JEW OR GENTILE? LAST SEDER OR LAST SUPPER? COULD THEY POSSIBLY BE THE SAME? IF SO, THE NEW TESTAMENT IS WRONG AND THE OLD TESTAMENT IS REALLY THE HEBREW BIBLE! THIS IS THE NEXT PHASE OF DESTROYING THE WORD OF GOD AND REDEFINING JESUS CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL BY ECUMENICAL APOSTATES.
We know that the celebration of Jewish Passover Seder meals is as old as the blood on the doorpost and the angel of death passing by. But in recent years some churches have picked up on the ritual and have been having Seder meals for celebrating Good Friday or Lent.
The Huffington Post ran an article about "ersatz" Passover Seders, which they describe rightfully as "bait and switch" proselytizing events: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-i-pinsky/messianic-passover-seders-jews-for-jesus_b_1398334.html.
In this recent article at Religion and Politics, http://religionandpolitics.org/2013/03/12/evangelical-ketubah-messianic-mezuzah-judaica-for-christians/, we see that some Unitarian Universalist congregations, liberal apostate Protestant churches, some Catholics and an occasional "evangelical" have been celebrating a form of Seder since the 1960s to foster their ecumenical "common ground" pursuits.
Now it seems that more than a few Evangelical Free Churches, identified as a "smorgasbord of heresies" denomination, (see: http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/efca.htm), have jumped on the bandwagon to satisfy the urges of their biblically bored followers who continuously seek after greater sensual experiences in their contemporized forms of worship, even if they have to go outside of Christianity. Although not an outright or visible compromise of the Christian faith or return to Catholicism, they seek to at least blend Judaism with Christianity, Messianic style, but hidden within the smoke and mirrors "sacramentalism" of Jewish rituals and observances. The effect is to deflect marginal or nominal Christians further away from true biblical Christianity as found in the Bible's both Testaments.
This is an example of a complete Passover "Potluck" Seder meal at an Evangelical Free Church for Good Friday, with its contents, foods, layout and preparations at this link: http://www.moorparkevfree.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=28304&PG=Events&CID=1006863&rDate=2010-04-02:
PASSOVER POTLUCK INSTRUCTIONS AND RECIPES
The church will supply the ceremonial elements, bowls, plates, cups, eating utensils, and grape juice. The dinner will be potluck style (see below) – please bring a generous amount as it will be shared with church members and guests. We will need the following food items:
(1) Main dish:
You have a choice of lamb, turkey, chicken, or perhaps a tzimmes (meat cooked in sweet broth with carrots and sweet potatoes or fruit). Remember, no bread or flour should be used. At Passover we use unleavened bread only. (Sorry, no pasta!) Roasted chicken from Costco is simple and delicious—but cut it up before you arrive, please! All food items should be brought ready to serve.
(2) Soup:
Traditional matzah ball soup is easy to make; you can use a packaged mix from the Passover display in the supermarket.
(3) Charoset
This is a mixture of apples, nuts, and cinnamon, sweetened with a little honey and grape juice. There are many different recipes for charoset, but here is an easy one that would be enough for about 4 people (exact measurements are not critical.) Make a generous amount.
· Peel and 2-3 core apples. Slice and cut into very tiny pieces (tiny blocks).
· Finely chop the walnuts and add to apples. Stir in some cinnamon, honey, and wine, and mix thoroughly.
· Refrigerate until serving. This is always a treat so make a lot.
(4) Salads, vegetables, and other side dishes (remember, no leavening!)
(5) Dessert
You can buy Passover desserts at your local supermarket. Typical desserts would be a sponge cake, macaroons, cake mixes or brownies, all made without yeast or flour.
Notes:
Bring something to keep the food warm if possible, as we do not actually eat dinner until halfway through the Seder service.
Bring serving pieces (spoons, ladles, etc.) as the churches will not be supplying these. Label all your items so you can find them easily at the end of the evening.
Directions for Preparing for the Seder
The following information will explain what needs to be done to prepare for your Passover Seder.
General set up – A head table for the leaders of the Seder, the pastor(s) and their families. Both Michael and Norma will need a microphone and should be seated where all those in attendance can see them (but on the same level as the rest of the seats.) A lectern or music stand for the leader’s notes is also needed. We also need multimedia projection and sound for the PowerPoint slides and DVD film clips we use during the Seder. Microphones and amplification for the worship teamare also needed.
Having the tables rather close together will add to the fun and the feeling of being family. Kids are not only welcome, they are encouraged to come and participate, as Passover is a unique family experience!
What needs to be provided for the Seder:
The church should supply the ceremonial elements for each table. You should decide who will bring what, and tell people well in advance (please refer to the Passover recipes file.) What is needed:
§ Plates and utensils for eating and serving (disposable is OK). Need one dinner plate, and two dessert plates per person.
§ Bowls for soup
§ Napkins
§ White tablecloths, a vase with flowers for the tables
§ Plastic cups – one for juice, one for water (2 per person)
§ 2 candlesticks and candles, matches for each table
§ Grape juice (each person will drink 4 cups of juice during the Seder, so make sure there is enough to go around. 12-16 oz. of juice per person is probably a good estimate).
§ Water – bottled or in a pitcher, to drink during the meal.
§ Matzah for each person. Figure at least one whole piece of matzah per person.
§ One or two bowls per table with charoset (apple mixture) – very tasty and popular, so plan to have enough for everyone to have at least a ½ cup serving.
§ One or two small bowls per table with enough horseradish for one small spoonful per person (the hotter the better J).
§ A bowl with salt water for each table.
§ A bowl with sprigs of parsley – everyone will need one sprig.
§ One Haggadah booklet for every person
Shopping hints: You can buy jars of white horseradish in the deli section of any supermarket. Right before Passover you can get really good deals on 5-10 lbs. of matzah at the markets if you watch the ads and clip coupons. “Yehuda” brand is our personal favorite because it’s nice and crisp. You can’t beat Costco’s roasted chickens for convenience. There are special Passover displays in the markets with dessert mixes that use no flour and are surprisingly good.
There isn't really an "order of service" as you generally think of it in a church service. The entire Seder is the service, and when we send you the complete Haggadah handouts for everyone this will become clear. Here's how it will go:
- Greeting and introductions by host pastor
- 1 or 2 worship songs (lyrics on PowerPoint)
- Lighting of the holiday candles
- The seder plate and table elements explained
- The first cup of wine (cup of sanctification)
- Cleansing of hands (done by leader only, to save time)
- Eating the greens
- Breaking the matzah, hiding the Afikomen (kids asked to leave the room while it’s hidden)
- Recitation of the service (the Passover story from Exodus 11-12). Includes DVD film clips.
- The second cup of wine (cup of praise)
- All sing “Dayenu”
- Eating the matzah
- Tasting the bitter herbs
- A reminder of the Temple
- The Passover meal and dessert (buffet style)
- Kids search for and find the Afikomen
- Eating the Afikomen
- The third cup of wine (cup of redemption)
- Song: Eliyahu ha Navi (Elijah the Prophet)
- The fourth cup of wine (cup of benediction)
- Final worship song(s)
- Dismissal and clean-up
Other examples of Evangelical Free Church Seders:
Messianic Ministries bringing Seder meals to Christian churches (itineraries):
http://www.lightofmessiah.org/upcoming_events/itinerary.php, and http://lightofmessiah.org/presentation_programs/jesu_in_passover/index.php. (full instructions for churches)
Here is a YouTube video of a Messianic Seder meal table layout:
Lutheran Church Seder:
