SEDER AGAPE FOODS

The original Meal foods are:

MATZOH (not on the Seder Plate, placed in a separate basket or dish)

ZEROA - Lamb shank (roasted, not to be eaten)

MAROR - Bitter herbs ()

On the Seder Plate these foods are added:

CHARETZET - Lettuce, parsley or endive

KARPAS - vegetable with a bitter herb, generally boiled or roasted potato with parsley

CHAROSET - a mixture of chopped apples, nuts, honey, , with optional wine or other spices (for our purposes, a chunky nut butter with wine or apples would do)

BEITZAH - a roasted or hard-boiled egg

Finally, to complete the meal

RED WINE OR GRAPE JUICE - enough for four cups

SALT WATER - for dipping the egg and the potato

MEAT - either lamb (Christian traditional) or beef (Jewish traditional, usually beef )

GEFILTE FISH - entirely optional, used because it is served with horseradish

UNLEAVENED DESERT - or flourless cake are traditional, parfaits are also popular

THE SEDER

OPENING PRAYER

May all who are enslaved throughout the world, come to know freedom. May all who are free, appreciate the blessings of abundance. And may all of us dwell in the house of Cod and give thanks for our good fortune as we celebrate these rituals of Passover.

THE SEDER PLATE

The Seder plate contains the main symbols that help us tell the story of Passover.

MATZAH - There are 3 whole matzot placed one on top of the other, separated and covered by a cloth or napkin. Many matzah covers are available for purchase, and in some homes, the children make the covers. Since you'll be eating matzah many times throughout the Seder, make sure that there's enough for everyone to have an adequate portion.

MAROR AND CHAZERET - These are the bitter herbs symbolizing the bitter life the Jews led whHe they were slaves in Egypt, which are eaten twice during the Seder, once by themselves and another time with matzah. You can use several different vegetables that qualify as maror, two of which are put on your Seder plate in the spaces marked maror and chazeret. Red or white horseradish is often used for maror and romaine lettuce for chazeret.

CHAROSET - Charoset should be made to look like mortar because it is symbolic of the bricks and mortar the slaves used in making the Egyptian buildings. One traditional recipe calls for a mixture of grated apples, nuts, and cinnamon mixed with a little red wine.

ZEROA - A roasted bone (often a lamb shank or chicken bone) is placed on the Seder plate. The bone serves as a symbol of God's mighty arm that convinced the Egyptians to free the slaves. It also represents the Paschal lamb that was used as a special sacrifice in the days of the ancient

BEITZAH - A hard-boiled or roasted egg represents the second sacrifice that was offered on the eve of Passover at the Temple. The egg is quite popular as it serves as a symbol of mourning, and is used as a reminder of our sadness caused by the destruction of the Holy Temple. The round shape also reminds us of the circle of life.

KARPAS - A vegetable other than bitter herbs (parsley, for example) is placed on the Seder plate. Since Passover was also an agricultural festival celebrated by our ancestors, karpas represents the arrival of spring. It will be dipped in salt water and eaten. In some traditions, a potato, onion, or other vegetable is used and is considered the "appetizer". It is also dipped in salt water and eaten.

SALT WATER - This represents the sweat and tears of our ancestors in bondage. While it's not actually part of the Seder plate, a small bowl of salt water should be placed conveniently nearby. Where many people are present, several bowls should be placed around the table for the dipping of karpas

WINE - Four cups of wine are consumed during the Seder (grape juice may be substituted for some or all of the wine). Why four? They serve as a reminder of the four references to Redemption that are mentioned in the Book of Exodus: I will bring you out of Egypt. I will deliver you from bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. I will take you to Me for a people. It is traditional that each person's cup be filled by the person sitting next to them, to symbolize the majesty of the evening, as though each person had a servant (at least for the night). During the Seder proceedings, whenever wine is consumed, it is customary to drink the entire cup.

THE AGAPE MEAL

BLESSINGS

Three blessings are pronounced by the Celebrant at the beginning of the meal.

OVER BREAD

Blessed are you, 0 Lord our God, King of the universe. You bring forth bread from the earth; and on this night you have given us the bread of life in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ. As grain scattered upon the earth is gathered into one loaf, so gather your Church in every place into the kingdom of your Son. To you be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

OVER WINE

Blessed are you, 0 Lord our God, King of the universe. You create the fruit of the vine; and on this night you have refreshed us with the cup of salvation in the Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.

OVER THE OTHER FOODS

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe. You have blessed the earth to bring forth food to satisfy our hunger. Let this food strengthen us in the fast that is before us, that following our Savior in the way of the cross, we may come to the joy of his resurrection. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.

A READING ABOUT PASSOVER

Exodus 12:1-14a

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

THE MEAL

Towards the meal's close, a person appointed reads from the Gospel according to Luke. The Agape concludes with a psalm and deacon's dismissal.

INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST Luke 22:14-30

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

PSALM 78: 14-20, 23-25 read together

He led them with a cloud by day, * and all the night through with a glow of fire.

He split the hard rocks 1n the wilderness * and gave them drink as from the great deep. He brought streams out of the cliff, * and the waters gushed out like rivers.

But they went on sinning against him, * rebelling in the desert against the Most High.

They tested God in their hearts, * demanding food for their craving.

They railed against God and said, * "Can God set a table in the wilderness?

True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; * but is he able to give bread or to provide meat for his people?"

So he commanded the clouds above * and opened the doors of heaven.

He rained down manna upon them to eat * and gave them grain from heaven.

So mortals ate the bread of angels; * he provided for them food enough

The deacon dismisses the people

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

People: Thanks be to God.