At this time of the year we commonly participate in Christian holidays that, in the form they are today, are intended to honor God. Tomorrow, as modern Christians, we celebrate Easter, and even though it has pagan roots, the day is now intended to commemorate the rising of Christ from the grave.

This week the Jews are celebrating passover and the feast of unleavened bread. This feast commemorates the exodus of Israel from Egypt about 4,000 years before Christ was born.

The nation of Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah, even though their own torah depicts Him as a suffering servant.
The Torah also depicts Him as the coming king. It is this second coming of Christ that they wait for. The bible says that God has blinded the nation of Israel, in part, until the time of the end (rom 11:25) it is then, that they will become a nation of priests.
Those Jews who now understand who Jesus is, celebrate this dinner as the Passover Meal to remember how God saved the nation of Israel, from Captivity in Egypt and also to remember how Jesus was the passover lamb of God, who saved the world from sin.
So during this time when our nation celebrates the rising of Christ, we will also take a look at what happened to Jesus during a very important meal, a few days earlier, when He became the fulfillment of an ancient celebration.

Chad
Opening prayer:
bless the gathering Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe
We ask you to Open the eyes of our hearts.
Holy spirit rest on us, to lead us through this event,
draw our hearts closer to you, and give understanding to everyone here
Lord call those whom You would call Your own
Let us give honor and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ through this meal
Amen

Stormy
God spared Israel from the last plague upon Egypt in the time of Moses. The specter of death passed over the households that had followed God's instructions to apply the blood of a sacrificial lamb to their doorposts.
YHWH took everyday acts of seeing, hearing, singing, smelling, tasting and touching and made them his allies in teaching holy truths to his people. God commanded the annual memorial of the Passover observance so his people might reflect regularly on all He had done for them.
Paul the apostle uses the same terminology in the Greek when he writes of the last supper" For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, ye proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
(1 Corinth 11:26) Significantly, the Last Supper WAS a Passover meal!

Corrina
This is a day you are to commemorate: for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD - a lasting ordinance (Exodus 12:14)

Mike (leader)
The first part of the Seder is the BEDIKAT CHAMETZ or the search for unleavened bread. God commanded the Israelites to remove all yeast from their houses. A search is made with a candle and a feather to ferret out any piece of leaven, that might defile the house.
(Hand out feathers to kids and candles to Brit and Tara and have then search the room for yeast)

Nanna (While they are searching read)
It is in this concept of cleansing that Paul wrote "Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast." (1 Corinth 5:6)

Mike
Let us search ourselves for any leaven, any impurity of thought, word or deed that might separate us from the presence and peace of God. The spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Stormy
Let's pray the prayer of David
O lord, you have searched me and know me. Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely, O Lord. Search me, O God and know my fear: test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, that needs to be removed as the leaven was removed from the house. Lead me in Your everlasting way
amen

Mike (leader)
When we confess our sins he is faithful and righteous to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Song ( create in me a clean heart) sing along if you know

Corrina
Let's pray
O God we come to You, recognizing You are the source of all we have and all we are. We have set apart this night to remember your mighty acts as You preserve and protect us. You have given yourself to all who believe in You. We rest in your love, your sovereignty, your judgment and your redemption. We declare our faith in you as did our fathers before us. It was not simply the Israelites who went forth from slavery, but all of us who have been freed with a mighty hand from the bondage of idol worship and sin. We stand with those you have chosen to be a separate and peculiar people and to whom you have revealed your law and word to our hearts.
Amen

Mike (leader)
The second part of the Seder is called the BIRKAT HA-NER or the Blessing of the Candles.
At sunset, to sanctify the Seder, the lady of the house lights the candles with this blessing

Nanna Lights the candles and recites
May the festival lights we now kindle, inspire us to use our gifts to spread your word. Use us, O God, to heal and not to harm, to help and not hinder, to bless and not curse, to serve you , O God, our rock and redeemer.

Stormy
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe. Who has sanctified us in Y'shua (Jesus) in whose name we light the festival lights.

Chad
Let us remember the significance of the Passover sedar, Messiahs Last Supper with His disciples. For he said, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again, until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."

Mike (leader)
Now we will perform the KADDESH or sanctification of the meal
The purging of leaven made the house holy, the confession made each individual holy, and the lighting of the candles made the day holy. Now the first cup of wine makes the meal holy.

