Archbishop Michael-John
3rd April 2010, 01:06 PM
[Copied from the AC e-Bulletin Newsletter circulated Mon 29/03/2010]
Shalom, Привет, Greetings and Blessings to you on this Season of the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits,“Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles ... No man should appear before the LORD empty handed.” (Deuteronomy 16:16)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
We wish you and all our new comers to the Arian Catholic Church a special blessing for the Passover season with God’s love and the love of the Messiah! This week sees the first three major Biblical Feasts of the year: Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. Tonight we Celebrate the Seder Meal in memorial of Yeshua the Messiah, son of God, Saviour and Angel of His Presence. Remember Tuesday 30<SUP>th</SUP> March (15<SUP>th</SUP> day of Nisan) is a High Sabbath.
Passover (Pesach): The Biblical Feast of Passover always falls on the 14<SUP>th</SUP> day of Nisan, which this year falls on Monday 29<SUP>th</SUP> March. The Passover was originally derived from the instructions given to Moses by God (see Exodus 12:3-17). In order to encourage the Egyptians to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, God intends to “smite all the first-born both man and beast” in the land. To protect themselves, the Israelites are told to mark their dwellings with lamb’s blood so that God can identify and thus pass over them.
Yeshua the Messiah was our Passover Lamb
The feast of Passover speaks of redemption; Messiah Yeshua the Passover Lamb was slain at Calvary for the sins of the world. While Passover was being celebrated, which included the slaying of an unblemished Lamb, Yeshua was being slain on the cross (1 Corinthians 5:7). On the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan) in the afternoon, the Seder (a special meal) is prepared. In the evening, it is eaten: lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread (matzo/matzoth) (Exodus 12:8). Since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, the lamb has been left out in Orthodox Judaism, however Yeshua was our sacrificial lamb and therefore his passion and crucifixion removed the need to sacrifice. We therefore represent the body and blood of Yeshua’s sacrifice with the bread/unleavened bread and Fruit of the Vine at the Seder meal as Yeshua himself taught us.
Readings for Passover
Exodus 12:3 - 13:10,
Leviticus 23:5,
Numbers 28:16-25,
Joshua 3:5-7 & 5:2 - 6:1 & 27,
Matthew 26:2 & 17-20 and
I Corinthians 5:7
<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 234.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 47.22%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 234.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="47%">Origin:
Liberation from the slavery in Egypt, and slavery from sin and Satan. (Exodus 12)
The blood of the lamb protects against the destroyer, the Angel of Death. “He will see the blood on the top and sides of the door frame and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” (Exodus 12:23)
A flawless male lamb, one year old. (Exodus 12:5)
A male lamb (sheep or goat), one year old: Not a helpless little lamb!
No bone of the lamb may be broken. (Exodus 12:46)
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 52.78%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 234.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="52%">Fulfilment:
Liberation from the slavery of Satan, of sin.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Through the blood of Yeshua, we have eternal life.
Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of the Messiah, a lamb without blemish or defect. (I Peter 1:18-19)
Yeshua was without fault: (Jesaja / Isaiah 53:9) or “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21)
No bone of Yeshua were broken. (John 19:31-36)
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<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: 4.5pt thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D; mso-border-insidev: 4.5pt thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #1f497d 4.5pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #1f497d 4.5pt double; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 55.14%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #1f497d 4.5pt double; BORDER-RIGHT: #1f497d 4.5pt double; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; mso-border-alt: thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D 4.5pt" vAlign=top width="55%">Recipe for Matzo Bread: Matzo Bread is unleavened bread, it can be made thin like cracker bread or thick rather like a soft biscuit. There are lots of ways it can be made and here’s a recipe for anyone who would like to have a go…
Ingredients (ensure that nothing contains yeast or raising agents):
2 cups of plain flour,
1 Tea spoon of salt,
2 Table spoons of Crisco Shortening or Smaltz can be used (rendered chicken fat), alternatively use either soft butter or half a table spoon of vegetable oil and a cube of chicken stock.
(Smaltz: Take the skin off of a chicken along with chopped up onion and “slow” fry it in a pan until the grease is fully formed. Drain, add salt to taste and refrigerate it. Smaltz can be used just as you would use margarine or butter.)
Optional Extras:
1 Clove of Garlic and
4 Chopped, sun dried tomatoes.
[NB Matza containing eggs, wine or fruit juice are NOT acceptable at the Seder Meal on the first day of Unleavened Bread. Matza made with these ingredients without water are acceptable during the remaining days of the feast.
Add enough warm water to the flour, salt and Smaltz (with crushed Garlic and chopped sun dried tomatoes if preferred) mixture until it forms into a bread dough ball. Kneed it for about 10 minutes until the dough springs back when pinched. With your hands break off golf ball size dough and roll shortening around each ball. Set a bowl full of these greased balls aside for about half an hour.
On top of a floured surface roll out each ball into flat round circles.a. For Matzo crackers make the dough very thin and poke holes into the surface, then bake until crisp (about ten minutes at 350*C, gas mark 4).
b. For Matzo bread make the dough fairly thick and bake it in a 350*C oven, gas mark 4, for about five minutes or when a golden brown colour.
Tip: After you cook the Matzo bread (especially if thin) seal it into an air tight container as soon as possible, because they dry out quickly unless of course you want matzo crackers. Also when making Unleavened bread the Kosher way you have to make it all within 18 minutes!
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Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot): The Biblical Feast of Unleavened Bread falls on the 15<SUP>th</SUP> day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which this year falls on Tuesday 30<SUP>th</SUP> March 2010. This is a High Sabbath and begins after sunset the evening before.
