PASCHAL MEAL - ‘COME AND DINE’

– 7.30pm Saturday 22 March, Church Centre

Eating and drinking have a central place in our family and religious lives.  What would Christmas be without the dinner, or birthdays without the cake?  Jesus himself spent a lot of his time talking with people over a meal, and instituted the Eucharist while celebrating Passover with his disciples.  On 22 March, the eve of Easter, we will be holding a Paschal Meal as part of Holy Week.  Beginning at 7.30 pm, the ritual meal will follow the pattern of the Jewish Passover and include a mixture of story-telling, community singing and lots of fun for young and old.

Following tradition we will taste bitter herbs (symbolizing the bitterness of slavery in Egypt), chew haroset, a mixture of apple, nuts and wine (representing the brick and mortar that the Israelites made during their time of enforced labour), eat unleavened bread (to remind us that the Jews had to flee Pharaoh in such haste that the bread was baked before it had risen) and best of all, roast lamb.  And all this washed down with red wine from which ten drops are taken representing each of the ten plagues that came upon the Egyptians.  We will also toast Elijah the missing guest.

For us Christians, Christ is our Passover and so our eating and drinking will go beyond the retelling of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt to celebrate Christ’s victory over death.  At the end of the meal, we will light the Easter fire and the Paschal Candle symbolizing Christ the light who conquers all darkness.  From this candle, small lights will be lighted and placed in the garden of remembrance as a prayer that the Risen Christ will shine upon all our departed loved ones and give them rest. Having entered and filled the darkened church with candlelight we will renew our own baptismal promises around the font before rounding off the evening with pudding back in the centre!

Everyone is welcome to take part in this Easter celebration, but to help with planning and  catering it would be much appreciated if those who would like to come along would sign up on the lists at the back of the church.  The meal will be on a bring and share basis and offers of salads, or puddings etc will be warmly received. Further information from Michael Paterson 228 2931