Corrina

The four cups each relate to God's promises of freedom to his people. With each cup we remember His words found in (Exodus 6: 6,7)

Josh
The first cup is the cup of sanctification
"I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians"

Brit
The second cup is the cup of Deliverance
"I will free you from being slaves to them"

Mike
The third cup is the cup of redemption
"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment"

Bill
The fourth cup is the cup of Praise
Nanna
I will take you as my own people

Mike (leader) have everyone pour wine or grape juice

Sandy
The word sanctification means "to separate". It is our faith in Y'shua, the messiah of Israel, which sanctifies us and separates us to live holy lives.

Mike (leader)
This is the first cup - the cup of Sanctification.
Let us take it together and proclaim the holiness of this day of deliverance.

Stormy
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who makes the fruit of the vine.

Mike (leader)
Let us all drink this cup of sanctification

(each person drinks from their cup)

Mike (leader)
The next part of the Seder is called URCHATZ or washing the hands
Ancient regulation requires that hands must be washed before dipping food into liquid. In the days when the temple was standing it was part of the process of purification to be holy unto the Lord.

Tara
The purification process also included sacrifice because no amount of water could cleanse us from our sins. God said "It is blood that makes atonement and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

Tami
However, we are now free from the requirements of the law. Therefore, tonight in remembrance of that freedom only the leader will wash and he will do so without the ritual prayer

Mike (leader) ceremonially wash hands in small bowl provided

Stormy
During the last supper it might have been at this point that, as the leader of the house, Messiah prepared to wash not his own hands, but the feet of his disciples.

Sandy
The tables of that time were horseshoe shaped and low to the ground. On Passover to demonstrate freedom, pillows were placed around the table and the Jews would recline rather than sit up. From the events recorded in the bible, since everyone reclined on their left side John was leaning against Y'shua. Sitting on His other side was Judas, surprisingly he was in the place of honor.

Chad
John 13:3-5 records what happened " He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around him" Remember who was sitting in the place of honor? It was Judas! So, it would have been his feet that Jesus washed first. What a contrast to the argument that the disciples had just had regarding who would be greatest in the kingdom of God. Messiah was demonstrating that humiliation often comes before exaltation.

Brit
Messiah said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all" (Mark 9:35)

Corrina
And He said, " Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:14-15)

Nanna
Y'shua's washing the disciples feet was only one act of humility. "For though He was God, he laid aside his mighty power and glory, taking on the guise of a slave, becoming like men. He humbled himself even further by actually dying a criminal's death on the cross.'" ( Philippians 2:5-8)

Bill
At the last super, Jesus said, "Unless I wash you, you have no part of me."

Mike
He also said, "You are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him.

Mike (leader)
The next part of the seder is the KARPAS or the rebirth, renewel and the eating of the greens.

Corrina
We praise you, O God, sovereign of existence! You have called us to service among the people and have hallowed our lives with your Spirit. I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Praise the Lord O my soul. Praise the Lord (Psalm 104:33,35)

Mike (leader) with the greens on the seder plate
The wine we'll drink is red in color reminding us of the blood of the Passover lamb. These greens remind us of the hyssop that applied the blood to the doorframes of the Hebrew slaves. The salt water reminds us of the tears we shed in bondage, and of the waters of the Red sea which the Hebrews passed through safely.
Let us dip the greens in the salt water as we recite:

Everyone together
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the earth.

Song God of Wonders, by city on a hill

Mike (leader)
The next part of the Seder is the YACHATZ or breaking of the middle Matzoh.
The matzoh or unleavened bread is kept in a linen container and has 3 compartments to hold 3 matzot , which symbolizes unity, a whole consisting of several parts.

Stormy
The three compartments symbolize the priests, the Levites, and the congregation. It also represents the three patriarchs of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We can see that it also represents the triune nature of God: the Father, Son and Spirit.

Mike (leader) take the middle Matzot(representing Christ) and break it into 2 pieces, put the smaller piece back and wrap the larger piece in separate linen

This piece is now called the Affikoman. We will hide it until after the meal. Later, we will share it as the Passover offering was once shared in Jerusalem. Among people everywhere the sharing of bread forms a bond of friendship.

Now all the kids, Close your eyes! Have other Mike Hid the Affikoman in the room
Now open your eyes

Now hold up the container

Brit
This is the bread of affliction which the Israelites ate in the land of Egypt. Then they were slaves, now they are free.

Stormy
The broken Matzoh is also the symbol of the affliction suffered by Y'shua to bring us ultimate peace through faith in Him. The Matzoh is pierced and stripped, just as He was pierced and stripped.

