Information Sheet

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4. Season of Freedom, Season of Rebirth
INFORMATION SHEET

The Passover Meal

The Passover meal is called a seder ("order"). The program of this family-centered ritual meal is presented in a volume called the Haggadah (from Exodus 13:8, "And you shall tell [v'higadeta] your children on that day..."). Through prayers, songs, and symbolic foods, the story of the freeing of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt is recalled and re-experienced. Some of the symbolic foods are:

unleavened bread	matzah	The "bread of poverty and persecution" recalls the haste with which the Hebrews departed from Egypt. They had no time to add yeast to make bread properly.
green vegetable	karpas	Often parsley or celery, the karpas represents spring, new growth, the green of life, rebirth, and freedom. The dipping of the green vegetable into salt water recalls the tears shed by the oppressed slaves.
bitter herbs	maror	Typically horseradish, the maror calls to mind the bitter lives of all those who are oppressed or enslaved.
apples, nuts, cinnamon, red wine	charoset	The charoset mixture resembles the bricks used by the Hebrew slaves during their forced labor. Its sweetness points ahead to ultimate liberation. Eaten together with maror, the bitterness and sweetness of life are signified.
cup for Elijah	kos Eliyahu	a cup of wine reserved for the prophet whose anticipated arrival would herald the coming of the God's Kingdom.
shankbone	zeroa	recalls the sacrifice of the pesach/paschal lambs in the Temple.
roasted egg	betzhah	the scorching of the shell symbolizes the festival sacrifice and recalls the cycle of life from birth to death, to rebirth.

The Courses of the Seder

The Candle Lighting
Kadesh: sanctifying the day
Kiddush: the blessing of the wine and the drinking of the first cup of wine
UrChatz: the first handwashing
Karpas: dipping of green vegetable into salt water
Yachatz: breaking of the middle matzah
Maggid: the telling of the Passover story (includes the four questions, the ten plagues, and the second cup of wine)
Rachtzah: second handwashing before eating matzah, and blessing
Motzi: first blessing over the matzah
Matzah: second blessing over the matzah
Maror: dipping of the maror in the charoset
Korech: Hillel sandwich (eating the maror, charoset and matzah together)
Shulchan Orech: the family meal
Tzafun: dessert (searching for the hidden matzah)
Barech: blessings after eating (includes the blessing after the meal, the third cup of wine, and Elijah's cup)
Hallel: psalms of praise
Nirtza: concluding prayers, fourth cup of wine, and songs

The Easter Triduum [as generally observed in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and many Episcopal and Lutheran churches]

Holy Thursday -The Mass of the Lord's Supper

Liturgy of the Word
The first reading from Exodus 12 imparts directions for putting blood of the doorposts of Hebrew dwellings in Egypt so that the Lord will pass over them. The second reading from one of Paul's letters recounts Jesus' Last Supper. During the meals he identifies bread and wine as his body and blood and instructs his disciples to "do this in remembrance of me." The reading from John's Gospel describes Jesus at the same meal washing his disciple's feet as a model of the service they are to render to one another.
Washing of Feet
a ritual recommitment to serve one another.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The priest consecrates bread and wine by repeating Jesus' words about his body and blood. The congregation shares in the Lord's Supper.
Transfer of the Holy Eucharist
Consecrated bread that has not been consumed is removed from the main sanctuary area in solemn procession to a special repository in preparation for the liturgy of Good Friday.

Good Friday - Celebration of the Lord's Passion

Liturgy of the Word
The first reading is the longest of the suffering servant songs in Isaiah. In the second reading, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews portrays Christ as the great high priest whose sacrifice brings salvation. The gospel reading is the passion narrative of the Gospel of John.
General Intercessions
A series of special invocations to God is prayed, including "for the Jewish people, the first to hear the word of God, that they may continue to grow in the love of his name and in faithfulness to his covenant."
Veneration of the Cross
A cross is placed in the sanctuary area, members of the congregation approach it individually and genuflect, bow, or in some way reverence the sign of Christ's sacrifice.
Holy Communion
The Eucharist is not consecrated on Good Friday, but the congregation shares the communion that was stored in the special repository at the end of the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday.

The Easter Vigil Service

Service of Light
A large fire is prepared outside the church. From it the Easter or Paschal Candle is lit, symbolizing the new life of the Risen Christ. The entire congregation lights small individual candles from the Easter Candle as a sign of the life of Christ they had received in baptism.
Liturgy of the Word
The story of salvation is told in as many as nine readings. Readings from Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Baruch, Ezekiel, and Romans may be proclaimed. The gospel reading relates the discovery of Jesus' empty tomb and the first news of his resurrection.
Rite of Baptism
Persons being initiated into the church community come forth and receive the sacraments of baptism and confirmation. The entire congregation welcomes them and joins in renewing their own baptismal promises.
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The whole community, and most especially the newly baptized, partake of the body and blood of Christ in communion, rejoicing in the new life they share.