Passover celebrates a number of events and ideas: the birth of the Jewish people, their struggle for freedom, God’s role in the history of the people of Israel, and Israel’s role in God’s purposes. Passover is a joyful and exciting celebration of freedom and liberation. While Passover has its own distinct message and meaning in and of itself, it is also meaningful for us as Christians for in it we see the roots of much of the meaning and significance of the Lord’s Supper. According to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus’ last full meal was the Passover meal. In this meal Jesus gave his disciples the bread and said, “take and eat it, this is my body” and gave them the wine and instructed them to “drink it, all of you, this is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-27). Jesus used the occasion of the Passover meal for the prophetic sign of his impending death. Jesus adds a new dimension and meaning to the celebration. To the Passover Jesus adds the dimension of His broken Body and spent Blood, the new covenant. God’s grace in the delivery from Egypt on the night when the first born were slaughtered, and God’s grace in the sacrifice of His first born son Jesus is the same grace, as He is the same one and only God, Jesus is our Paschal Lamb.
All are welcome to join us for the ceremonial meal, potluck dinner, and Holy Commuion.