Guidelines for conducting the Christian Passover service.

Guidelines for conducting the Christian Passover service	Print Page
Smaller Text \| Larger Text

Advance Preparation for Passover Service

Clean and remove all leavening from the room where the Christian Passover service will be conducted. The room chosen should be one where during the service it will be as quiet as possible. Conducting Passover at a house with fellow believers is perfectly acceptable.
Purchase unleavened bread--Jewish Matzoth (also called Matzos). If you cannot purchase unleavened bread, you can make it yourself.
Purchase a bottle of quality unfortified red burgundy wine. Quality wines usually have a cork.
Pans, towels and water (preferably warm) will be needed for the service. Each person that will be attending the service, if possible, should bring their own towel and wash pan.
Printed copies of a Psalm will be needed for the closing hymn of the service. You can get a copy of the 23rd Psalm or other Psalms for the Passover ceremony.
Purchase or find two quality pieces of white linen or cloth in which to cover the unleavened bread and wine.
A silver serving tray and small, clear plastic cups or glasses can be used for the wine for the service. Small plastic cups can usually be found in most religious stores or stores near concentrations of Jewish people. Only a small amount of wine is needed for each person. If a silver tray cannot be obtained, use the best tray that can be found.
The Passover service is a deeply personal ceremony for each one who participates in it. If someone wishes to take an active role in the service (and they wouldn't be disruptive), they should be allowed to participate in it. Each part of the Christian Passover service can be conducted by a different baptized person. You may have one person give the opening prayer, another read the scriptures on the meaning of the unleavened bread, another bless the wine, etc. Additionally, scriptures near the end of the service on the meaning of the New Covenant can be read in turn by each person. If possible, ask in advance who would like to perform a certain part of the service.

Preparation Immediately before Passover Service

Put unleavened bread on plate or serving tray and cover the bread with white linen or cloth. This cloth can be removed after the blessing of the bread and before it is passed to the group for eating.
Fill cups or glasses with a small amount of wine. Put cups on serving tray and cover with white linen or cloth. The cloth can be removed after the blessing of the wine and before the tray is passed to the group.

Outline for Conducting Christian Passover Service

Perform Opening Prayer for Service

Read Scriptures on commitment of Jesus Christ
and meaning of foot washing ceremony

Perform the Foot washing Service

Read Scriptures on meaning of unleavened bread

1Corinthians 11:23-24

Perform blessing on the unleavened bread
(then pass bread to attendees)

Read Scriptures on the meaning of the wine

Mark 14:23-25

Psalm 22:12-15

1Corinthians 11:25-29

Perform blessing on the wine
(then pass tray with wine to attendees)

Read Scriptures pertaining to meaning of
Christian Passover / New Covenant

1) Luke 22:24-30	5) John 14:1-31
2) John 13:33-35	6) John 15:1-27
3) Mark 14:27-31	7) John 16:1-33
4) John 13:36-38	8) John 17:1-26
9) Mark 14:26

Group sings closing Hymn
(usually 23rd Psalm)

Discard leftover blessed unleavened bread and wine.

Notes on Christian Passover Service Guidelines

The scriptures listed above contain some of the fundamental verses used to highlight the meaning of the different parts of the service. Other scriptures can be added, either before or during the service, that enhance or explain further the meaning of this sacred ceremony.
Please remember that although the Passover is a Holy ceremony, it is not a Holy Day. Most people may have to travel home a long distance and go to work the next day. Keep this in mind in regard to how long the service in allowed to run.
At the end of the Passover service, the remaining blessed unleavened bread and wine should be discarded. The blessed wine should be poured on the ground or down a sink, representing our Savior's blood being entirely sacrificed for us (Matthew 26:28, Luke 22:20, John 19:34). The blessed unleavened bread can either be burnt (the Old Testament lamb representing Christ was burnt wholly, representing a total sacrifice--Exodus 12:10) or thrown away.