About The Cord

About | Why “The Cord?” | Why Every Shabbat? | The Public Reading of Scripture | The Structure | Statements of Faith | History of the 3-Year Cycle | Leadership 

Truth. Family. Community. Life. From Generation to Generation.

The Cord is a Messianic congregation of like-minded believers who obey the voice of Elohim and guard His requirements, commandments, statutes, and Torah instructions (Genesis 26:5; Deuteronomy 27:10) and hold Yeshua’s witness and testimony (John 5:46; Revelation 12:17). Our desire is to service the community in multiple ways including weekly family-integrated Shabbat meetings, various activities, and outreach.

We meet each Shabbat for an in-depth, public reading of Scripture. On the 2nd and 4th Shabbat, our public reading of Scripture and Torah Study is in-person with congregational praise, dance, and a shared-food fellowship. Please bring a Biblically-clean, main dish to share.

Our public reading of Scripture follows the 3.5 year reading cycle which includes a complete reading of the Torah (Genesis – Deuteronomy) in smaller portions over three years and also includes selected readings from the Prophets (Joshua – Malachi) and Apostolic Writings (Matthew – Revelation).

Though not part of our public reading of Scripture, we provide Additional Readings from ancient writings found among the Dead Sea Scrolls such as the Book of Enoch, the Book of Jubilees, and Sirach, commonly called the Book of Ecclesiasticus. We also provide related portions of the writings of Josephus as well as the Targums (Pseudo-Jonathan and Jerusalem). We believe these additional readings provide context for the portions of Scripture read each week and connect us with the ancient texts that shaped the understanding of the Biblical authors.

Why “The Cord?”

In Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12, the sons of Israel are commanded to put a cord of blue upon the fringe (צִיצִת tsitsit) on the four corners of their garments throughout their generations so when they see it, they will remember all of YHWH’s commandments, to do them, and not follow their own heart and their own eyes. Thus, The Cord reminds us to guard His commandments and pursue righteousness from generation to generation.

In Ecclesiastes 4:12 it says, “If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Thus, The Cord reminds us of community and that we are stronger together.

Finally, in Malachi 4:2 and Luke 8:43-48, we’re reminded of the healing in the wings of Messiah Yeshua when the woman came behind him and touched the fringe of His garment where the cord of blue was. Thus, The Cord reminds us to live in belief and know that He heals and saves.

Why Every Shabbat?

In Leviticus 23:1-3, YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them, ‘The appointed times of YHWH, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my appointed times. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings.’”

מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ miqra qodesh (H4744 H6944) is most often translated as “holy convocation” or “holy meeting.” מִקְרָא miqra comes from the word קְרָא qara (H7121) which means to proclaim, call out, recite, or read. The word מִקְרָא miqra has also been translated to mean “a public reading of Scripture.” This is demonstrated in Nehemiah 8:8; “They read in the book, in the Torah of Elohim, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood in the reading (miqra)” and in Joshua 8:34-35; “Afterward he read (qara) all the words of the Torah, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the Torah. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua didn’t read (qara) before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the sojourners who were among them.”

The Public Reading of Scripture

Beginning during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah after the House of Judah’s return from Babylonian captivity (cf. Nehemiah 8:1-4), the custom of public reading of Scripture continued into the First Century by Yeshua (cf. Luke 4:16-21) and His disciples (cf. Acts 13:14-15; Acts 15:18-21).

  • Nehemiah 8:1-4; “All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the wide place that was in front of the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the Torah of Moses, which YHWH had commanded to Israel. Ezra the priest brought the Torah before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand. The ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the Torah. Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose…”
  • Luke 4:16-21; “He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the scroll, and found the place where it was written, “The Lord YHWH’s Spirit is on me, because YHWH has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to proclaim the year of YHWH’s favor and the day of vengeance of our Elohim, to comfort all who mourn.” (cf. Isaiah 61:1-2) He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
  • Acts 13:14-15, 42; “…They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. After the reading of the Torah and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak…42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”
  • Acts 15:18-21; “…For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
  • Acts 18:4 “He (Shaul) reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.”

