The Intercontinental Church of God

Passover Instructions for One

Passover Instructions for One

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Following is an outline for conducting the services by your self. Begin services at sundown. For 2020, that is the evening of 6 April 2020 with the Alternative service taking place the evening of 6 May 2020.

Important Note: Non-baptized members may take part in the foot washing service. Only baptized members should take the bread and wine.

--Opening Prayer

--Foot Washing Section

Read John 13:1-17
Wash your own feet. [see note at bottom of these instructions]

--The Bread Section

Read Matthew 26:26
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

Pray over the bread
Break the break
Eat one piece and discard the rest

--The Wine Section

Read Matthew 26:27
Read 1 Corinthians 11:25-31

Pray over the wine
Pour one glass---just enough for one small swallow
Drink the wine (use a red wine, dark to medium. Not fortified)

--The Reading Section

Read John 14:1-6
Read John 14:15-17
Read John 14:26-27
Read John 15:1-17
Read John 16:7-15
Read John 16:25
Read John 17:1-26
Read Psalm 22:1-8
Read Psalm  22:11-18
Read Psalm 22:22
Read Psalm 23: 1-6
Read Matthew 26:30

--Sing a hymn (Psalm 51 is good, "In Thy Lovingkindness, Lord")
http://www.intercontinentalcog.org/hymnal/inthyloving.php 

Important Note: Non-baptized members may take part in the foot washing service. Only baptized members should take the bread and wine.

Regarding the washing of one's own feet:  

I was, at first, taken aback when I first saw this in the instructions for one.  However, on reflection and meditation, I find that it has to do with tradition and ritual.  God-given rituals are designed to offer us the opportunity to stop and think about spiritual concepts and Jesus Christ.  Probably the most sage advice I ever received was, "Think about what you are doing as you are doing it."  This goes for spiritual ritual.  Even though you are washing you own feet, you are doing all the preparation and all the procedures and all the clean-up.  Not only is this good practice and mental/emotional conditioning for the next opportunity you do have to wash another's feet,  it gives you an opportunity to pause and reflect on the meaning of the example Jesus gave to us.

It is not so much that you are physically washing your own feet.  Rather it is a spiritual opportunity for you to wash the feet of Jesus Christ.