Chad
Then we were slaves and now we are free.

Nanna
God humbled us and caused us to hunger in order to test us and to know our hearts. Then He feed us manna, the food of angels. He protected and provided for all our needs that we might understand that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.

Corrina
We give thanks to the Lord. His mercies are new every morning. Great is his faithfulness!

Mike (leader)

Pour the second cup

Mike (leader)

Next is the MAGGID (recounting the story of exodus)
When your children ask you, "what does this ceremony mean to you? Then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, whom passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians. (Exodus 12:26-27)

Stormy
The Exodus event provided God's pattern of salvation. This pattern is repeated throughout the scriptures. We see God in His infinite compassion and love stooped from the heavens to bring His people out of desperate trouble and to provide for them in a new and good environment.

Tara
Bringing Israel out of bondage to Egypt and into the promise land

Tami
Bringing Israel out of exile in Babylon and back into the land

Brit
Bringing those who believe in Y'shua out from the kingdom of darkness and sin: bringing them into the kingdom of light and life.

Mike
We also see the use of a kinsman redeemer in Moses, as God sets the pattern for future kinsman redeemers; leading to the ultimate redeemer we have in Jesus.

Corrina - AD LIB- tell story of Joseph and family's arrival in Egypt, also how future pharaoh was threatened by Israel's great numbers and made them slaves

Chad
Genesis 15:13-14 predicted "know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions"

Stormy - AD LIB
tell story of Moses birth and family hiding him in the river Nile. His adoption by pharaohs daughter, his fleeing Egypt and the burning bush

Nanna
God reveals a name to Moses in the burning bush, the name YHWH, sometimes pronounced Jehovah or Yahwey, means I AM. Y'shua the Messiah goes on to fill in the answer to the implied question, I AM what? I AM the rock. I AM the truth, the light and the way.
In the garden of Gethsemane when the roman soldiers came to arrest Jesus. They said they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered them saying "I AM" The power of this statement knocked the entire army to the ground. (John 18:4-6)

Corrina - tell story of Moses return and the 10 plagues after 40 years as a prince of Egypt and 40 years as a Midian shepherd
Blood in the river Nile
Frogs
Lice
Flies
Pestilence
Boils
Hail
Locusts
Darkess
Slaying of the firstborn
(if there are children in the household, sometimes fathers and kids have rehearsed a skit to perform here. That way the telling becomes a fun activity in which the children participate)

Corrina
On the night that the last plague was to come, God had the Israelites slay a lamb and paint their doorposts with the blood as a sign for the slayer of the firstborn to pass by their homes. They also prepared a meal and waited through the night for their release. In the morning, Pharaoh released the entire population of Israelites and the Egyptians gave them gold and jewelry for their travels. It is believed that over 6 million Israelites left Egypt on foot.

Josh
As harsh as the plagues seem to us, they remind us that the wages of sin is death. Though the plagues of Egypt were the result of their own evil, we do not rejoice over their defeat.

Stormy- tell story of Israel fleeing and Egypt chasing to the red sea. Of God stopping the Egyptians with fire and parting the Red Sea. And of the Egytians drowing in their attempt to follow.

Also tell of cloud to cover them by day, and a pillar of fire to lead by night.
Tell of God providing Manna and quail and water from the rock

Song Pharoah (by Jason Upton)

Mike (leader) Show items on Seder plate and explain

Mazoh located above seder plate

Shankbone
Maror-bitter herb, horseradish,
Beitzah- roasted egg,
Karpas- bitter vegetable - parsley
Charoset- chutney mixture
Chazeret - bitter vegetable - celery

The Shank bone - this represents the Passover Lamb that was slain.

Bill
It's blood was put on the doorposts that the Israelites might be saved. It also represents Y'shua who was called "The lamb that takes away the sin of the world" When by faith we apply his blood to our lives and hearts, God's hand of Judgment passes over our sins and we are saved. Jesus bought us a pardon and God remembers our sins no more.

Mike (leader)
The Matzoh reminds us that in their haste to flee, the Israelites did not have time to let the dough rise before the King of Kings redeemed them.

Tami
"With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread." (Exodus 12:39)

Brit
The Matzoh also reminds us of the perfect life of Y'shua. Though He was tempted in all ways, He did not sin.
There was no sin (leaven) found in Him.

Mike (leader)
Charoset (chutney) is symbolic of the mortar the Jewish slaves made in their building for the Egyptians

The Maror (bitter herb)(horseradish) reminds us that Egyptians embittered the live of the Israelites in Egypt.

