Section I

Preparing for the Passover

The scriptures indicate that at the time of Jesus' last Passover He dispatched two of His disciples to seek out a specific place and make sure it was properly prepared for them to keep this day in accordance with God's command.

Luke 22:7-8,13

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat... And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover.

It goes without saying that the Messiah was hugely mindful of the importance of honoring God's feasts in a way that would insure their dignity as well as their function, and it should be no different with His people today. For this reason great care should be given to the preparation required to "make ready the Passover."

This section provides guidelines for conducting a Passover ceremony that will honor both Christ and His sacrifice. It addresses the process involved in the service (i.e. how it is conducted as well as critical issues that must be addressed). It is offered with the hope that "all things might be done decently and in order" (I Cor. 14:40).

Critical Issues

The Room:

The room used for the service should be prepared to comfortably accommodate all the participants. Therefore, it is always beneficial to have a good idea of how many will be attending. Additionally, the room itself should be clean as well as deleavened.

The Arrangement of the Room

With respect to the room set-up, it has been the tradition of the church to arrange the chairs "theatre style"--the same as is done during Sabbath and Holy Day services. At the front of the room there should be a table and chair(s). This is because unlike other services where ministers generally stand when addressing the congregation, the host(s) conducting the Passover sit(s) at a table. Mind you there is no Biblical mandate requiring this. It is simply a tradidion of the church based on the experience and wisdom of its leadership (past and present). It is a wisdom we believe should be trusted. Additionally, the table should be completely covered with a white cloth. Furthermore, if at all possible, the room should be made ready prior to the arrival of the participants. Therefore, when they enter it there should be no doubt that it has been prepared specifically for God's service.

Room Checklist

1. Is the room neat, clean and orderly?

2. Is the room free of all leaven?

3. Are chairs neatly arranged (preferably theatre style)?

4. Is there adequate room in the hall to accommodate participants?

5. Is there a table in the front for the host(s) officiating the service?

6. Is the table completely covered with a white cloth?

7. Is there an additional room(s) to accommodate the foot washing portion of the service?

The Participants:

The long standing practice of the church has been that only baptized members be permitted to partake of the Passover. This understanding is based on the fact that in ancient Israel only those who were circumcised could do so.

Exodus 12:43-45

And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

With this understanding, the scriptures also tell us that in the New Covenant, circumcision is of the heart (Rom. 2:28, Phil. 3:3, Col.2:11) and takes place upon conversion which is expressed in baptism (Acts 2:38). Therefore, in deference to the enduring principle reflected in the scriptures as well as the long held practice of the church, the host presiding over the ceremony should respectfully prohibit those who are not as yet baptized from participating. This is not to suggest that those attending must provide proof of their baptism. However, if there are doubts, caution should be exercised. One way to accomplish this without causing embarrassment would be for the host to mention, as a part of the introduction, what the scriptures say about partaking of the Passover. After doing so he might say:

"Therefore, brethren, if there are some here that are not baptized, we respectfully ask that you NOT participate in any of the activities that are a part of the service. However, you are welcome to observe the ceremony. Furthermore, if you have any questions feel free to jot them down and we can discuss them later, perhaps this Sabbath."

Observing the ceremony?

As was just mentioned, in the past, attendance at Passover services was reserved exclusively for baptized members of the church. More recently however, non members have been permitted to observe (not participate in) the ceremony. This would also include the foot washing portion of the service. Some groups even believe that unbaptised members be prohibited from singing the congregational hymn at the conclusion of the service because it too was taken from Jesus' Passover model, although most permit it.

Additionally, most church associations today even extend an invitation for parents to bring their children to the service. This newer position is based on the principle found in God's instructions to ancient Israel.

Exodus 12: 24-27

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. (See also: Ex.18:2, Dt 4:9-10, Dt. 6:5-7).

Preparing Spiritually

Clearly, the most important aspect of preparing to take the Passover is spiritual. The scriptures actually characterize this period as a time of deep introspection. Because of this the apostle Paul exhorts God's people to "examine themselves." Furthermore, he warned that failing to adequately prepare could place a person's salvation in jeopardy.

I Corinthians 11:28-29

Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body (1 Corinthians 11:28-29)

Pre-recorded Service:

For those who plan on using a pre-recorded ceremony such as the one included in this package, it will require an audio player. Additionally, the host will need to be familiar with various features of the unit. Therefore, we strongly advise playing the entire audio service well in advance of the actual ceremony. When doing so sound levels should be checked as well as how to pause the CD when.

Audio Message Checklist

1. Is the audio message clear and audible?

2. Is the recorder in good working order?

3. Has the audio ceremony been listened to in its entirety?

4. Is there a complete transcript of the audio to be used in conjunction with the ceremony (see: Section III)?

The Foot Washing:

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Passover ceremony is the foot washing in which participants break into pairs and wash each other's feet. This is done in accordance with Christ's personal example on the night He was betrayed (Jn. 13:1-17). With that said, it is a part of the service that can present potential problems because of logistics--not the least of which is that it requires leaving the main room and relocating to another area. It also requires certain things such bowls, water, towels and a disposal area. With that said, this part of the service can be managed with adequate preparation. Consider the following.

Foot washing area: Chairs in this area are generally arranged in a way that best takes advantage of the size of the area and the number of participants. In one configuration chairs are lined up against a wall. Under each chair are two small basins of water. While one participant sits, his or her partner kneels before them and washes their feet. The rolls are then reversed using the second basin. At this point it is important to understand that each participant should assume both roles.

Note:

For those who have never participated in this ceremony it can be a very moving experience. For some it can cultivate a special bond with their partner.

