Spiritual Preparation for Passover

The method of modern dining takes many forms. Some meals are eat and run event. Other meals are eaten with family in front of the Television. For most the time honored tradition of dining at a table without distractions and interruptions is a thing of the past.  The ritual meal which plans for and expects God’s presence is a relic which has been forgotten in contemporary settings.

Seder Plate at Passover

With the exception of our Thanksgiving meal most people have tossed time consuming meal preparation and environmental atmosphere setting as too laborious and unnecessary. The removal of intentional sit down suppers has created a void spiritually and socially within families and the fabric of our society.

Our Passover Haggadah with explanations

The Passover Seder is an intentionally spiritual meal. Them family is to select a lamb, which is a gift for God and give special care to the animal for three days. Then they kill the animal, take some of the blood and put a sign for God on the doorposts of their homes. Preparation for the feast begins before the meal.

Sheep Pen in Jordan

As the family sets up their meal more spiritual preparation takes place. They are to prepare to leave Egypt in haste as they eat their supper. The Hebrew people are about to become pilgrims of the desert who are completely dependent on God. They are also to eat only unleavened bread for seven days restricting the most basic of all foods, bread, to a just barely food item.

Sharing the Passover at Central Methodist, Mooresville, NC

The Lord told Israel, “when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 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.’” (Ex 12:26-27)

Sharing the Passover in New Orleans

The Passover dinner is to be a time for meeting with God. From the beginnings of preparation to the conclusion of the Seder this event is to teach about and celebrate God. At times I see advertized a thirty minute, or a fifteen minute Haggadah. But these are too brief and miss the point. To shortchange Passover would be the same as to skip a Sabbath meal to spend the evening shopping.

A Skit during the telling of the Passover Srory

When I lead Passover Seders in churches one of the things I offer them is a seven day plan for spiritual preparation. Only a few people have participated in this opportunity. I feel I must offer it anyway because God desires growth in our lives, even if this takes self denial. The Lord desires we live a better life, not a pampered life.

Wine Glass and Sabbath Candles at Passover

The Seder service is built on understanding the multitude of ways God has cared for us so we can give thanks and praise. The service begins with thanks, and then proceeds to share with us what life was like during Israel’s days of slavery. As the Seder progresses participants move from physical concern to spiritual cleansing. This is shown through the two hand washings of the evening. The first is to clean hands, the second is to clean the heart.

As we approach the Passover season, I ask how you will grow spiritually this season. How will you bring the annual Seder from placement as an annual event to being a springboard to a closer relationship with God.

December Family Nights

Each week when my family was young (preschool, elementary school and even high school-aged), our family set one night a week aside as a family night. These ideas, with a calendar are included on my website under the Advent tab. Please feel free to use these ideas with your family.

Family nights on my website are set around the following weekly themes: 1) Prophecy; 2) The Journey of Joseph & Mary; 3) The Shepherds; 4) The Magi. Family nights include: a special meal, an opportunity to read a portion of the Christmas story, times of singing, and surprises.

During the week of November 28, I try to share with my family how God told us about the birth of Jesus even before He came. To reinforce this children can help bake bread. What starts as dry ingredients turns into a lump, which rises, and then with baking becomes the bread we eat. In a similar fashion, the Gospel began as an idea, as God shared parts of his plan through the Old Testament, where we can began to understand the idea. Then Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We read scripture from Luke 1:1-4 with a focus on the prophets.

We set up the tree this day; the evergreen is a promise of eternal life. We set out Nativity sets, which tell the story of Christmas. We will eat the bread as part of our dinner, and sing Christmas carols. We will also look at pictures of former Christmases, and talk about what we want to see happen this year.

During the week of December 5, I share with my family how God announced the birth of Jesus to Joseph and Mary. In response, the couple traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born (a “journal” of this trip can be found in the book Advent Journeys). We bake a Birthday Cake in order to tell the story of Christmas from Luke 2:1-7. We sing songs, and then eat dinner as a picnic by the Christmas tree. Joseph and Mary ate picnic lunches as they traveled. We sing songs during this celebration.

During the week of December 12, I share with my family the story of the shepherds. During the week I try to take them to see a pasture with sheep in it. For supper on Shepherd week, I build a fire in the fireplace. We roast hot dogs, and can have s'mores. The shepherds cooked their meal over a real fire. We tell the story of the Shepherds from Luke 2:8-20. We string popcorn on the Christmas tree. We also prepare Christmas cards. As the angels announced the Birth of Jesus to the shepherds, we tell our friends of our love for Jesus.

During the week of December 19, I will tell the story of the Magi. Our special foods are sugar cookies and eggnog because the Magi lived such rich lives. We might eat steak, or a similar meal. Or we go out (if not planned for another night) to burger king, where we wear crowns, and talk about the Kings. We read the story from Matthew 2:1-12. We also look at the decorations on our tree.