Beitzah Roasted egg. Is the symbol for mourners and represents loss of the temple

Tami
"They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields: in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly." (Exodus 1:14)

Brit
We are also reminded that the most ruthless of task masters, sin ensnares us, putting us in bondage to pain, fear, anxiety, and worst of all, it separates us from God.

Mike (leader)
Karpas, Parsely is dipped in salt water to represent tears.

Chazeret is a bitter vegetable (Celery or romaine lettuce)

Corrina
We are privileged to thank , to praise, to laud, to glorify, to exalt, to honor, to bless, to extol and give reverence to you, O Lord our God, who performed all these miracles for our ancestors and for us. You have brought us forth from slavery to freedom, from sorrow to joy, from mourning to festivity, from darkness to light, and from bondage to redemption! Therefore we sing to you a new song! Hallelujah!

Monologue by Michael W smith Let it rain

Mike (leader)
Let us raise the second cup, the cup of deliverance

Blessed are you O LORD our GOD, who redeemed us and brought us to this night. You have put a new song in our hearts, a song of praise and thanksgiving for our redemption and the liberation of our souls. Blessed are you, O LORD, redeemer of Israel and all nations.
Blessed are you, O LORD our God, king of the universe, who makes the fruit of the vine. Thank you for declaring us righteous and delivering us from your judgment and wrath.
AMEN
(All drink)

Praise song __Let eveything that has a breathe (City on a Hill)

Mike (leader)
Let's all wash our hands now in preparation for the eating of the Passover elements
(All wash symbolically)

Mike (leader)
First the Matzoh (raise up matzoh)
Blessed are you, O LORD our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Leader breaks bread into small olive sized pieces and distributes to entire group
Everyone eats the Matzoh

Nanna
Let us remember the bitterness of slavery by eating the maror (horseradish)
Remember what Messiah said about the betrayer. It would be "the one one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish" The one sitting next to him would betray him.

Leader breaks Matzoh again and distributes. Each person dips each piece onto the Maror.
Everyone eats

Mike (leader)
Blessed are You, O LORD, who turns our mourning into dancing

Mike (leader)
Let us combine the unleavened bread and the bitter herbs and eat them together, as it is written: "With unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it."
All place bitter herb (celery) and Charoseth between two pieces of unleavened bread and say together: Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who turns our mourning into dancing

Mike (leader) lift up the roasted egg
The roasted egg reminds us of the last destruction of the temple in 70 AD. We mourn its loss as we remember God's word in Torah, "It is the blood that makes atonement for ones life." (Leviticus 17:11) and God's words in the New covenant "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22)

Chad
The blood of animals could only cover and not cleanse our sins. Y'shua the Lamb of God was the ultimate Passover sacrifice. His was the perfect sacrifice of atonement, which could bring peace and fellowship with God.

Stormy
The egg also represents the second Passover offering call the "Hagigah". It was a voluntary act of worship that indicated the worshipers' desire to have peace and fellowship with God. Imagine, God, creator of the universe, wants to have a personal relationship with you.

Mike (leader)
Let us eat the egg as our "Fellowship offering" and remember that we are all called to make our lives a living sacrifice as we serve God. To remind us that Joy of sacrifice may be surrounded by tears, we dip our egg into the salt water
Everyone dip egg into salt water and eat

Mike (leader)
The meal is ready! Lets eat!

(grandpa) Say a blessing over the meal

Serve the meal

Finish meal

for menu ideas see the list a t the bottom of this page.

Mike (leader)
Imagine how the disciples felt as they experienced this familiar ritual with growing confusion. They had seen the miracles that Jesus had done that were greater than those of Moses. They had heard the shouts of the people as Jesus entered Jerusalem just four days earlier. Yet now, the master was, again, talking about leaving them.

Stormy
Imagine what thoughts Messiah might have had. This was his last dinner with his disciples. He had so much to tell them. They had been blinded by their own understanding of freedom. Had he not warned them of this trip to Jerusalem?

Corrina
"We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be betrayed and handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will turn Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged" (Mathew 20:18-19, Luke 18:31-32)

Nanna
As with so many people today, the disciples had forgotten the teachings of the law, the prophets and the Psalms. That the Messiah would have to suffer and rise from the dead for the remission of sins. They like so many Jews were waiting for the Messiah to be their king politically, as He will be with His second coming, but they paid no attention to the scriptures that referred to Him as a suffering servant.

