Ups and Downs

We had our Christian Family Seder on Saturday night. The food was great, courtesy of Celebration Food.  The liturgy was faithful to our understanding of the Exodus experience and a great send-off to Holy week.  Alas, we set up the room to bring forty around a single table, when it would have been far more intimate and appropriate to have been prepared for twenty. So, I was a little down.

But what a difference a night makes.  We had a great crowd for Palm Sunday.  One of our young couples was here with their baby, and we will be having a baptism soon. A young man from our congregation played the guitar and sang. Wonderfully.  We even had one of those special moments in our Chilren’s message.  Do you know what is special about today? Yes, it is April Fools’s Day.  God bless.  Days like these make you love a wee kirk. And you know God loves the wee kirk, otherwise there wouldn’t be so many.

Christian Seder: Done!

The picture shows early arrivers settling in for our seder last evening. Our second annual Christan seder was more thinly attended but much more spiritual. Sharing food and the haggadah was rewarding in the waning light of a beautiful, early spring day. My husband reduced the haggadah’s length considerably and to good effect. Less is more so long as the key messages are emphasized. We left a place for Elijah marked “Reserved” and opened the door for him at a late point in the meal. Since no small children were present, we did not hide the afikomen.

The dinner plan and preparation process were manageable, and we used foods that were eaten in Jesus’s day. Unfortunately, we don’t have records of his meals, but we do know what folks ate in that part of the world. I felt very connected to the experience of Jesus and his followers through this meal.

I would recommend this meal plan to families for use during Holy Week. It was lovely especially for children. I wish I could share the leftover matzo with you! While the other leftovers will be welcome at the soup kitchen, I don’t think my regulars will like these much!

Next year in Jerusalem!

by Mrs. Weekirk

Passover Seder

We are having a “Christian Family Seder” on Saturday night.  We did this last year.  The food was great, and it was well attended.  (Or so I am told.) Last year, I got food poisoning the night before and didn’t make it to the seder.

We like to have a family diner for our church community and guests every season. It is sometimes difficult to find the appropriate entertainment  for the occasion. This is particulary difficult during Lent when celebration ativities seem inappropriate.

We will serve a combination of of authentic food, some middle-eastern recipes, and conventional desserts. One of my Jewish friends has loaned us the proper plates. Our haggadah, the words, have only minor changes from what our Jewish brothers and sisters will be using.  The gospels suggest that the Last Supper was a Passover seder, so what could be more appropriate than to share a meal like our Lord shared with his disciples in this Holy time?