Jesus our Passover Lamb

Passover-Pesach(passing-over)

This is my favorite Biblical holiday, celebrating all Jesus did for us by dying of the cross for our sins.  It is crucial that the kids have this down as their foundation.  Passover happened when God sent down the 10 plagues upon Egypt.  The tenth and last plague was the death of the first born.  However, those who had the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their homes, the death angel passed-over their homes and all inside, and they were saved.  In the same manner, we are all deserving of death because of our sins.  But we are covered by the blood of The Lamb, Jesus Christ, and we are saved from death.

Here are some wonderful things to do to instill the deep meaning of Passover in our kids:

1.       Participate in a Seder.  Either a community seder or have a simple one in your home. 

If you are in the Twin Cities area visit www.cornerfringe.com for info on our Passover Seder.
Here is a Haggadah or the "telling" of Passover. It's a step by step message of Passover to "tell" in your home during your seder dinner. http://www.cbnw.org/events/aec/content/2007/messianicHaggadah.pdf

2.       Make unleavened bread or Matzah.  The Israelites left Egypt so fast they had no time to bake bread.
Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour for dusting*(no-self rising flour)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour*
• 1/3 cup water, or more if needed
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or as needed (optional)
• 1 teaspoon olive oil, or as needed (optional)

Directions

1.                     Move an oven rack near the top of oven and preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Preheat a heavy baking sheet in the oven.
2.                      Dust a clean work surface and a rolling pin with 1 teaspoon flour, or as needed. Place 1 cup of flour into a mixing bowl; set a timer for about 16 minutes (18 minutes maximum). Start the timer; pour the water, about 1 tablespoon at a time, into the flour. Stir the water and flour together with a fork until the dough forms a rough ball, remove the dough to the prepared work surface, knead rapidly and firmly until smooth, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
3.                     Divide the dough into four equal pieces; cut each piece in half again to get 8 pieces total. Swiftly roll each piece into a ball. Roll each piece of dough out into a 5-inch pancake, dusting the top and rolling pin with flour as needed. Gradually roll the pancakes out to a size of about 8 inches, increasing the size of each by about 1 inch, then letting the dough rest for a few seconds before rolling again to the finished size. Roll from the center out. The bread rounds should be very thin. Using a fork, quickly pierce each bread about 25 times, all over, to prevent rising. The holes should go completely through the bread. Flip the bread over, and pierce each piece another 25 times with the fork.
4.                     With at least 5 minutes left on the timer, remove the hot baking sheet from the preheated oven, and place the rounds onto the baking sheet. Place the baking sheet onto the rack near the top of the oven, and bake for 2 minutes; turn the breads over and bake an additional 2 minutes, until the matzot are lightly browned and crisp.
5.                     Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Lightly anoint each matzah with olive oil, using a brush, and sprinkle generously with salt.               

**Matzah has incredible symbolism of Yeshua/Jesus.  Matzah is unleavened(without sin), striped, pierced and bruised.  Just as Jesus is without sin, striped, pierced and bruised for our sins.

3.       Recreate the 10 plagues
 a. Blood Plague:  Bowl of clean water and add red food coloring
 b. Frog Plague: Toss out plastic frogs
 c. Lice Plague: rice
 d. Fly Plague: raisins
 e. Dead animals plague: stuffed animals on their backs
 f. Boils Plague- red sticker circles and stick on kids
 g. Hail plague-toss out ping-pong balls
 h. Locust plague- clothes pins painted/colored green
 i. Darkness Plague- cover windows and turn off lights
 j. Death of first born-  Picture of doorframe with the blood of the Lamb on it for proctection form death.  All who were covered by the blood were saved!

4.       Sing Dayenu--Here is a fun version of the song http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/255530/jewish/Dayenu.htm

5.       Make charoset--this tastes so good with the matzah! Charoset represents the sweetness of Jesus' salvation!!
Ingredients

•                     6 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
•                     1 cup finely chopped walnuts
•                     1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•                     1 teaspoon white sugar
•                     3 1/2 teaspoons honey
•  

Directions

1.                     Place the apples and walnuts into a large bowl. Mix together the cinnamon and sugar; sprinkle over the apples. Stir in the honey. Serve immediately, or refrigerate until serving.

