Shuvah Yisrael
Writer’s Group

Jewish Year 5775
2014 – 2015
Yeshua, our Messiah, is the WORD. He infinitely ennobles, beautifies and dignifies the call to
write. In Him, at His bidding, writing becomes a holy endeavor. Whenever G-d tickles our souls with
an enlivening to words, meanings, metaphor, truth or mystery, He is in fact revealing something of His
own nature. He is Creator of holy ideas and vocabulary destined to bear excellent fruit. Whether it be
fiction, non-fiction, travel pieces, memoir, letters; brochures; inspirational/devotional writing,
journaling, or Bible Study…in Him a passion to write takes on new vibrancy. And, whatever the
genre, our personal beginning places and stages, our individual life stories, our unique experience, first
make their imprint on our souls, and then give our writing lives breadth, depth, and direction.
Therefore, it is imperative to discern the Spirit’s point of view and interpretation of our life story,
our beginning places and our subsequent stages. In ancient days, as recorded by Moses in Numbers 33:
the Israelite’s “journeying stages from their starting places” had crucial bearing on individual and
collective wisdom. Just so, individually and collectively, it is crucial in all aspects of life, as well as
our writing lives, to embrace G-d’s outlook. The Inventor of Language calls us to take His words,
ways and wisdom seriously because He is the Author of Life! As Eugene Peterson explains in EAT
THIS BOOK, “We must cultivate a participatory mind-set in relation to the Word….We come to
understand that language is the primary way in which G-d works. He is Alpha and Omega. He is A
to Z. He is the Aleph-Bet. We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out the
mouth of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:3) We are part of a holy community that for three thousand years
and more has been formed inside and out by the words of G-d, by The Word, by His intervention.”
The Spirit knows who we are. He knows what He longs for us to write and share. He is our Tutor.
He helps us meld life and spiritual experience with writing expertise. He knows what the Body of
Messiah needs. He has in mind a specific direction for our writing lives and fruitful service. He opens
our spiritual eyes to the wonder of “living in active response to the Living G-d…”
So, we consult Him about everything. We aspire together to serve in union and conformity with
our Redeemer, Messiah, The Word. With the roots of our being firmly and deeply planted in Him,
fixed and founded in Him, we seek His fullness, love, rich eternal treasures, and His unending springs
of Living Water. We anticipate a new dimension in our writing lives filled with surprising creativity
and light. As we interact with the Word and with one another, we grow in grace and knowledge
regarding Him and His Way. And what a privilege it is to enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie of
like-minded sisters within our Shuvah writing community who are called by the Living G-d to serve
Him. In Him we cherish glorious purpose. We learn to set forth His wonderful deeds, to display His
virtues and perfections using words, language, metaphor, simile and mystery. As we delve into and
explore sacred Writings and discern the Word planted within us, we discover anew that our G-d is
wonderfully original, inspirational, inventive, eloquent, prophetic, revelatory and wise! In Him we are
enabled afresh to obey and write as He directs and savors…
Writer’s Assignments ~ Literary Focus
Write and Share!
We gather once a month to encourage, enrich, inspire; to build one another up in
faith. This Jewish year, 5775, we will focus on G-d’s ironical, cheerful outcomes; the
joyous consequences of faith; His love as seen through the lens of His ways and
purposes; His marvelous surprises; His extravagance; His drastic measures for the
sake of His own; the marvels of His grace; the aurora of His holy landscape.
Meeting Dates: Writer’s Assignments ~ *Honing the Craft:
13 September
G-d’s Ironic Outcome: Sarai’s Journey With Flawed Abram
*Point of View! First Person & Third: single, multiple, omniscient.
Genesis 12: 1-2, 9 to 13: 1-2 also see chapter 20; Isaiah 60: 1-22
(High Holy Days. Rosh Hashanah, L’Shanah Tova!
Our Jewish New Year begins on 24 September; then Yom Kippur,
times of Teshuvah, turning from old ways to G-d’s ways!)
11 October
G-d’s Holiday Spirit: Commemorating the Journey!
At Shuvah
*Riveting Flashbacks: Intermingling past with present.