Bill
The following scriptures are from Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. Remember these were written hundreds of years before His birth

Josh
He grew up before Him like a tender shoot and like root in the ground. He had no beauty and majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire Him.

Sandy
My God, my God, whey have you forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? I cry out, but you do not answer. Yet you are enthroned as the holy one, the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trust: they trusted and you delivered them. In you they trusted and were not disappointed.

Chad
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me, they hurl insult, shaking their heads: "He trusts the LORD: let the Lord rescue him."

Brit
We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Mike
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions: He was crushed for our iniquities.

Bill
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is turned to wax, it has melted away within me.

Tami
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

Tara
They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my rob.

Josh
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Sandy
Yet it was the Lords will to crush Him, to cause Him to suffer and make His life a guilt offering.
After the suffering of His soul He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge my servant will justify many.

Nanna
You who fear the Lord, praise Him! For He has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from Him but has listened to his cry for help.
The poor will be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise Him. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All families of the nations will bow down before Him. Posterity will serve Him, future generations will be told about the LORD. They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn.

Chad
He has done it! He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. The punishment that brings us peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed!

Song Jeremy Camp Would you take the place of this man

Mike (leader)
As Messiah celebrated Passover He knew what was before him - the pain and also the glory. And He knew that before the day was over, he'd be abandoned by all of His disciples. They would be discouraged and afraid. In His infinite love and mercy He sought to challenge and comfort them. The words He spoke are as much for us today.

Nanna
I have told you this that you will not go astray. When the time comes you will remember that I warned you.

Brit
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; also trust in me. I am going to my fathers house to prepare a place for you that were I AM there you may be.

Mike
I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.

Bill
I will not leave you orphans. In my name the Father will send another counselor. He will live with you and in you. He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Tami
A time is coming when they will put you out of the synagogue, thinking they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father, or me.

Tara
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. This world must learn that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

Josh
He who hates me, hates my Father as well. He who loves me, my father will love. We will come to him and make our home with him.

Sandy
If you love me, you will obey my teachings. He who does not love me, will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own: they belong to the Father who sent me.

Chad
A new commandment I give you, love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples.

Corrina
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.

Nanna
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Brit
In the world you will have trouble.

Mike
But take heart

Bill
I have overcome the world

Tami
Y'shua could offer his peace for he knew the victory that would be his. They would kill him, but on the third day the Son of Man would rise again; he would be raised to life!

Mike (leader)
Now we have the TZAPHUN ( retrieving of the affikoman) Send the kids to look for the hidden cracker

Mike (leader)
It is here we see a remarkable illustration of the truth spoken about the suffering servant by Isaiah.
Just as the Affikoman was the middle piece of the Matzoh, and was broken, hidden away and brought back. For it's redemption a ransom had to be paid.

(Give the child than found the Affikomen a gift as a ransom for finding it. Like some candy to share with the other children)

Tera
In like manner Messiah, the second person of the triune God was broken, buried and brought back to life.

Chad
Let's pray
Lord, we understand that the blood of Jesus had purchased a pardon in our name. He has purchased men for God, from every tribe tongue and nation.. We know, by the bible, that all men have sinned, no one is without sin. We know that means us. All our good deeds are as filthy rags. We know we can not stand before You, on our own, and face judgment. It is not our sacrifices of good deeds that heal us, but it is you who have sacrificed for us. All we must do is accept that your blood was shed for us. Take it personally and come into a relationship with You. Then instead of judgment we come to the throne of mercy. Praise you God! How amazing is your love for us! Amen

Corrina
A husband is walking with his wife along a road. A truck careens out of control, heading right for his wife. The husband leaps forward, pushing his wife out of harms way, knowing the truck will now hit him. This is a sacrifice of love.
Don't you want your spouse to love you this much! Now don't look at your spouse, that's not the point.
This is the point. Some 2,000 years ago, it was God's good pleasure, to come to earth as a man and offer Himself a living sacrifice of love to purchase you back. It was a sacrifice of love that we cannot even comprehend.

Let's pray and if you've never prayed this prayer before, now is a good time to give yourself to God.

Lord God, I accept your gift of redemption. I understand that Jesus suffered and died for me. I accept your sacrifice on my behalf and I desire to have a personal relationship with you. Lord come into my life. Please forgive me Lord, all my shortcomings past present and future. Wash me clean by your blood. Teach me, heal me, love me. I am yours, and you are mine. In Jesus name I come.
Amen

Song Hold on to me by Shawn McDonald

We are now going to do the portion of the seder that we now know today as communion. Please pass on this if you have not accepted Jesus in your life, but if you just prayed the prayer in earnest, please participate. No one will care if you let the communion items pass by.

