Montgomery church joins with counterpart in Hopewell to hold Seder
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY Montgomery Ministries, a new church in the township, is joining with Hopewell Presbyterian Church in planning a Passover Seder for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, in the Fellowship Hall of the Hopewell church.
"The Seder is a dramatic way for Christians to understand better our Jewish roots and to see how the Last Supper originated as a Passover Seder meal," said the Rev. Will Kearns, interim pastor of Hopewell Presbyterian. "We are excited to be partnering with our mission church in Montgomery for this Holy Week observance and ritual meal."
Montgomery Ministries was launched in 2004 by Hopewell Presbyterian Church as an outreach to people in Montgomery who didn’t have a church home. Montgomery Ministries worships at the Upper Middle School on Burnt Hill Road every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The new church also offers several small groups, including a Bible Study at Stonebridge, the adult continuing-care community, the Rev. Michael Prewitt, said.
"Our new church organized a Seder last year. We met in a home in Montgomery," said the Rev. Prewitt, organizing pastor of Montgomery Ministries.
"Many members participated, either as readers of the Passover and Last Supper story, or in preparing and serving the traditional lamb dinner," he said. "Many people in the congregation wanted to do the Seder on an annual basis. Putting on the Seder with our mother church will be another chance for us to do ministry together."
Hopewell and Montgomery Ministries are also planning a joint mission trip to West Virginia for the summer, the Rev. Prewitt said. In addition, the churches offer Active Parenting as an outreach ministry in their respective communities.
The Passover Seder is a traditional Jewish family gathering and meal where the story of the freeing of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt is retold with scripture readings, singing and prayer. Many scholars assume that Jesus was celebrating the Passover Seder when he brought his disciples together for the Last Supper, the Rev. Prewitt noted.
The Hopewell and Montgomery Ministries Seder will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Hopewell Presbyterian Church at 80 West Broad St., Hopewell Borough, on Maundy Thursday, April 13. Cost for the meal is $10 for adults. Children under 12 are free.
For information or reservations, call (609) 466-0758.

