43
Prophetic Seder aims to inspire and educate
By LINDA M. LINONIS
CANFIELD
The Prophetic Passover Seder planned next Saturday at Touch Heaven Church promises to be inspiring and educational.
This is the second such event that the church has sponsored; last year, the Seder attracted some 300 people.
Touch Heaven Church is a nondenominational, Christian church.
Apostle Frank Amedia, who is senior pastor at the church with his wife, Pastor Lorilee, said, “This is not a traditional Messianic Passover. We’re building on that with the theme, ‘One New Man.’”
The theme reflects the unity of participants who hail from backgrounds of Arab, Jew and Gentile.
“I believe it will be a powerful experience for people,” Pastor Amedia said of the learning experience. “The elements of Passover have a correlation to Christ.”
Each person will follow the ceremony in the Messianic Passover Haggadah; the booklet notes that Haggadah is the telling of the deliverance of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
Candles play a part as the “illumination of the spirit of God.” Four cups of wine recall God’s promises of redemption. A hand-washing ceremony reflects a gesture of humility and recalls Jesus’ washing the feet of his apostles.
Participants will have Seder plates with the ceremonial elements of Passover. These are parsley, karpas, which represents life; maror, a bitter herb of horseradish that represents the bitter lives of the Israelites in Egypt; apple, honey and nut mixture symbolizing the mortar the Israelites used for Egyptian buildings; roasted bone recalls the sacrificial lamb whose blood marked Jewish homes; roasted egg, meaning new birth and eternal life; and salt water, symbolizing tears of ancestors in Egypt.
Also included is matzah, unleavened bread, which reflects how the Israelites left Egypt in haste and didn’t have time to let bread rise.
For Christians, the matzah, which is pierced, also recalls how the body of Jesus was pierced with thorns, whip and nails.
The pastor said the three pieces of matzah reflect the triune God.
The pastor said he hopes participants learn and appreciate the elements of the Seder and their signficance.
“Many Christians don’t realize or acknowledge Jesus’ Jewish roots,” he said. “We are indebted to our Jewish brethren.”
Pastor Amedia said Jesus “is the sacrificial lamb.” His blood redeemed humanity and made salvation possible.
He continued that this time, which is Hebrew year 5775, is the subject of commentary.
“This year anticipates a double portion of God’s grace and deliverance and the power of God pouring out,” he said, noting the “doubles” of five and seven.
“This is a special year in prophetic circles,” he said, adding he would “go a step farther and say prayers that will lead to miracles of healing, deliverance and blessing.”
Pastor Amedia said “the Jew, the Gentile, the Arab; the Levite, the Prophet and the Apostle join together to celebrate the supernatural purpose of Passover — great deliverances, miracles, decrees, declarations and Kingdom shift.”
He noted that “the Seder account shall declare and decree miracles, deliverance, revelation and teaching ... this unique time of fellowship promises to combine the riches of the former, the revelation of the now and the glory of the eternal.”
The meal is being prepared by a Teen Challenge chef.
Pastor Amedia said Touch Heaven Church opened in June 2012; he has been in ministry since 1980. A native of Youngstown, he had left the Valley in 1999 for Florida, where he served in multicultural churches. He also anchored a live, Christian radio show for 13 years in the Valley. Pastor Amedia is an ordained minister, prophet and apostle with King Jesus International Ministries, based in Miami, Fla., with apostle Guillermo Maldonado.
Patty Scahill, an associate pastor at Touch Heaven, said she hopes “people are open to the spiritual experience.” “I hope it gets into their hearts and becomes a part of them.”