Passover

I've been a little missing from my blog lately- mostly because of our family's celebration of Passover (the preparation beforehand and the exhaustion afterward).  This year was the fifth time our family has celebrated a Messianic Passover.  (To read about past years you can look here and here).

We started out very simple, but each year we've added complexity (partly because I've done more research, and partly because our kids are getting older and comprehend more).  This year I was really struck by how thankful I am to be living in the church age; I have freedom in Christ to observe or not observe these kinds of holidays (Colossians 2:20) and also millenia of rich tradition to draw upon!

New elements we added this year:

I did a more thorough spring cleaning of our house before Passover than I have ever done (it didn't actually ALL get cleaned- but for me, it was pretty good :-)

I modified the instructions from this simple seder outline that was written with young children in mind.  (We did not actually celebrate communion around the table as she suggested, but I did think most of her explanations were very good-  If you are interested in our modified version feel free to contact me)

Just before the second cup of grape juice we washed each others' feet (remembering Jesus at the Last Supper)

 We included all of the basic, traditional Jewish foods in our meal.  (matzo, choroset, horseradish, parsley dipped in salt water, roasted eggs, and - although it is no longer a part of most Jewish Passovers- lamb- because of its connection to the original Passover)

M was able to actively participate by asking simplified versions of the four questions typically asked by Jewish children.

Highlights from this Year:

M was very, very interested in why we were doing so many strange things.  It was really neat to have her asking "why?" and having the answers be so meaningful.

G had a hard time waiting so long to eat while we talked about things.  Next time, I think I will try to do a better job feeding her snacks ahead of dinner.  :-)

For Next Year: 

I would love to include another family or two in our celebration.  In years past I didn't really have much confidence that I knew what I was doing and might have been embarrassed to have anyone else there, but it is beginning to feel more like an established tradition- even if I still don't really know what I am doing :-)

Does your family celebrate Passover?  I would love to hear helpful hints as well as links to other blog posts on the subject!