Your faithful partnership has made it possible for our ministries to SHARE the Good News of Yeshua (Jesus) with both Jews and Gentiles, USHER people into His Presence through worship & praise music, and EQUIP worship leaders and other creatives to use their God-given talents for Kingdom purposes. This past year, you and I, together, have reached the lives of many souls to help build God’s Kingdom. I am so grateful for your prayers and support.
In Leviticus chapter 23, God established a Biblical calendar full of holidays for us to celebrate all throughout the year… seven holidays in all: 1. Shabbat, 2. Pesach (Passover), 3. Bikkurim (Firstfruits), 4. Shavuot (Pentecost), 5. Rosh HaShanah (The Feast of Trumpets), 6. Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), and 7. Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles). In 2022, God blessed me with an array of delightful ministry opportunities especially during the holidays. May I give a quick summary of some holiday-highlights below?
- Pesach – Taught a “Yeshua in the Passover Seder” message at Desert Hope Tucson, AZ.
- Shavuot – As guest worship leader, directed and participated with an international team that sang in over a dozen languages. Our team was able to be part of this wonderful International Shavuot (Pentecost) Celebration in Glendale, Arizona.
Rosh HaShanah – Served as guest cantor and worship leader at Beth Shalom Corona, CA.- Yom Kippur – Served as guest cantor and worship leader at Beth Hallel Birmingham, AL.
- Sukkot – Conducted the Beth Sar Shalom Adult Choir and led worship with the Youth Worship Team in Tucson, AZ.
- Chanukah – Guest worship led at Beth Sar Shalom on the Shabbat before Chanukah, then led the Youth Worship Team on the first night of the holiday.
- Purim
- Coached the singers and recorded accompaniment tracks for the Esther and The Beast production for Eitz Chaim Messianic Synagogue Dallas, TX,
- Led the Youth Worship Team at Beth Sar Shalom Tucson, AZ, and
- Gave a worship concert at Beth Hallel Mandeville, LA,
Phew… and there was plenty of ongoing ministry occurring during the non-holiday times of year as well! When I look back through the Kingdom work that He has graciously allowed me to participate in this past year, it seems as though I would be a bit tuckered out. However, it has been energizing to serve Him and lead His sons and daughters into the Presence of the King through worship and praise music!
Other ministry highlights from this past year included serving at a Holocaust Remembrance event in January at Iron Hills Church. We also launched a virtual Cantorial Coaching program where I work alongside cantors and musicians to add instrumentation under the rich, Hebrew liturgies. Additionally in 2022, Silverman Ministries teamed up with City Psalms, a ministry that creates original worship music that is specifically relevant to the Tucson community, and to many similar communities across the county. I co-composed the new Laments album as part of a team of five local songwriters. In February we came together and provided an album release concert. Later in the year, Brian Goodall, President of City Psalms, and I wrote and arranged choral music. Then on Christmas Eve, I conducted the Voices of Hope choir in singing one of the original choral pieces, “Silent Night-Four Walls”. Music brings people together!
Looking ahead, I am excited about 2023! I am delighted that we have been invited to lead another Youth Worship Camp in Tucson,Arizona, and this coming year we also have a second camp at Beth Messiah in Houston, Texas! I am honored that I get to sing as part of the combined worship event with Paul Wilbur, Joshua Aaron, and Aaron Shust on April 15th at the Meridian Mississippi Opera House! For those of you who’d like to come to that, it is a ticketed event with reserved seating. Tickets are free but donations are welcomed by the event host. You can visit gregsilverman.com/events to learn more and reserve your seats.
Finally for now, things are ramping up with our ShalomSongs.com project in which we will be providing chord charts and other resources to Messianic worship leaders globally. This website construction project needs additional resources in particular, so if you feel led to give a designated gift to ShalomSongs.com, please email us at info@gregsilverman.com. You can also mail a check in the enclosed return envelope and designate your gift to this project by writing ShalomSongs in the memo line.
Let me leave you with one of the greatest joys. During our various ministry events, God connected me with several individuals who accepted Yeshua for the first time and allowed me to lead them in a prayer of salvation. Of all things, one of them occurred on the evening of Yom Kippur. However, this particular moment wasn’t at the service at which I served as cantor and worship leader. Instead, it happened in the hotel lobby after I returned for the night. In the lobby, there was a man at the bar. He and I spoke briefly and I explained that I am a minister. It turned out he wanted prayer right there and then for his shoulder. He also decided to allow me to lead him in a prayer for salvation. God is at work for these are the days of salvation! Amen?