We have several friends who are Messianic, so there have been a few occasions when we have celebrated Sabbath with them on Friday night.  There is something quite relaxing about bringing the day to a close and setting the next day apart by shutting everything down the evening before.  We have thoroughly enjoyed these times of fellowship.

In fact, the new church we are attending is a small, family-integrated one that meets on Sunday nights. Many of the families, us included, worship Sunday morning at home, but then we come together in the evening for corporate worship as a body of believers.  It has made our Sundays much more relaxed and worshipful.

I never thought I would be one who would say going to church at night was okay.  Even now, I feel a little awkward not loading up the big van Sunday morning and heading out…almost as if my witness as a Christian is tainted since my lost neighbors don’t see us head to church every week.

But, as I look to the early church of Acts, I do not see a command to meet in the morning.  And I do not see a day of rest and worship that looks like this:

The You Tube video above is very familiar to many Christian families today. Mine included. But, where is the rest? Where is the worship in such a frenzied day? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this topic as it has been something I have mulled over for many years.

Now, for the recipe…
When we do get together with our Messianic friends, I am quite often the designated Challah bread maker (the “c” is silent).

The last time I taught ancient world history, I found a challah bread recipe online and made it with the kids (we’ll be doing that again this year).  I’ve tweaked the recipe to fit my need to make it quickly and it is absolutely delicious!

Challah Bread

2 c. warm water or milk
2 pkgs dry active yeast
6-7 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. oil
1 egg

In a large bowl or mixer, dissolve yeast in warm water or milk.  Add sugar and salt and 3 cups of flour.  Mix well.  Add oil and egg and mix well.  Add remaining flour and mix well.  {dough will be a bit sticky}

Place in a large greased bowl {not plastic} and put a warm, wet cloth over it {I use a tea towel, run through warm water and wrung out}.  Place in oven. {you might need to warm the oven a bit before putting it in there…but don’t leave the oven on while it rises!}

Let the dough rise until it reaches the top of the bowl – approx. 30-60 mins.

Divide dough into 3 equal pieces.

Divide two of those pieces into thirds and roll all 6 pieces into 16″ long ropes.  Use 3 pieces each to make a braid, pinching at each end to seal.

Divide remaining dough into 6 pieces and roll each into 17″ long ropes.  Again, use 3 pieces each to make 2 braids and place each braid on top of the thicker braid, tucking the ends of the top rope under the bottom rope.

Cover and let rise {I just keep them on my stove top, but you could put them back in the oven} for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375°.  Bake bread for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.  Remove from oven and brush tops and sides with butter.  Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight bag or container…that is, if there is anything left to store!

My friend Sarah was homeschooled and actually had a business as a teenager selling challah bread on Fridays.  So, if you have any budding entrepreneurs in your house, you might consider something like this!

It really is a fun and easy bread to make, and the results are rather tasty too!