Christmas is for sharing; please consider sharing the book Advent Journeys this year with others. A reading each day will enhance this season and make it more meaningful than other years. As you read, share your readings with others to encourage them. I have been amazed as people shared with me the blessing they found in reading this book. Several non-believers and skeptics were given this book, were captured by the first chapter and read the book, discovering for the first time the real meaning of the Christmas story. Pray about who you know who would benefit by reading Advent Journeys ... and then order copies (so you will have them to give to friends on Thanksgiving Day). The publisher’s website (CreateSpace owned by Amazon.com) is listed here: Order the book through CreateSpace. When you give Advent Journeys to others as a gift, you will reap the blessing of having them share from their perspectives the discoveries and joys they receive from the book.

Why Wear Green?

Green, I must wear green today.  There will be lots of people wearing green, and if I do not wear green, I will get pinched.  Look around, do you see people wearing green today?  Are you wearing green today?  

Well, there used to be lots of people wearing green.  What is it all about.  When I poll people, most do not remember, and some do not know.  Why do people wear green today?  Is it because they like green?  Maybe it’s because green is their color (people tell me green is my color all the time).  Perhaps it is because green things are sprouting, so we wear green to celebrate spring.  (In New Orleans people wear green early, along with yellow for daffodils and purple for redbuds … wrong!)

When I poll people about why green is worn today I am surprised, many do not know.  When I was young, everyone knew.  It was part of our school.  It was part of what went on at home.  We all wore green on this day because if you forgot, someone would pinch you.  Everyone knew it was because of St. Patrick’s Day.  And we knew parts of the story.

When I ask people where is their green they are surprised, and wonder why I ask.  When I remind them it is St. Patrick’s day, most realize, and just say, “Oh.”  (no exclamation point!) They know.  They didn’t remember, but they did not forget.  It doesn’t matter.

Why St. Patrick’s Day? Some will say because we are celebrating some guy named St. Patrick, but they really don’t know who he is.   In some places it is because people think it’s about green beer (was this Patrick guy a brewer?  Or maybe it is just because the Irish like beer, and everyone, even those not Irish should join them.)

Some say it is because of Shamrocks.  They really don’t know the why of shamrocks, they just know shamrocks are part of it.  Was it because Patrick was a gardener, and grew shamrocks?  Did he wear shamrocks, or maybe sell shamrock pins? No, he told stories about shamrocks.  But people have forgotten the story.

Who was Patrick?  A lucky leprechaun of Ireland?  Or, was he like the Pied Piper of England … just he ridded the island of snakes (not children).  If someone rid our country of snakes, we would celebrate!!

We can look this all up on line, the point is, we have forgotten the story.

Or maybe the story does not matter.  We live in a busy world, and who has time to remember that today is March 17, and March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and we are supposed to wear green.  We are individualists, and do our own thing, in this generation.  We don’t need to wear green!

But this is sad, for the stories teach us.  They have passed down truths for generations.  Do you know who St. Patrick is?  The real St. Patrick … not the one who drinks beer (that is made up).  St. Patrick is a hero.  He told a story which saved Ireland.  He really did chase a snake out of the country (Not many snakes, one snake) … What snake?  The red snake.  Read the story, think, and you will understand.

Advent & Christmas Celebrations

   Advent is a favorite time for our family.  Every year from the time my daughters were in Preschool the month of December became a very special time of year.  Christmas was planned into each day of the year, but not with gifts, but with a special activity.  We planned crafts, field trips, games, music, special foods, and more.  Every activity highlighted and added meaning to part of the story.  Taken together these activities brought our family closer to the true reason for Christmas.
   Our Advent idea began as a Sunday School class activity.  The project continued as an activity packet I shared with parents of preschoolers.  As my children grew, so did the idea with more and more complex activities.  When my daughters entered Middle School Advent packets took the shape of daily lunchtime stories and games which appeared in their lunch boxes.  The impact in their lives is worth sharing.
   I attempted to put the idea in a book, but it did not quite work that way.  But the idea is still good and can impact families with young children.  I am sharing the plan on our KosherCopy web page.  You can proceed from this page to look at our new book: Advent Journeys.  The best part is ... the plan is free, just take it and use it with your family (or share with friends).  If you put the plan into use, I can promise a fantastic Christmas.
   The Advent ideas and calendar on our KosherCopy website is linked to the book Advent Journeys, so they can be read and accomplished together.  The book Advent Journeys is readable to a 10 or 11 year old (on up).  Through daily reading adults and children will better understand events which took place over 2,000 years ago.
   Advent, it is a wonderful time of the year.  The Advent season starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  When the family participates in short daily readings and activities which go along with the scriptures, members of the family can not but help come away with a real connection to the true meaning of Christmas.
   And when you understand the true meaning of Christmas, it overpowers the trappings and gifts which have become part of a secular Christmas.  You do not have to do away with the gifts to have a true Christmas experience ... they are a fun part of the season ... All you have to do for a Great Christmas is to include Jesus in every part and every day.
   Take a look at our website this week.  And if you like the packet and calendar, please share with others.  And purchase our book this week, so you can read along to bring even greater enhancement to your Christmas.