Messianic House of Prayer
We are a small Messianic Jewish congregation meeting in the south suburbs of Chicago, established in 1992 and led by Messianic Pastor David Weinberger. We usually meet on Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the home of David and Betty Weinberger. Service attendance varies from very small to rather large. You are invited! Please call or write for details, because on occasion we do switch to a different meeting day/time.
We are called Messianic House of Prayer, from Isaiah 56:7, for several reasons: We are Messianic, following the Messiah of Israel. We are a House of Prayer for all nations (from Isaiah 56:7), because we want to welcome people of all backgrounds, nationalities, shades of skin color, etc. We included Prayer because we believe that prayer is so important - God says His House will be a House of Prayer, focusing on prayer as the main characteristic of His House.
We encourage love and prayers for the Jewish people. We are told to “pray for the shalom of Jerusalem [more broadly taken to include Israel and the Jewish people],” Psalm 122:6. Shalom includes salvation, peace, healing, provision, profound well-being. Israel is the apple of God’s eye (Zech. 2:8), and “He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). We who are grafted in or re-grafted back in to Israel are told to respect, appreciate, and pray for the original members of the olive tree of Israel.
Our Sabbath eve service honors God the Father, Yeshua (Jesus) the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We begin with lighting the Sabbath candles, the Shema, worship songs, and a message. The last part of the service consists of a significant prayer time for America, Israel, and each other. We close with a song and the Aaronic benediction.
We also have services for the various Biblical Feasts and Holy Days. We usually have a fellowship pot-blessing meal at the start of each new Biblical month (at the New Moon), to stay in touch with the Biblical calendar better and to have an informal time for fellowship.