Hanukkah to Christmas: A Celebration of Light
Sunday through Monday, December 18 – 26, 2022
The Bible Seminary will observe Hanukkah and Christmas
by lighting lamps from the Hasmonaean period
(Katy, Texas) Since Jesus celebrated Hanukkah (see John 10:22), The Bible Seminary is excited to announce that the Joshua, Judges, and Jesus (3J) Museum will be exploring the archaeological aspects of the first Christmas in conjunction with the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The current exhibit closes Monday, November 28 and will reopen on Sunday, December 18, the first day of Hanukkah. TBS President, Dr. K. Lynn Lewis extends an invitation to gather at 5:00 PM on the porch of Grace Fellowship Church (2655 S. Mason Rd., Katy, Texas 77450). A shofar blown at sunset, anticipated at 5:27 PM, will begin the festivities, which are scheduled to include an informational tour (led by archaeologist and TBS Provost, Dr. Scott Stripling), the lighting of the first lamp, and then an open house illuminating the history of Hanukkah (A.K.A. the Feast of Dedication, or Festival of Lights).
Photo Credit: Gary Urie, 3J Museum & Shiloh Dig Photographer
Since Hanukkah coincides with the Christian holiday of Christmas this year, TBS will open every night of Hanukkah to light Hasmonaean lamps that were first lit almost 2,200 years ago. The celebration will commemorate God’s preemptive measures that pointed to Jesus, the true Light of the world (John 8:12). The 3J Museum will be open to the public during regular hours 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM Monday, December 19 through Friday, December 23, and Monday, December 26 of Hanukkah week. Evening and weekend visits may be requested by appointment only, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The nightly lightings of the lamps for each of the eight evenings will begin with a 4:45 PM tour and then the lamp lighting at sundown (around 5:27 PM). Viewers can also watch LIVE online at FaceBook.com/thebibleseminary. Reservations can be made to tour the museum and attend a lighting by registering at TheBibleSeminary.edu/3J.