Additionally, what takes place in this part of the ceremony may be far more powerful than we can imagine. In a very real sense the participant washing their partners feet is symbolically washing Jesus' feet. Furthermore, when the participant is having his/her feet washed it is symbolically being done by Christ.

Bowls: The basins used in this part of the ceremony are generally rectangular in shape and constructed of sturdy plastic. These can be procured at most department stores. We strongly recommend that this purchase not be left till the last minute.

NOTE

The basins are reusable and should be retained by the host group. If the basins being used are from prior years it would be wise to make sure they do not leak as a result of age.

Towels: Towels will be needed to dry participants feet. It has been the general practice of the church that participants furnish their own towels. Some groups may wish to have extras in the event someone forgets.

Water source: Although almost all facilities have access to water, it is incumbent upon the host group to adequately plan for the acquisition, distribution and disposal of the water. We advise that any issues in these areas be addressed and resolved during planning meetings well in advance of the service.

Foot Washing Checklist

1. Are foot washing area(s) ready prior to the arrival of participants?

2. Is there a sufficient quantity of water basins?

3. Have the basins been checked for leaks?

4. Is there a plan in place for acquiring, distributing, and disposing of the water?

The Unleavened Bread:

The unleavened bread represents a critical component of the ceremony. Therefore, great care should be given to it. With respect to the bread itself the tradition within the church has been to use matzos. However, it is perfectly acceptable to use homemade bread (unleavened) as well.

Note:

Because some matzos may actually contain leaven we recommend purchasing kosher matzos.

The Presentation

The matzos should be neatly placed on a tray and covered with a white napkin. The tray is then placed on the head table prior to the arrival of the participants. At the appropriate time during the ceremony they will be distributed. Depending on the size of the group participating ushers may be designated to distribute the bread. After everyone has taken a piece the usher(s) should return the tray(s) containing the unused bread to the head table. Once returned they should be covered by the host.

Unleavened Bread Checklist

1. Is there an adequate amount of unleavened bread?

2. Have the appropriate precautions been made to ensure that the bread is completely unleavened.

3. Are there trays on which the unleavened bread will be placed?

4. Is the unleavened bread covered with a white napkin?

5. Is the unleavened bread placed on the head table prior to the arrival of participants?

The Wine:

One of the most poignant moments in the Passover ceremony is the partaking of the wine. Regrettably, some believe the drink consumed by Christ and His disciples was grape juice and not a fermented beverage. However, the scriptures strongly indicate otherwise. The Greek word for wine in the New Testament is “oinos.” and refers to an intoxicant. It is the same word used by the apostle Paul when admonishing the church at Epheses to "Be not drunk with wine" (Eph. 5:18). It is also the same word used in the parable of "The Good Samaritan" in which a Samaritan treated a man who fell among thieves by "pouring oil and wine on his wounds" (Lk. 10:34). In this case the alcohol in the wine would have acted as a cleansing agent.

Additionally, It is interesting to note that the grape harvest in Judea at that time took place in the summer. Thus, because any beverage extracted from them ferments almost immediately it would be impossible for it to not contain alcohol the following spring (when the Passover takes place).

Selecting the Wine

It has been the long standing practice of the church to apply certain criteria when selecting the wine to be used during the ceremony. The wine itself should be red (burgundy) and of high quality. Additionally, when selecting it one should be mindful of the level of alcohol it contains. This is because wines with a higher rate of alcohol are often fortified with brandy. Therefore, it is best to purchase an unfortified wine with a lower alcohol rate (10-13 Percent).

Presenting the Wine

Prior to the arrival of the participants the wine should be poured into small thimble-like cups and placed in a tray specifically used for this purpose. Both the thimbles and the trays may be purchased at most Christian bookstore. This too should be done well in advance of the service.

Once the wine is poured it should be placed on the head table and covered with a white napkin. At the appointed time the host will uncover it offering a prayer (giving thanks) just as the Messiah did (Mt. 26:27).

Wine Checklist

1. Is the wine of good quality and of a red variety?

2. Is the wine unfortified?

3. Are there an adequate number of thimble-cups?

4. Is there a tray suitable to carry the thimble-cups?

5. Is there a white napkin to cover the wine?

6. Is the wine set up prior to the arrival of participants?

Disposing of the Bread and Wine:

In accordance with the scriptures the unconsumed wine, including that which remained in an open bottle is to be poured into the earth as was the case with Jesus' blood. Although this is done after the completion of the formal service some participants may wish to observe this being done. The cups should also be cleaned as soon as is practical.

The remaining unleavened bread including opened boxes is also to be disposed of. In accordance with the principle found in God's instruction to ancient Israel it should be completely burned. Nothing is to remain.

Exodus 12:10

And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

Disposal Checklist

1.Was the leftover bread (including crumbs) completely burned?

2.Was it destroyed prior to the next morning?

3.Was the leftover wine poured into the earth including that which was left in any opened bottles?

4.Was the wine disposed of prior to the next morning?

Congregational Hymn:

At the conclusion of the service almost all Church of God fellowships sing a hymn. Traditionally, it has been Psalm 51, "In Thy Loving Kindness Lord." This being the case it is incumbent on the host(s) to provide the appropriate sheet music for those in attendance. Additionally, a decision should be made concerning accompaniment. Some groups will elect to play a tape, others will sing it "a cappella" (without accompaniment).

Congregational Hymn Checklist

1. Has a closing hymn been selected?

2. Are there sufficient copies of the hymn for distribution?

3. Has a decision been made regarding musical accompaniment?

4. If a tape is going to be used as accompaniment is it properly cued?

Section II