From: seanna@bnr.ca (Seanna (S.M.) Watson)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Seder/Passover meal/Maundy Thursday suggestions
Date: 11 Jan 93 08:47:09 GMT

In article <Jan.7.01.34.31.1993.6122@geneva.rutgers.edu> you write:
>My church (Presbyterian USA) is thinking of holding a Seder for Maundy
>Thursday service.  I'm on the worship committee, and I'm looking for
>hints on how to present a fun and meaningful Passover meal.  Does
>anyone have any experiences to share?  The Seder I attended years ago
>ended with lamb stew.  Does anyone have a large recipe for lamb stew?
>Thanks!
>
My church (United Church of Canada, quite similar to PCUSA), has had 
Passover Seders for Maundy Thursday in 1992 and 1990.  (We hold joint
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services with another local church,
alternating the Thursday/Friday host congregation each year).  From 
all reports, participants have found this to be an enjoyable and meaning-
ful service.

I developed and organized the order of service for the Seder.  I was
raised Jewish, but became a Christian as a teenager.  The service basically
follows the regular Jewish order, but there are some extra explanations,
and some mention of Christian symbolism put in.  The songs we sing at
the begining and end are Christian (though some have a Jewish 'flavour').

We did not have a full meal for a number of reasons:  We wanted to keep
the service reasonably short (under 1 hour), to encourage the attendance
and participation of children.  (The purpose of the Jewish Passover Seder
is to pass on to one's children the story of God's redemption of the Hebrew
slaves.)  We also did not want to restrict attendance, or require people to
commit themselves too far in advance.  We did have people sitting at tables, 
and everyone was provided with the ceremonial foods--Matzo (unleavened 
bread), parsley, horseradish, charoses (mix of apples/nuts/honey), and grape 
juice.  (We used grape juice for a number of reasons, though our church does
not require (or even suggest) that members abstain from alcohol.) 

There is normally
one person leading the seder (usually the father or grandfather), but we
shared this task among ~6 adults.  There are questions which are supposed
to be asked by the youngest child able to do so; we also shared this
task among 5 children.  There is a point in the seder where a rituallized 
invitation is issued to "let all who are hungry come and eat"; we had asked
those attending to bring food donations for the local food bank, and dedicated
them at this point.

Some posters have expressed concern about trivializing Jewish observance.
I think enjoyment does not necessarily equal frivolity.  Though it is a very
important holiday, it is not exactly a solemn occasion (as for example are
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the New Year and Day of Atonement).  It is a 
celebration of freedom from slavery, and is supposed to be joyful.  (At the
Christian observance, the joy is tempered by the solemnity of observing Holy
Week.) 

I would be happy to provide more details to anyone who is interested.

Seanna Watson   Bell-Northern Research, 
(seanna@bnr.ca) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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