6.       Passover Lamb craft-Here is one of several lamb crafts. This one is from www.mybiblecrafts.com

Paper Plate Lamb Craft
		Lamb craft patterns
		Small paper plates
		Construction paper scraps (optional)
		Cotton balls (for age 3+)
		Crayons, non-toxic markers, dot markers
		Clear Tape
		White school glue
		Scissors (Adult only)

7.       Seder plate craft-I love this sedar plate from www.parentdish.com

Since I work with younger kids--here is simpler version
you will need:
-carboard cake platters you can pick up at a craft store
-have all the words pre- printed , along with symbols like Star of David
-have them color the words, cut them out and the symbols and glue onto plate
-cupcake liners
-

8.       Make Seder name cards or napkin holders for your special seder dinner

9.       Make a matzah bag
-16in long and 8 in wide cloth cutouts
-fabric glue
-fabric markers

fold the cloth in half so now it is 8x8. Glue the sides, leaving the top open. Let it dry. Have kids decorate their bag with the fabric markers

Happy Purim

PURIM or the Feast of Lots

Purim is the story of Queen Esther(Hadassah-her Hebrew name) and her bravery of revealing who and what she was even though she was faced with the possibility of death.  With the encouragement of her cousin Mordecai and God, the evil Haman was thwarted and the Jewish people were saved.  We are reminded to honor Purim to remind us that just as the Jews were rescued, we too are rescued and saved by Jesus our Messiah.  We need not be afraid of the “Hamans” of this world who seek to destroy us, because our Messiah has the victory!

Here are some ideas to remind the children of Purim and get them involved:

1.       Read the Megillah or Story of Esther

2.       Make Hamantashen cookies (Haman’s Hats) see recipe below

3.       Make scepters and crowns

4.       Perform a play (see below)

5.       Have a Purim Masquarade party with friends and family and share Jesus at the same time!

6.       Make groggers or noise makers( the are shaken during the reading of Esther and everytime Haman’s name is said, we are to shout, “Boo” and shake the groggers)

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 cup fruit preserves, any flavor

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until lightly and fluffy. Stir in the oil, vanilla and orange juice. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the batter to form a stiff dough. If dough is not stiff enough to roll out, stir in more flour. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the rim or a drinking glass. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets. Spoon about 2 teaspoons of preserves into the center of each one. Pinch the edges to form three corners.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Allow cookies to cool for 1 minute on the cookie sheet before removing to wire racks to cool completely.               

EASY Purim play for young kids!
Characters: * King                          * Haman          Mordecai
                      *Vashti                        Esther              number of kids using groggers or audience
*speaking parts

Haman-black cloak, pointed hat(pirates hat), black beard/mustache
Esther-white flowing cloak, tiara(after she is queen)
King-Red cloak, crown, scepter
Mordecai-brown cloak
Vashti--purple cloak, bold hair piece, extravengent looking


Narrator: In the land of Persia, King Ahasuerus was ruler
(King is sitting on his throne in the middle of the stage)
KING: "I am king"
Narrator: He had a beautiful wife named Vashti
(Vashti floats in vainly)
Vashti:  "I am Sooooo beautiful"
Narrator: But one day, Vashti displeased the King and she was removed
(King points his finger for her to go and Vashti stomps off)
Now King Ahasuerus needed a new queen.  So all the beautiful girls in the kingdom were gathered up.  Esther was kind and gentle and very beautiful.  As soon as the king saw her, he chose her to be his new queen.
Now Haman(groggers go off and "boo") was evil and did not like the Jewish people.  He was mad that they refused to honor him and one certain man, Mordecai, refused to bow down to him.   Haman convinced the King to do away with them.

Haman:  "They gotta go"  (Haman rubs his hands together in an evil way )

The King agreed.
(all the kids hold their hands to their face in fear)
Mordecai, Esther's cousin, overheard the evil plot and ran to tell Esther
(He runs to Esther and whispers in her ear)
Esther prayed for 3 days
(Esther is on her knees in prayer)
Then she bravely approached the King.
He lowers his scepter allowing her to enter and her life is spared.
(all the kids wipe their brow, "whew")
She asked the king to spare the Jews, her people and her own life.
The King was angry that Haman tricked him.
King:  " I am angry"
Haman was then removed from the kingdom instead of God's people.  Due to Esther's bravery and obedience, she saved the day!!

                                                                                 Vashti

                                                                                    Haman

                                                                                      King

                                                                         Queen Esther