Pesach/Passover 2006 |
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Pesach/Passover is
one of the seven festivals of the Lord mentioned in Leviticus
23. It is the first of the Spring festivals, occurring in
March or April each year. In scripture, this date would be
Nissan 14.
Pesach is the festival that brings to remembrance the
deliverance of the Children of Israel from their slavery in
Egypt. |
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Pastor Bill Shupp graciously allowed us to do our Pesach Seder
at THE RIVER this year. It was a real blessing to us, and
allowed us to share our fifth annual Pesach with his
congregation. |
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We had 70+ people signed up to come, so there was much to do in
preparation. We did most of our shopping at Wal-Mart.
We found the material for our tablecloths for $1-a-yard, and
purchased three bolts of the fabric. |
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We needed wine glasses for 70 people, but didn't really want to
purchase glass ones, thinking they wouldn't store well from
year-to-year and could easily break. Wal-Mart had hard,
thick plastic 8-inch wine glasses for $2 each. The only
problem, the store in Hickory only had fourteen. By the
time we had all the wine glasses we needed, we had been to
Wal-Marts in Hickory, Lincolnton, Statesville, Mooresville,
Gastonia and Mocksville. We picked up some smaller
disposable ones for the kids at Party City in Hickory. |
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We didn't have enough Seder plates, so we used small bowls for
the different components of the Seder meal. This was also
the largest crowd we'd had in 5 years, so we need additional
copies of our Haggadah. |
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We had decided to use broomstraw as part of
our decoration for the room where we would be having our Seder
meal. Doug, his grandchildren and son, Lance,
went out into the fields to cut some. You can imagine the
questions that came from the kids in the process. "Papaw,
why are we cutting this stuff?" "Passover? What's that?"
Doug had numerous questions to answer. |
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Exodus 12:
26 And when your children ask
you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?"
27 Then tell them, "It is the
Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of
the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down
the Egyptians." Then the people bowed down and worshiped. |
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Kate, Myrl and Becky work on
hemming the material for the table cloths.
This was the material we found at Wal-Mart for $1-a-yard. |
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Low tables are set and the decorating begins.
Doris Blount is busy putting out the wine glasses. |
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Guests were given a choice of low/reclining tables or regular
tables.
Doug cut plywood into 2ft. x 8ft. pieces for the low tables. |
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To soften the bright-white walls, Curtis decided
to paint a mural of Jerusalem to go on the wall behind the low
tables.
The mural was painted on thick paper so that it could be put up,
taken down and used for several years.
Yossi and Curtis look over the finished product. |
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At the end of the evening, the set-up crew
poses for a photo. It actually only took two hours to set
up the room, including making the table cloths, hanging the wall
mural, and putting out all the glasses, bowls, candles, baskets,
Haggadas, broomstraw & place-cards. |
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Yeshua (Jesus), himself, participated
in Pesach each year. |
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Matthew 26
17 Now the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread
the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou
that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover? |
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It was also during this Pesach Seder
meal that Yeshua instituted communion. |
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Matthew 26
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and
blessed it, and brake it, and gave to the disciples and said,
Take eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, Drink ye all of it.
28 For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is
shed for many for the remission of sins. |
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Curtis sitting at the low
tables. Some had requested to wear Biblical-type costumes
on the night of the Seder. |
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Blood (cardboard) was applied
to the top & sides of the doorway.
Curtis & Doug make last minute plans. |
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Doug & Lynda pose in front of the beautiful
hand-painted silk flag by Spencer Williams. |
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Carolyn & Curtis with
their daughter, Beth, & her husband, Brad, and
granddaughter, Savanna. |
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Shofarot were blown as we began our evening.
Can you see four shofarot in the two photos? |
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Curtis & Doug led the Seder |
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Passover is a story that has been told for thousands
of years. Just as God cared for the children of
Israel in ancient times, He cares for all who are His today. |
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We pause for the Passover meal. |
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Yossi & Jesse
Duke & Myrl - Bruce, Becky, Kate & Helen |
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The RIVER folk
The Fordhams came from South Carolina.
Part of the Gates of Praise Group. |
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Patrick, Julie & Joseph drove down from
Boone.
Barry & Melba |
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Families, children & teens |
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Savanna & Beth
Andy & Jane |
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L'Shana HaBa'ah
B'Yerushalayim! |
Next Year in Jerusalem! |
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A time of Praise, Worship & Dance followed
the Seder. |
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Dancing to "It is Good to Praise the Lord", by
Paul Wilbur |
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