This week in our home group, we hosted a traditional Jewish Seder service.
No, we aren't Jewish, but we are very aware of how powerful the metaphors and representations in this dinner are in relation to Jesus Christ and the promises He fulfills in our lives.
It may seem a little funny that we would participate in such a structured and ancient tradition considering that we are always reaching for new and fresh things here at Transit, but sometimes there is just no way around the fact that the original model captured it best. Why mess with a classic?
This is our second year sharing a traditional Jewish passover meal together and we believe it's something our church family will continue to do for years to come. To look back on redemptive history from the beginning, to understand how long awaited this Savior was and then to collectively recognize that we are living in a blessed day because Jesus has come and provided that redemption and restoration is a powerful picture for us to carry with us into our celbration of Easter. If it's something you have yet to be a part of, we would encourage you to give it a try!
We've attached a copy of the script for the Seder service that we use so that you can also have this resource. It's rather interesting to read through and we would encourage you to do so, maybe even get a group of friends together and try it out yourself!
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B10-5ZsxmX2ycEVDNm5QNzNjNU0/edit?usp=sharing
Be sure to keep up with our Passion Week vlog series on Facebook every day this week leading up to Easter, and if you don't have a place to celebrate this coming Sunday, feel free to join our family! Below is a link you can follow to our Facebook page, where you will find details for our Easter celebration, and also the vlog series.
https://www.facebook.com/TransitAssembly?ref=ts&fref=ts
Let us know how it goes or share any thoughts about participating in this sort of traditional dinner service. This is Transit Continued!
I am always amazed at God. He wants His people to remember what He has done for us. And this is one way that He allows us to remember the deliverance that He has brought to the countless amount of people throughout history and to me too.
ReplyDeleteAt this Seder, I was especially touched. Sunday (which happens to be Easter, March 31 is my birthday. My spiritual birth. 9 years ago I rededicated my life to God and it has been a wild journey. I have sort of made it a tradition to watch the Passion of Christ on my birthday to remember what Jesus did for me. And to remember to recommit myself to Him continually.
This year at the Seder, just days away from my birthday, the symbolism hit me harder than it ever has. As I washed my hands, I renewed the commitment I made to Him 9 years ago. From there, the symbols just got more rich and more meaningful to me.
But something that always hits me when I partake of a Seder (Passover meal) dinner is that this is such a traditional thing to do. And when I think of that, I instantly cringe. For some reason, I turn my nose up at tradition like there is no room for it in all of humanity. I don't think I am the only one that things this. But why, as a society, do we have such an aversion to traditional elements?