Christ
Our Passover 2002
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A historic gathering occurred on March
26, 2002 when the Christian community responded overwhelmingly to
the annual Christ Our Passover celebration in Huntsville
Alabama. Over 1,200 people participated in the North Hall of the Von
Braun Civic Center as Paul Wilbur led in praise and worship and demonstrated
Christ in the Jewish Passover seder. Dr. Marvin Wilson, who was a
contributing editor to the NIV version of scripture and a leader in
Christian-Jewish relations, said, the Christian Passover Seder
conducted by Awareness Ministries in Huntsville Alabama is to my knowledge
the largest, trans-denominational event of it's kind. Paul Wilbur
of Hosanna Integrity Music who has made the Seder presentation all
over the world said, This is the largest ecumenical audience
before whom I have presented the Christ in the Passover demonstration.
As the body of Christ begins to unite under the headship of the Lord
Jesus and worship Him according to His order and ways, we believe
Passover will become a more common Christian celebration bringing
unity to the Lord's body in other cities as well. |
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All of the pastors and congregations who participated
under the banner Let there be no
strife, for we are brethren are appreciated for
their efforts to bring harmony and unity to the body of Christ in
Huntsville. Some of the supporting local ministry included: Annas
Aytch, Frank Broyles, Mike Clardy, Greg DeVries, Bobby Gordon, Marvin
Green, Bob Guay, Jim Hall, John Herndon, Rick Hobbs, Paul Jablonowski,
Paul Lawler, Steve Lacy, Dick Lessmann, Mark Maddox, Jack Matthews,
W.O McCain, Kieth Miller, Kenny Mitchell, Rusty Nelson, James Robinson,
Clyde Roston, Carol Simon, Greg Simon, Robert S. Somerville, Kerry
Sybold, David Thew, and Doug Wever. |
Passover THEME: Demonstrating
Discipleship -- Let
there be no strife... For we are brethren -- Abraham
Eating together is the universal gesture of love and acceptance
in every culture. The Kingdom of God is no exception. Through the blood
of Christ we are one. Sitting together at the table of the Lord demonstrates
this common-union and oneness. It was at the event of our Lord's Passover
supper and the washing of the disciples feet that Jesus made this profound
statement: By this shall all men
know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another
(John 13:35). True discipleship is demonstrated by our love
being expressed in practical ways.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed
for us; therefore let us keep the feast.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Christ
Our Passover 2003
Unity Banquet & Seder Demonstration
Over
1,500 people gathered in the Huntsville Alabama Von Braun Civic Center
on April 15th 2003 to celebrate the annual "Christ Our Passover"
unity banquet and seder demonstration. This free dinner banquet was sponsored
by over 40 local churches and all of the major denominations in Huntsville
were represented. Since Jesus chose His last seder meal (the last supper)
to wash His disciples feet, we also chose this time to demonstrate the
humility of Christ by having a few leaders serve as examples by washing
one another's feet. Pictured on the left is pastor Paul Lawler from Chase
Valley United Methodist Church washing the feet of pastor Oscar Montgomery
from Union Hill Primitive Baptist Church. They,
along with other leaders, washed each others feet as a symbol of the humility
of Christ which he performed towards His disciples during His last Passover
meal. It was at the event of our Lord's Passover
supper and the washing of the disciples feet that Jesus made this profound
statement - By this shall all men know
that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.
(St. John 13:35). While the foot washing was taking place, four
ladies from the Covenant Dance team (Linda Marshall, Lezlie Kramer, Sylvia
DeVine, and Natalie Jennkins - pictured below) performed a dance of humility
to the Michael Card song entitled "The Basin and the Towel."
Throughout
this family reunion, the banner on stage read "Let there be
no strife... for we are brethren - Genesis
13:8." Family is family no matter how scattered
abroad they may become, and although we can choose our friends, we cannot
choose our relatives. In Christ Jesus we are all family no matter how
diverse or different we may be. Reunion simply means to unite-again, and
the Christ Our Passover provides a platform to demonstrate this unity
in Christ as scripture calls for this corporate expression of the total
family unit three times per year on Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles
(Exodus
23:14-19). The Christ Our Passover celebration, by design,
is a festival to celebrate the common-unity of God's people in the greater
Huntsville area because of our shared "blood-line" through the
Messiah Jesus (Yahshua). This is specifically why the apostle Paul calls
the feast of Passover a "common-union" (1 Cor. 10:16). Each
participant was encouraged to "cross-pollinate" with other believers
from a different stream of the body of Christ.
This years event was well covered by the local media in
television, newspaper and radio. Amy George with channel 19 news conducted
interviews with both Paul Wilbur and Robert Somerville, and the Huntsville
Times ran a full page section of the local Passover events which included
a full color picture of the three shofar horn blowers. "Let the Walls
Fall Down!" was the cry of Robert Somerville as he shared a brief
introduction about the event and his heart for reconciliation among the
church in Huntsville and the restoration of God's order in His celebration
feasts.