Old Miriam Dancing and Singing ~ Exodus 15: 20-21
Leviticus 23:39-43 ~ Rejoice before the Lord your G-d!
(Sukkot and our meeting today at Shuvah 2:00 PM after
Congregational Celebration and Luncheon. See Marie for details)
8 November
G-d’s Joyous Consequences: Honey to My Mouth
*Writing the five Senses: TASTE, smell, touch, hearing, sight
Psalm 19: 10 & 103; Proverbs 16: 22-24
(Simhat Torah: The Word, A Gift Beyond Measure)
13 December
G-d’s Effusive Love and Our Response
*Writing the emotions: love, joy, hope; hate, jealousy, sorrow
John 1: 16; I John 5: 1-4; John 14: 21 & 23; Galatians 5: 6
(Chanukah: He Defends His Own; His Light, Never Squelched)
10 January
G-d’s Marvelous Surprises: After Somber Loss
*Memorable Scenes and Scenery: Originality, Accuracy
John 11. Mary, “If You had only been here, Yeshua!”
(Celebrating Shabbat: Rest, Restoration, Recovery, Completion)
21 February
(3rd Shabbat)
G-d’s Extravagance: Worlds, Reaches of Space, Ages of Time
*Mental Images and Imagination: Vision and Imagery
Hebrews 1: 2; Colossians 1: 16 & 17; Revelation 22: 1-4
(Tu B’Shevat: The New Year of the Trees)
Meeting Dates: Writing Assignments ~ *Honing the Craft
14 March
G-d’s Drastic Plans for the Sake of His Beloved
*Writing Believable Characters: Complex and Unique
The Megillah of Esther: Ester Escapes Death and Decrees A Holiday
(Purim: Hateful Haman Ends Up Hung! Mordecai is Honored!)
18 April
(3rd Shabbat)
G-d’s Marvelous Grace After It Is Way Way Too Late…
9 May
G-d’s Ravens; G-d’s Donkeys, G-d’s Lions, G-d’s Light
* A Literary Concern: Truth – Reliable versus Unreliable Narrator
Dead! Then, ATHAI: Alive, Talkative, Hungry, Active, Interacting
An Only Son, Dead ~ Luke 7: 11-16;
Ruler of the Synagogue’s Daughter Dead ~ Matthew 8: 18, 23-26;
Mark 5: 22-24, 35-42; Mark 15; Ephesians 2: 1-6
The King of Glory is Crucified, Dead. Buried. Then Resurrected!
“O death, where if your victory?” I Corinthians 15: 55-58
(Passover-Pesach. Seder. Liberation from bondage and death.)
Used by G-d to feed and nourish; Used to dispense wisdom.
Obedience when it is contrary to natural inclination.
The sign of having been with the Lord!
*How Do We Receive G-d’s Instruction for our Writing Lives?
I Kings 17: 2-6; Numbers 22: 21-33; Daniel 6: 11-23
Exodus 34: 27-35; I John 2: 27-29; II Corinthians 3: 6-11
Shimmering, Shine; Shekinah and Light ~ Ephesians 1: 18
(Shavuot: Giving of the Torah to Israelites on Mt Sinai)
13 June
Sun, Moon, Stars; Trumpets, Flutes, Harps ~ Praise Him.
*Setting Forth His Wonderful Deeds, Perfections and Virtues!
I Peter 2: 9; Psalm 148 to 150; Isaiah 60: 19; Habakkuk 3: 4
*Tweaking our Writing Perspective…with focus on Yeshua,
Author of Life; the True Light; the Brilliant Morning Star!
(Rosh Hodesh: The New Moon and Renewal)
As we endeavor to write from our hearts, commissioned by heaven to reflect the heart of
our glorious G-d, join us! And, together may our writing lives and calling
beautifully glorify our Maker, The Origin, Beginning, and Author of G-d’s creation.
Unless otherwise specified, we will be meeting the second Shabbat of every month at:
Mimi’s Café, 4030 Barranca Parkway, Irvine.
Marie’s email address: amongthecedars@gmail.com