Mike (leader) distribute a piece of the Affikoman to everyone. And pour the wine for the third cup.

Sandy
As He had done Y'shua took the bread and gave thanks

Bill
Then he gave a new commandment. One that must have startled the disciples. He broke the bread and said, "Take eat this is my body, given for you: do this in remembrance for me.

Tami
Likewise the third cup is the cup of redemption as in God's third promise to Moses. "I will redeem you with and outstretched arm"

Tara
The Hebrew term used here means "one who pays a ransom for the life of another". He who redeemed our fathers from Egypt has redeemed us with His own blood

Mike
"No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough (Psalm 49:7,80)

Brit
But God will redeem our lives from the grave. He will take us to Himself (Psalm 19:15)

Chad
The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him(Psalm 34:22)

Stormy
Then Y'shua said "Drink from it all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Mathew 26:27,28)

Corrina
Now spend a few minutes in silent prayer. Ask God for forgiveness and spend some time remembering what He went through on your behalf. When you are ready eat the bread and drink the wine.

During this time play I will remember you (city on a hill)

Mike (leader)
After the meal we do the BARECH or the blessing or thanks for the meal.

Nanna
As Moses gave thanks for the manna, we also thank God for our food. As Joshua gave thanks for the land flowing with milk and honey, we give thanks for the promised land.

Josh
As David gave thanks for salvation We too, give thanks for Messiah.

Chad
We are aware that every good think comes from God and we owe Him thanks for our daily sustenance.

Sandy
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, whose gifts we have partaken and by whose goodness we exist and by whose loving kindness we will have eternal life. Your goodness and bounty are daily occurrences and will always be so.

song Mercy me I can only imagine

Mike (leader)
Notice that there is a place set at the table that has not been used. It has been set for Elijah the prophet

Nanna
See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers: or else I will come and strike the land with a curse ( Malachi 4:5-6)

Tami
We look forward to the time when the world will live in peace. The nations will beat their swords into pruning hooks, the wolf will lie with the lamb and all the world will praise the Lord God of Israel.

Bill
We know that Elijah's work was already accomplished in John the Baptist. Nevertheless we keep Elijah's place as a reminder of Messiahs next coming and of the many people who do not know Him. It is to them we must bring the message of true redemption. For not only will Messiah bring peace, but he will also bring wrath upon all those who reject him.

Mike (leader)
Our Jewish brothers open the door so that the prophet may enter. They wait breathlessly to see if he will indeed herald the coming Messiah. However, we open the door to show our trust and dependence on God and to alert the lost, of his coming.

Have Noah or Kenny open the sliding glass door

Josh
The Lord remembers us and will bless us: he will bless the house of Israel. He will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike.
Shut the door

Song Did you feel the mountains tremble

Mike (leader)
Now we come to the fourth cup, the Cup of Praise. This cup is based on the God's fourth promise in Exodus 6:7 "I will take you as my people and I will be your God"

Stormy
The disciples drank the cup of praise thinking the time had come for their master to march triumphantly into Jerusalem. But Messiah knew there was another cup from which he had to drink. He did not drink from this one. Instead he said " I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in my fathers kingdom."

Sandy
In that day there will be a better feast. A wedding banquet to which all who know, trust and worship Him have been invited.

All raise the fourth cup

Mike (leader)
In praise of the salvation the LORD has brought, and that which is yet to come, we raise this fourth cup and recite:

ALL
Blessed are You O Lord our God, King of the universe, who makes the fruit of the vine.

All drink from the cup

Snack plates

1/2 deviled egg, 2 mozzerella sticks, 2 poppers, 2 crackers with salmon spread.
The kids only got one of each item.

In addition, Edamame bowls were placed around the table for snacking

Sader meal (served in courses, so that the lamb chops could be done just before serving)

Salad: mixed greens with manderin slices and peanut dressing

Soup: cauliflower soup, or butternut squash soup - if you really want to follow tradition, Matzoh ball soup is served.

Meal plates:
Lamb chops, broccoli casserole, chutney (also serves as maror) and chicken strips, popovers, orange yogurt cream

Dessert: Apple crisp with icecream

We served grape juice and red wine for drinks during the meal and during the sader.