What's happening? This was the question on all their minds as the children and their parents arrived Thursday night for the First Communion preparation session.
Until now, they had been used to arriving and seeing a set of chairs set in a circle or even in rows (it all depends on what kind of activity is planned). In preparation for their arrival this week, some wonderful helpers had been hard at work so when children and their parents entered the room, they found tables arranged in a horseshoe, with chairs arranged around the tables. There was also another smaller table in the midst of the horseshoe.
White paper table coverings had been spread over the tables, and at each of the chairs there was a small glass of grape juice. Upon the smaller table in the middle there were two candles standing in holders, and each participant was greeted at the door and handed a sheet of paper, which we asked them to read together with their parent-guardian or child. The compostion recounted the story of the Israelites' escape from Egypt as it's told in the book of Exodus.
While they read, other things appeared on the tables: paper plates, napkins, cups of water, platters of vegetables and a very strange bread that resembled a very big square cracker. Only when all the pieces were in place did I explain that on this night we were going to live an adapted version of a Seder meal. Before we began, each participant received a copy of the Haggadah, an explanatory pamphlet which they were encouraged to read along with me.
Step by step, we read through the text. We lit the Festival candles which had been placed on the special table reserved for Elijah's cup and portion of the meal. We drank three times from the cups of juice, remembering the need to proclaim the Day of Deliverance and the promise made by the Lord to redeem his chosen people.
The Seder meal is a unique opportunity for children of all ages to learn about the roots of the meal which we celebrate whenever we gather around the Lord's table for the Eucharist. There are lots of green leafy vegetables to remind us of the springtime.
Each of the platters prepared for this meal also held pieces of parsley and radish to remind us of the bitterness of slavery, a container of haroset (a mixture of apples, raisins, honey and juice) meant to remind us of the mortar used by the Israelite slaves to hold bricks together in Pharaoh's Egypt. Slices of egg: reminders of the new life of freedom for which we long, and pieces of matzoh, the unleavened bread which was used for the hasty meal prior to the flight out of captivity.
At one point in the meal, children were asked to combine the mazoh (which had been broken into pieces) a slice of radish, some of the parsley and some of the haroset and to make a sandwich which they would then be asked to eat.
The Seder meal also includes some time for fun and games, including hiding some of the matzoh and then allowing the children to search for it. The lucky one who found it was rewarded with gum (and as it turned out, there were enough pieces of gum that each child received a token of thanks for having participated in the search.
The final part of the Seder meal involves the Cup of Elijah. One of the children was chosen and asked to open the door so that Elijah could enter the feast. Jewish history tells of this beloved prophet who appears in times of trouble to bring a promise of relief, to lift downcast spirits and to plant hope in the hearts of the downtrodden.
Once the door had been opened, we were reminded of the importance of remaining open to the hope of a better world and the dream to live in a world without hunger, slavery and injustice of any kind.
The experience of this special meal gave our children and their parents a special opportunity to understand and appreciate the rich history behind the Eucharist. It was also a lot of fun and a source of much conversation between children, parents and catechists alike. I'll bet they can't wait to see what's in store for this coming Thursday's preparation session.
Until now, they had been used to arriving and seeing a set of chairs set in a circle or even in rows (it all depends on what kind of activity is planned). In preparation for their arrival this week, some wonderful helpers had been hard at work so when children and their parents entered the room, they found tables arranged in a horseshoe, with chairs arranged around the tables. There was also another smaller table in the midst of the horseshoe.
White paper table coverings had been spread over the tables, and at each of the chairs there was a small glass of grape juice. Upon the smaller table in the middle there were two candles standing in holders, and each participant was greeted at the door and handed a sheet of paper, which we asked them to read together with their parent-guardian or child. The compostion recounted the story of the Israelites' escape from Egypt as it's told in the book of Exodus.
While they read, other things appeared on the tables: paper plates, napkins, cups of water, platters of vegetables and a very strange bread that resembled a very big square cracker. Only when all the pieces were in place did I explain that on this night we were going to live an adapted version of a Seder meal. Before we began, each participant received a copy of the Haggadah, an explanatory pamphlet which they were encouraged to read along with me.
Step by step, we read through the text. We lit the Festival candles which had been placed on the special table reserved for Elijah's cup and portion of the meal. We drank three times from the cups of juice, remembering the need to proclaim the Day of Deliverance and the promise made by the Lord to redeem his chosen people.
The Seder meal is a unique opportunity for children of all ages to learn about the roots of the meal which we celebrate whenever we gather around the Lord's table for the Eucharist. There are lots of green leafy vegetables to remind us of the springtime.
Each of the platters prepared for this meal also held pieces of parsley and radish to remind us of the bitterness of slavery, a container of haroset (a mixture of apples, raisins, honey and juice) meant to remind us of the mortar used by the Israelite slaves to hold bricks together in Pharaoh's Egypt. Slices of egg: reminders of the new life of freedom for which we long, and pieces of matzoh, the unleavened bread which was used for the hasty meal prior to the flight out of captivity.
At one point in the meal, children were asked to combine the mazoh (which had been broken into pieces) a slice of radish, some of the parsley and some of the haroset and to make a sandwich which they would then be asked to eat.
The Seder meal also includes some time for fun and games, including hiding some of the matzoh and then allowing the children to search for it. The lucky one who found it was rewarded with gum (and as it turned out, there were enough pieces of gum that each child received a token of thanks for having participated in the search.
The final part of the Seder meal involves the Cup of Elijah. One of the children was chosen and asked to open the door so that Elijah could enter the feast. Jewish history tells of this beloved prophet who appears in times of trouble to bring a promise of relief, to lift downcast spirits and to plant hope in the hearts of the downtrodden.
Once the door had been opened, we were reminded of the importance of remaining open to the hope of a better world and the dream to live in a world without hunger, slavery and injustice of any kind.
The experience of this special meal gave our children and their parents a special opportunity to understand and appreciate the rich history behind the Eucharist. It was also a lot of fun and a source of much conversation between children, parents and catechists alike. I'll bet they can't wait to see what's in store for this coming Thursday's preparation session.
1 comment:
Just read your memories of a Seder Meal. What a delightful and informative read! I have heard the word so often and never completely understood the history and symbolism that coincides. Thanks for sharing this and enlightening a cradle Catholic closely connected to the church, yet still with so much to learn. I have always believed that through the eyes of children the doors of our faith will be opened and lead us to greater understandings. As parents, sacramental preparation from Baptism on indeed awakens us. God's Blessings to all involved for taking your gifts given, and sharing them with the whole Church.
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