Passover Seder

Our final Lenten mid-week service will be on March 25th. This will be an adaptation of the Jewish Passover Seder. Seder is the Hebrew word for “order”. This festival, year after year for thousands of years has followed a very specific order of 15 steps. The Seder is probably the longest-observed yearly ritual in the world. It brings to

mind not just the Exodus story but perpetual struggle every person has between slavery and freedom.

The story is told not as “they were slaves” but “we ARE slaves” and the Haggadah (Hebrew for “telling”) tells how we are free to tell the story of God’s redemption this year and blessed to live out the freedom our Lord bestows upon us. In the telling of this story we begin to see how Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). St. Paul tells us in Galatians “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1)-free from sin, death and the power of devil, leading to abundant fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-24).

While our Seder draws heavily from the Jewish festival of Passover, we are not imitating Jews but learning from their story the depths and richness of our common story how God redeems and saves His people. The Passover Seder here at St Stephen Martyr this year will feature some of the traditional foods; matza (unleavened bread), chicken soup and matza balls, salad, roasted potatoes, beets in an orange sauce, applesauce kugel, lamb or chicken legs. The Passover story is told with bitter herbs (parsley, horseradish), charoset (apple/nut mixture), salt water, and wine (grape juice). We will learn some Hebrew prayers and grow in our understanding of what St. Paul says to the Corinthians, “For as often as you eat this bread (matza) and drink this cup (redemption), you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26).

If you are planning on being present at this Seder please sign up at the welcome desk. This will help us plan an adequate amount of food for everyone to enjoy.

St. Stephen Martyr’s Seder will be shared on March 25th (5:45 until about 7:30p.m). We will be accepting donations to cover the costs of the meal. Any questions you may have about this service please contact me.

Pastor Doug