How to Celebrate
When you prepare a for a Passover dinner, you’re taking part in a tradition that dates back more than 3500 years. Although Jesus lived in the Galilee, He most likely celebrated Passover each year in Jerusalem since the Lord requested the presence of Israelite men for three feast each year: Passover, Pentecost and Sukkot (Exodus 34:23). Peter and John helped make preparations for the Last Supper.
How Do I Host a Passover dinner?
As adopted sons and daughters, most of us didn’t grow up with parents talking about the annual traditions of Jesus’ family. Don’t think everything has to be perfect. Keep three things in mind and you’ve got it down: Food, People and Remembering the Story. Feel free to use prepare your own meal, choose prepared foods, go potluck, get a caterer. A few menu items below may help your planning. Children are welcome!
Why is it Called a “Seder”?
The word Seder in Hebrew means “order” indicating that the evening follows an organizational structure. A dinner manual, with group participation called a Haggadah, directs the flow. “Haggadah” in Hebrew means “telling” We’ll be telling the Exodus story following a booklet called a Haggadah. With unusual circumstances this Passover, feel free to modify everything below including the Shopping List, Table Setting and Optional Items lists. The dinner lasts 2 hours and we eat after 1 hour, so appetizers are good!
What Do We Do?
Follow along and Enjoy! Usually, your hardcopy Haggadah accompanies you at the dinner table. Stay tuned to order in advance for next year. This year, a link to a digital version can be printed or viewed on a tablet/desktop. Please take time to read the first 4 pages before dinner.
Shopping List Table Setting Optional Items
Crackers (Matza, Ritz, toasted tortillas, etc)
Apples, Walnuts, Dates
Horseradish
Lamb or protein of your choice (not pork)
Parsley
Wine or Grape Juice
Table Setting
Candles or oil lamps, matches or a lighter
A bowl for hand washing
A hand towel for drying
Small bowls for salt water (1 for every 4 persons)
A Haggadah for each person
Optional Items
Red food coloring
Marshmallows or cotton balls
Flyswatter
Toy frogs and insects
Before Dinner
Find something, anything that you have 50 of around the house: paperclips, colored pencils, dried beans, pennies, blades of grass, spools of thread, rubber bands, etc. These will be set aside for Counting the Omer 49 days which begin the next Sunday, according to scripture the day after Shabbat is First Fruits.
Celebrating the Spring Festival Season means you're taking part in a family tradition that dates back more than 3500 years. Jesus celebrated this meal every year of his life, primarily with his family; the last year of his life he told Peter and John to make the preparations for Passover, a meal we call the Last Supper.
Now it’s your turn ...This is going to be fun!
Passover and the Spring Feasts
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Background and Meaning of Passover
Explore MoreThe rich tradition of Passover spans back 1500 years before the earliest Christians and served as a bedrock annual event for the Jewish people. Join in the celebration that Jesus fulfilled with His death and resurrection!
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How To Celebrate Passover
Explore MoreJoin the long time tradition of remembering Passover in your home. If you've always wanted to celebrate passover but haven't known how, here's a few quick tips to set up your home for a meaningful evening.
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The Spring Festival Season
Explore MoreEvery Spring, over 50 days---bookended by two big parties---fill the calendar with reasons to celebrate. Special days of God's choosing come with an opportunity to say yes to His invitation and join together in celebration!