The Cord's Torah Reading Structure

  • Based on Nehemiah 8:1-4, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 13:14-15, Acts 15:18-21, and how the Scriptures were read publicly in the synagogue during the First Century.
  • R-SEAD™ Approach:
    • Reading of the Torah, Prophets, and Apostolic Scriptures aloud together (Leviticus 23:1-3; Luke 4:16-17)
    • Summary for context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)
    • Exhortation for counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15; 2 Timothy 3:16)
    • Application for living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13; James 1:22)
    • Discussion for questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

Statements of Faith

These Statements of Faith do not exhaust the extent of the Cord’s beliefs. At the Cord, we base fellowship and unity on our shared faith in Yeshua, not doctrine. The Scriptures, as the inspired and infallible Word of Elohim that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, are the sole and final source of all that we believe. Those Scriptures are the Torah, Prophets, and Writings (the “Tanakh”) along with the letters and writings of the Apostles (Matthew through Revelation). “This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear Elohim and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For Elohim will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

  • We believe in Elohim as He has revealed himself in the Scriptures. “Hear, O Israel, YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one.” (Genesis 1:1; Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29)
  • Elohim is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24)
  • Yeshua is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through His Son Yeshua. (John 14:6)
  • Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of the living Elohim (Matthew 16:15-16). 
  • Yeshua has no beginning of days or end of life, in whom all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form, and who is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us, and whose glory we beheld, the glory of the only born Son of Elohim, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-14; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 7:3; Revelation 19:11-13)
  • Yeshua is to be worshiped by angels of Elohim and men. (Deuteronomy 32:43; Hebrews 1:6; Matthew 2:2-8; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 28:9)
  • We believe in Yeshua’s virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His death that paid for our sin through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His heavenly ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal return in power and glory. (John 1:1; Matthew 1:18,25; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:15-22; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews 9:27-28)
  • Elohim highly exalted Yeshua, and gave to Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of Elohim the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
  • The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He guides into all truth, He does not speak from Himself, He speaks whatever He hears from the Father, He glorifies Yeshua, and He comforts. (John 14:16-18; John 16:13-15; Acts 9:3; Philippians 1:18-21)
  • The whole Torah and the Prophets depend on these two commandments: You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might; And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:31)
  • All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to Elohim may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  • The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who guard the commandments of Elohim and hold the witness of Yeshua. (Revelation 12:17)
  • We must be like the Bereans, “in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
  • We study to learn, not to teach; “Show me your ways, YHWH. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the Elohim of my salvation. I wait for you all day long.” (Psalms 25:4-5)
  • We’re all still students of His Word and continually study to learn and grow together, in love. As we learn and grow, we’re able to sanctify YHWH Elohim in our hearts and will always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks us a reason concerning the hope that is in us, with humility and fear, having a good conscience. (1 Peter 3:15)
  • “Give diligence to present yourself approved by Elohim, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in impiety, and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus: men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:15-18)

History of the 3-Year Torah Reading Cycle

Based on the Triennial Cycle as formulated and researched by scholars Charles Perrot, Cecil Roth, and Jacob Mann. Passages from the Apostolic Scriptures related by general themes or topics have been added to accompany the weekly sections of the Torah and Prophets.

If one believes that Yeshua the Messiah’s public ministry lasted 3 1/2 years as prophesied in Daniel 9:24-27, then the three-year Torah reading cycle seems to be about the length at which Yeshua discipled and taught his followers. Also, Sha’ul was given the revelation of the Good News directly through Yeshua the Messiah after a period of three years in Arabia and Damascus before he went up to Jerusalem to visit Kepha (cf. Galatians 1:11-18). Thus, a teaching cycle of three years seems to be consistent with learning the Torah and Good News.

“…For the triennial cycle, however, the primary impetus for choosing a particular haftarah reading was verbal rather than thematic, the opening of the haftarah reading containing some word or words found in the opening of the Torah portion. For example, the [portion] that begins with Genesis 8:1, “But God remembered (zakar) Noaḥ” is matched with Habakkuk 3:2, which contains the phrase “in wrath remember (zakar) mercy.” Likewise, the seder which begins at Genesis 8:15, “God said to Noaḥ, ‘Go out (yatza’) from the ark…” is matched with Isaiah 42:7, “To bring out (yatza’) the prisoners from the dungeon.” But it was not only similar vocabulary that governed the choice of the haftarah for the triennial cycle. There was also the concerted effort to emphasize the messianic kingdom as a dominant theme…” – Tim Hegg, President / Instructor of TorahResource 

We don’t know the exact reading schedule Yeshua followed in the 1st Century. However, “…what is certain is that the reading of Scripture, the Torah and Prophets, followed by a teaching that explicated its meaning and application, was a central part of the synagogue service in the early 1st Century and provided a key element for defining the Jewish community in the days of our Master (Yeshua). The same must be true of our own assemblies, for it is the centrality of the Scriptures, understood and applied to our daily lives, that will enable us to walk in the footsteps of Yeshua as His true disciples.” -Tim Hegg