By BERNADETTE SUKLEY

Special to The Press

Jacob’s Church, Jacksonville, Lynn Township, hosted a Messianic Seder on March 28, in the Activity Center.

A Messianic Seder meal is inspired by and patterned after the traditional Jewish Seder meal celebrated for Passover.

Both Jews and Christians, who recognize that Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth was the promised Messiah predicted in the Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, take part in the celebration.

“We were pleased to host this Messianic Seder in our community,” the Rev. Stanley Newton, pastor of Jacob’s Church said. “This year marked the first time Jacob’s hosted a Seder for our Lenten season festivities.

“We memorialized the Jewish heritage of our Christian faith and celebrated the gift of salvation God has offered to people everywhere through the redemptive work of Yeshua on the cross.

“His resurrection is what gives hope for peace and unity among all peoples worldwide.”

Pastor Newton said the Messianic Seder attracted nearly 90 participants, many of whom had never participated in a Seder before.

“We are excited so many came,” Pastor Newton said. “Because of this encouragement from the community, we may plan another Seder in the future.”

Passover is an eight-day Jewish holiday, referred to as the “festival of freedom.”

Passover celebrates the miraculous deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery.

Along with the traditional meal at the Seder, the story of Passover is shared through a recital of the Haggada, “the telling.”

The meal includes rituals, readings, songs and a full dinner.

During a Passover meal, Jesus took bread and broke it saying, “This is my body,” after which he distributed it to his disciples.

Jesus also took a cup of wine and, lifting it up, he said, “This is the cup of a new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink it, drink it in remembrance of me.”