Beit Yeshua
2011 -
Pesach
April 22, 2011
PESACH
Passover Seder
2011
Pesach 2011
Beit Yeshua observed its 10th annual Pesach/Passover Seder on Friday, April 22, 2011, in the Family Life Center at Covenant Bible Church. The facility was packed with a maximum crowd of 200 as family and friends from neighboring congregations, fellowships and churches joined with Beit Yeshua. Set-Up on Thursday Night
The set-up crew from Beit Yeshua arrived at 6:30 on Thursday night
High and Low tables were set up - as well as chairs
Table cloths were placed on all of the tables
Seder plates & other implements, as well as glasses for the 4-cups of wine/grape juice were added
Saucers & napkins were placed on the tables for reciting the plagues
Matzah trays, as well as name-place-cards, were added to all the tables
Candles, matches and broom-straw were added to selective tables
Flags, banners, Jerusalem mural and other decorations were added
[Todah Rabah (Thanks) to those of you who helped with set-up and clean-up afterwards]
Friday Night Pesach/Passover Seder
Final preparations are made and guests begin to arrive
Doug & Curtis greet Cathy (Highway to Zion) and Patti
Roger & Jinnie introduce Slavic & Mariya and several of their Romania friends
that they had invited to the Seder
Roger & Stela, Jinnie with Slavic & Mariya, Daniela, Kristina & David, Alex, Anatol and Ala
Myrl spends some time talking with Rob, Hollyn & Ian - a family from Covenant
Rev. C. L. Simmons, along with Wendi, Hannah, Charity, Dody, Jerry & Dalrene,
joined us from Longview Church of God
We were again pleased to have so many of our friends from Highway to Zion join with us
Iline adds parsley to the Seder plate as Ambrosia, Sarah, Steven and Joan watch
Judy, Francie, Paul, Dag, John Wayne, Chandradai, (Cheryl) & Bob
Marcia, Susan, Carolee, Merryl, Chuck & Stacy
(Left) Pastor Eric Reel of Freedom Church in Lincolnton Church always brings a group of
students from the Old Testament class he teaches at Gaston College in Lincolnton, NC
(Right) Curtis, Wayne & Chuck
Shofarot are sounded as the evening activities begin
Curtis welcomed everyone
The lady Machol Dancers dance the Israeli Folk Dance "Sheleg Al Iri"
to the song "Psalms of Praise" by Billy Whitman
To see the video performance of the ladies dancing to the song
"Psalms of Praise" by Billy Whitman
CLICK HERE
A time of Praise, Worship & Israeli Folk Dance for the entire crowd
Singing & Dancing to "He Shall Reign" by Paul Wilbur
Men, women, boys, girls and teens join together to worship the LORD
Just like King Davie, even Pastor Eric & Pastor C.L. joined in the worship & dancing
Paul shows Ian how to blow the shofar
Everyone is seated and the Pesach Seder begins
To see a video of the beginning of the Seder
CLICK HERE
"Seder" means "the order"
A Seder is a ceremonial dinner that commemorates the Jews' Exodus from Egypt and
includes the reading of the Haggadah and the eating of symbolic foods
"Haggadah" means "the telling" and refers to the part of the ceremony
where the story of the Israelites deliverance from Egypt is re-told
Susan leads the ladies as the festival candles are lit
Blessing Over the Candles
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam,
asher kidshanu bidevaro u’vishmo anachnu madlikim haneyrot shel yom tov.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who has set up apart by His Word, and in whose Name we light the festival lights.
At Passover, we celebrate these promises of redemption and relationship
by drinking from our cups four times
The First Cup - the Cup of Sanctification
During Passover we celebrate our freedom from the world and sin
The Blessing Over the Wine/Grape Juice Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu Melech ha’olam borey pri hagafen.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine.The first cup is drunk
You wash your hands during Passover
because you are a priest before Yahweh and the table before you is His altar.
Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy Place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)The water bowls & towels are passed
Passover is a holiday that comes in the springtime, when the earth is becoming green with life. This vegetable, called karpas, represents life, created and sustained by Almighty God. Life in Egypt for the children of Israel was a life of pain, suffering, and tears, represented by this salt water. Let us take a sprig of parsley and dip it into the salt water, remembering that life is sometimes immersed in tears.
To see a video of some of the ladies dipping their parsley into salt water
Allie asked "The 4 Questions" in Hebrew
then Alie asked "The 4 Questions" in English
The Four Questions How different this night is from all other nights. 1. On all other nights we eat bread or matzah.
Why on this night do we eat only matzah?2. On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables.
Why on this night do we eat only bitter herbs?3. On all other nights we do not dip our vegetables even once.
Why on this night do we dip them twice?4. On all other nights we eat our meals sitting or reclining.
Why on this night do we eat reclining?To see a video of Allie M. singing the 4 Questions in Hebrew
To see a video of Alie S. asking the 1st Question in English
On all other nights we eat bread with leaven, but on Passover we eat only matzah, unleavened bread. As the children of Israel fled from Egypt, they did not have time for their dough to rise. Instead, the hot desert sun baked it flat. But even more than that, the scriptures teach us that leaven symbolizes sin. During this Passover season, let us break our old habits of sin and selfishness and reaffirm a fresh, new, and holy life.
