currently judge of the Fayette Circuit Family Court, involved daily with families in crisis since January 2004. He served as a trial lawyer for more than 26 years and also served two terms in the Kentucky State Senate from 1990 to 1998.
In 1996 he was selected as president of Christian Business Men’s Connection
Israeli wine-tasting event
6 to 8 p.m. Thursday The Tasting Room, 4322 N Western
$55 per person; $100 per couple. RSVP by Monday. Susan Robertson, 625-4519; okie@okisrael.org synagogues during Passover, which commemorates the story of the Hebrews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt as told in the Book of Exodus.
Traditionally, Passover Seder attendees drink four cups of wine at different times during the meal to symbolize the four expressions of redemption or freedom that God uses to describe the Hebrews’ exodus in Scripture: “I will take you out ...,” “I will save you ...,” “I will redeem you ...,” and “I will take you as a nation.”
Robertson said many local Jews may be interested in purchasing some the kosher wine that will be available for their Passover Seder guests. She said a representative from the winery will be at the wine-tasting event to speak to attendees about (CBMC) International. He retired from that position in 2003.
Meanwhile, Grammy Award-winning gospel recording artist Sandi Patty will perform at the breakfast. Patty is the most awarded female vocalist the product.
The Golan Heights Winery was founded in 1983. It released its first wine — 1983 Yarden sauvignon blanc — in 1984. According to the winery’s website it is strictly kosher for all days, as well as for Passover.
Wine then and now
Robertson said wine has been made in Israel for thousands of years, and there are many references to wine and winemaking in the Bible. She said it is thought to have originated in the area between the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Noah, she said, is noted as the first recorded viticulturist, who planted a vineyard after the flood.
Ruins of ancient wine presses more than 2,000 years old still can be visited in Israel.
Robertson said the modern era of Israeli winemaking began in the in contemporary Christian music history with 40 Dove Awards in addition to her five Grammy Awards. She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2004.
Patty and her family currently live in the Oklahoma late 19th century when the Carmel Winery near Haifa was established and produced sweet kosher wines.
Roodman said Israeli wines previously seemed to be of the extremely sweet variety, but there are many wines that are not as sweet as the wines in previous years.
She said if more people like and ask for Israeli wines, it may behoove local retailers to keep some on hand.
“I think anyone would appreciate today’s Israeli wines because they are sophisticated and inexpensive. I think there’s a market here — we just haven’t tapped into it.”
She said in recent years, a favorite part of OKIE or Jewish Federation of Greater Oklahoma City group excursions to Israel often include a visit to an Israeli winery. Once there, many Oklahomans have said they were impressed with the varieties available. City metro area.
The prayer breakfast is hosted by CBMC-Oklahoma City, in partnership with the Oklahoma City Mayor’s Office.
Tickets are $40 per person. Sponsorships are available. For tickets or more information, call 749-9418 or go to www.cbmc.com/event/ OKCMetroPB.
Environmental discussion set
A discussion panel entitled “Creation Care and Environment: Science and Theology in Conversation,” will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City First Church of the Nazarene, 4400 Northwest Expressway.
Panelists include the Rev. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The public panel discussion is made possible by the Science & Theology for Emerging Adult Ministries (STEAM) Project grant, Connecting Science & Faith.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Child care will be available for infants to age 5, with preregistration. For more information, go to thesteamproject.org or www.okcfirst.com.
CAIR banquet is planned
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Oklahoma chapter will hold its 11th annual Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. April 1 at Embassy Suites-Downtown/Medical Center, 741 N Phillips.
The banquet will feature keynote speaker Arsalan Iftikhar and entertainment from nationally recognized comedian Amer Zahr. For more information, call 415-6851 or go to www. cairoklahoma.com.
Church hosts women’s ministry event
A women’s ministry event called “Cultivate” is being hosted April 7-8 by the women’s ministry group of Heritage Baptist Church, 14317 N Council Road. Author and musician Kelly Minter, of Nashville, will be guest speaker. The weekend will begin with a session set for 7 to 9 p.m. April 7, and will continue from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 8. Minter will sign copies of her books from 5 to 7 p.m. April 6 at LifeWay Christian Store, 3621 Northwest Expressway.
Tickets for “Cultivate” are $40 per person or $35 per person for groups of 10 or more. For more information, call 720-1449.
‘Toxic Charity’ author to visit
Robert Lupton, author of the book “Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It),” will share his experiences on community transformation at a fundraising dinner set for 6:30 p.m. April 7 at FaithWorks of the Inner City, 1300 S Byers.
Sally Goin, FaithWorks’ founder and executive director, said the dinner, titled “Home: Firmly Rooted,” is a fundraiser for the nonprofit ministry. She said Lupton also will speak at a Community Transformation Symposium set for 10 a.m. to noon April 8 at FaithWorks center. Tickets to the symposium are $35 per person and $30 per person for groups of 10 or more.
For more information, contact Goin at 826-1911 or email sally@faithworksokc.com, or Megan Slemp at 476-0190 or email megan@faithworksokc.com. For online registration, go to faithWorksokc.com.
Church’s ‘Lifetree Cafe’ continues
New Covenant Christian Church’s “Lifetree Cafe” outreach is growing, expanding with new dates, times and locations.
The free outreach is designed to give New Covenant an opportunity to invite the community to practice the “Four Acts of Love”: radical hospitality, fearless conversation, genuine humility and divine anticipation. The new dates and times are 7 p.m. Tuesdays at New Covenant, 12000 N Rockwell; and 2 p.m. Saturdays at Higher Grounds, 5814 NW 63. For more information, call Eula Hledik at 722-7445 or email eula.nccc@ coxinet.net.