The pictures above and below were taken at this years
event courtesy of Bob Dafney who is a freelance photographer for the Huntsville
Times.
![](images/crowdsinging.jpg) ![](images/crowd2003.jpg)
Christ
Our Passover 2004
Unity Banquet & Seder Demonstration
On
April 6, 2004, seven shofar blowers (pictured here) commenced the annual
Christ Our Passover unity banquet and seder demonstration in Huntsville
Alabama. These trumpeters, from a variety of different cultures and Christian
backgrounds within the Huntsville community, represent the priests of
the Lord who blew on their shofars to bring down the walls of division
and strife in the body of Christ. After they sounded, the entire congregation
shouted, "Let the Walls Fall!" The command to celebrate
the Lord's feast of Passover comes from 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
which says, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed
for us; therefore let us keep the feast." Leviticus
23 and Exodus 23 also explain the seven major feasts of the Lord, which
are designated in the scriptures by God to bring honor to Him and unity
among His people.
This year's celebration included about 3,000 people from every major Christian
denomination in Huntsville Alabama. The Von Bron Center (VBC) set a facility
record for feeding this many people at one time in the South Hall. They
had to order extra silverware just to accommodate us, but yet they still
welcomed us back next year! For the past three years, the Lord's feast
of Passover has been celebrated at the Huntsville VBC during holy week,
and each year it has helped Christians unite with the focus on the blood
of the Passover Lamb - Jesus Christ. Through the blood of Christ we are
one, and eating together is the universal gesture of love and acceptance
in every culture. The Kingdom of God is no exception, and sitting together
at the table of the Lord demonstrates this common-union and oneness. This
is specifically why the apostle Paul calls the feast of Passover a "common-union"
(1 Cor. 10:16).
Another demonstration of unity was portrayed when 12 young people from
a variety of different cultures and congregations stood at a communion
table on stage representing the 12 stones that Joshua took from the Jordan
when he crossed over to the promised land, and set up a memorial to the
Lord. Robert Somerville encouraged the congregation in the Hebrew seder
demonstration that Christ is our Passover Lamb. Since Christ died on Passover,
this day has special communion significance. Brotherhood
and deliverance are key themes
every year at the "Christ Our Passover."
Christ
Our Passover 2005
Once
again the church of Huntsville and the surrounding communities came together
to celebrate the Lord's Passover feast. This was the fourth year in the
Von Braun Center and as many commented "the celebration is more meaningful
each year". The theme of the Passover evening "Covenant Relationships-UNITY
Through the Blood of the Lamb". Approximately 1100 purchased tickets
for this year's celebration in the North Hall.
Although there were many similarities to past Passover celebrations,
this year there were some significant changes to the evening's events.
The program for the evening began with the blowing of the shofar and a
wonderful procession of banners displaying the word of God, flags of many
nations, and dancers (young and old) representing the diversity of the
members of the body of Christ.
This year "breakfast was served" as the evening
meal and as always the meal was delicious and enjoyed by all. A major
reason for modifying the meal from previous events was to reduce the expenses
of the celebration in order to make a love offering to the city of Huntsville.
God instructed His people to be a blessing to the city wherever they sojourned.
Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer was contacted regarding the greatest
needs in our community. The evening's offering (~$11,000) was dedicated
to the Huntsville Police Department for the purchase of safety equipment
- additional bullet proof vests for those officers who are willing to
lay down their lives for us every day in the course of their duty. God's
Word tells us in Romans 13:4 that civil authorities are "God's servants
to do you good" and this evening we were privileged to acknowledge
that authority vested in our special guests from the Police Department.![](images/police.jpg)
Another significant part of the celebration was the video
shown on the history of the city of Huntsville (celebrating its 200th
anniversary as a city in 2005) and the spiritual calling perceived for
the city as part of the kingdom of God in the earth. It was powerful!!!
Special music was provided by local ministries throughout
the evening. Ron Childers opened with the Lord's Prayer, Lattilia Baroness
Von Ledersteger- Falkenegg sang Amazing Grace, and pastor Greg Simon and
his worship team led the congregational singing for the evening.
This year as pastor Robert Somerville described the Seder
meal and celebrated communion with the attendees there was a special anointing
of his words and the people regarding our being "one loaf of bread"
as a community of believers. Multiple races, multiple denominations, young
and old, male and female, and multiple leaders rejoiced in that message
March 22, 2005. Let's us pray that the Holy Spirit will keep the theme
of Passover in our hearts throughout the year.
If you missed Passover this year due to any reason please
put April 11, 2006 on your calendar and plan to bring your gifts and celebrate
Passover again next year at the Von Braun Center in North Hall.
Other Huntsville Alabama Christ our Passover Articles by
Robert Somrville and Paul Jablonowski:
The Door to Christian Unity
Three Times a Year
in One Accord
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