The matzah is explained
These three matzot are wrapped together for Passover. There are various explanations for this ceremony. The rabbis call these three a “Unity”. Some consider it a unity of the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Others explain it as a unity of worship - the priests, the Levites, and the people of Israel. We who know Messiah can also see in this the unique tri-unity of Yahweh – the Father, Yeshua – the Son, and Ruach Ha Kodesh – the Holy Spirit. Three in one.
In the matzah we can see a picture of Messiah. See how it is striped. See how the matzah is pierced.
To see a video with the Matzah
CLICK HERE
Just as the middle piece of the bread of affliction is broken, Messiah, too, was afflicted and broken. One half is now called the Afikomen - the dessert. It is wrapped in a white cloth just as Messiah’s body was wrapped for burial. Just as the Afikomen was hidden during the Seder, so Messiah was placed in a tomb, and hidden for a time. But just as the Afikomen will return to complete our Passover seder, so the sinless Messiah rose from the dead to ascend into heaven and will return for His Bride.
The middle matzah is broken and half is wrapped in a white cloth and hidden
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on Passover we eat only maror, bitter herbs. As sweet as our lives are today, let us still remember how bitter life was for the children of Israel in the land of Egypt.
As we scoop some maror (bitter herbs - horseradish) onto a piece of matzah, let us allow the bitter taste to cause us to shed tears of compassion for the sorrow that the children of Israel knew thousands of years ago.
The maror (bitter herbs - horseradish) is scooped onto the matzah and tasted
The children of Israel toiled to make treasure cities for Pharaoh, working in brick and clay. We remember this task in a mixture called kharoset, made from chopped apples, honey, huts, and wine. Let us once again scoop some bitter herbs onto a small piece of matzah. But this time, before we eat, let us dip the herbs into the sweet kharoset.
What is the spiritual meaning of eating the bitter herbs and kharoset together? We have all had bitter experiences in our lives. The message God is communicating to us is His desire for us to press through the bitterness to experience the sweetness. The horseradish represents the trials and tribulations which come into our lives. Like the horseradish, many trials and tribulations are so bitter they make us cry. If we allow these trials and tribulations to make us bitter toward God, we will never experience the sweetness of God’s deliverance for our life. However, if we press through them, with God’s help, we will taste and experience the sweetness of His promises contained in His Word for us.
We dip the bitter herbs into kharoset to remind ourselves that even the most bitter of circumstances can be sweetened by the hope we have in God.
The children of Israel were instructed to eat the Passover in haste, their loins girded, their staffs in their hands, their sandals upon their feet, awaiting departure from the bondage of Egypt. Today we all may recline and freely enjoy the Passover Seder.
The roasted shankbone represents the lamb whose blood marked the houses of the children of Israel, signifying their obedience to Yahweh’s command.
The Second Cup - the Cup of Plagues
Let us fill our cups a second time. A full cup is a symbol of joy and indeed on this occasion we are filled with joy at Yahweh’s mighty deliverance. But let us also remember the great cost at which redemption was purchased. Lives were sacrificed to bring about the release of Yahweh’s people from the slavery of Egypt. But a far greater price purchased our redemption from the slavery of sin – the death of Messiah Yeshua.
As we recite each plague three times, let us dip a finger into the cup allowing a drop of liquid to fall, reducing the fullness of our cup of joy this night.
Blood, Frogs, Lice, Beast, Cattle Disease, Boils, Hail, Locust, Darkness, Death of the Firstborn
To see a video of some dipping their finger in the wine/juice and reciting the plagues
CLICK HERE
Breaking for the covered-dish Passover meal
Wane and Paul fellowship
After the meal, the Seder resumes and the Afikomen is "ransomed"
Jude receives a "reward" for finding the hidden Afikomen
It is time for us to share the afikomen, the dessert, the final food eaten at Passover. It is shared as the Passover lamb was shared from the time of the exodus until the destruction of the Temple. It is said that the taste of the afikomen should linger in our mouths.
The Third Cup - the Cup of Redemption
This is the Cup of Redemption, symbolizing the blood of the Passover lamb. It was the cup “after supper,” with which Messiah, Yeshua, identified Himself.
Yeshua the Messiah lifted the cup, saying…
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)
Yeshua also said…
“I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
Just as the blood of the lamb brought salvation in Egypt, so Messiah’s atoning death can bring salvation to all who believe.
Elijah - the Prophet
This extra cup on the table is for Elijah the Prophet, Eliyahu Ha Navi. At this time let one of the children open the door to welcome Elijah to our Seder.
Kara Jane & Mary go to the door to see if Elijah the Prophet is there
Elijah did not see death, but was swept up to heaven by a great whirlwind, in a chariot of fire. It has been our hope that Elijah would come at Passover, to announce the Messiah, Son of David.
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (Malachi 4:5)
Before the birth of John the Baptizer, an angel of the Lord said…
“And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah … to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)
Ali & Savanna enjoy the final part of the Seder
The Fourth Cup - the Cup of Praise
Let us fill our cups for the fourth and final time and give thanks to Yahweh, our great redeemer.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His love endures forever.
Everyone drinks the fourth and final cup of Passover
Our Passover Seder is now complete, just as our redemption is forever complete. Let us conclude with the traditional wish that we may celebrate Passover next year in Jerusalem.
La’sha-na ha-ba’ah bi Yerushalayim
Next year in Jerusalem!