Yeshua was our sinless Messiah
The feast of Unleavened Bread speaks of sanctification. Yeshua was set apart, his spirit the Angel of Great Counsel (LXX Isaiah 9:6). Unleavened Bread is a picture of sanctification, as Yeshua was buried; Leaven is representative of sin, of which Yeshua the Messiah had none. On the night before Passover eve, the house is searched for yeast (or leaven), and all which is found will be burnt. Starting the 15th day of Nissan, exclusively unleavened bread is eaten for 7 days.
Readings for Unleavened Bread
Deuteronomy 16:8,
Leviticus 23:6-8,
Numbers 28:17 & 33:3,
I Corinthians 5:6-8;
Each day Psalm 113 - 118 are recited during the Hallel (praise).
<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 102.1pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 47.22%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 102.1pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="47%">Origin:
For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses. (Exodus 12:15)
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 52.78%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 102.1pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="52%">Fulfilment:
Yeast, a symbol for sin (I Corinthians 5:8) is eliminated!
Yeshua’s body is buried (put into the ground): Unleavened bread (he was without sin).
I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)
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First Fruits (Yom HaBikkurim): The Biblical Feast of First Fruits takes place on the first Sunday after Nisan 15<SUP>th</SUP>, which this year falls on Sunday 4<SUP>th</SUP> April 2010 and this year coincides with the Easter Sunday. [NB The word “Easter” goes back to a Pagan Teutonic / Germanic / Anglo-Saxon godhead “Eostera” and is not Christian.]
Yeshua was the first to be raised from the dead
The feast of First Fruits speaks of the Lord’s triumphant resurrection; death simply could not hold her foe. On the third day, Yeshua’s spirit rose victoriously from the grave. The feast of First Fruits, to be celebrated on the morning after the first Sabbath following the feasts of Unleavened Bread (Sunday) (Leviticus 23:10-11) is symbolic of Yeshua being the first of the First Fruits (I Corinthians 15:23). In biblical times and today again, on the first day after Passover - Holiday (Sabbath), the feast of First Fruits is celebrated.
Readings for First Fruits
Exodus 22:29,
Leviticus 23:10-11,
I Corinthians 15:20-23 and
Luke 24:7.
<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 74.05pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 47.22%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 74.05pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="47%">Origin:
When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. (Leviticus 23:10-11)
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 52.78%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 74.05pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="52%">Fulfilment:
Yeshua’s Resurrection. He is the First Fruit.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (I Corinthians 15:20)
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New Deacons, Priests and Bishops: We welcome Rev Henrik Kiviniemi to the Arian Catholic Clergy as a new Auxiliary Deacon serving in Oulu, Finland. Please join us by praying that his Finland Diocese will develop and thrive with his assistance, we also look forward to his later Ordination into the Priesthood. There are also potentially eight clergy waiting to convert to the Arian Catholic Church and we ask for prayers for God’s guidance to assist them in their Translation.
There are many more people across the world who are ready or in preparation to take Holy Orders yet the cost of reaching them in order to provide hands-on training and to perform ordinations is prohibitive! If you can help by way of a donation, no matter how small, or in some other way, your contribution could help to put us on track to establishing our first Archbishop in Australia or the Americas for example and enable an Arian Catholic Presbyter to minister to those in remote areas who need it.
Please help in any way you can, you can send a donation in UK Pounds Sterling (to the Arian Catholic Church) or alternatively Coins and Postage Stamps from any country, legal tender or not can still be turned into cash, even old mobile phones. Perhaps you are able to set up a bible reading group in your area and organise fund raising events; if you would be prepared to become an active member of the Church’s Laity or think that you could be an area co-ordinator, please let us know your details and what you could do and we can then add you to our network to build a list of lay organisers around the world.
Prayers
Please join us in prayer this week as we look forward to welcoming more ministers into the Church and to reaching more people around the world with the true message of the Messiah Yeshua’s Gospel. At this time we are also praying for missing Madeline McCann and her family, for a resolution to the financial crisis that is affecting people around the world, for a resolution to the conflicts in the Middle East and the political and economic turmoil that is causing unnecessary suffering in Zimbabwe, for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake and for everyone who is suffering or struggling with their faith at this time.
Shalom, Привет, Greetings and Blessings to you on this Season of the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits,“Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles ... No man should appear before the LORD empty handed.” (Deuteronomy 16:16)
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
We wish you and all our new comers to the Arian Catholic Church a special blessing for the Passover season with God’s love and the love of the Messiah! This week sees the first three major Biblical Feasts of the year: Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits. Tonight we Celebrate the Seder Meal in memorial of Yeshua the Messiah, son of God, Saviour and Angel of His Presence. Remember Tuesday 30<SUP>th</SUP> March (15<SUP>th</SUP> day of Nisan) is a High Sabbath.
Passover (Pesach): The Biblical Feast of Passover always falls on the 14<SUP>th</SUP> day of Nisan, which this year falls on Monday 29<SUP>th</SUP> March. The Passover was originally derived from the instructions given to Moses by God (see Exodus 12:3-17). In order to encourage the Egyptians to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt, God intends to “smite all the first-born both man and beast” in the land. To protect themselves, the Israelites are told to mark their dwellings with lamb’s blood so that God can identify and thus pass over them.
Yeshua the Messiah was our Passover Lamb
The feast of Passover speaks of redemption; Messiah Yeshua the Passover Lamb was slain at Calvary for the sins of the world. While Passover was being celebrated, which included the slaying of an unblemished Lamb, Yeshua was being slain on the cross (1 Corinthians 5:7). On the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan) in the afternoon, the Seder (a special meal) is prepared. In the evening, it is eaten: lamb, bitter herbs and unleavened bread (matzo/matzoth) (Exodus 12:8). Since the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, the lamb has been left out in Orthodox Judaism, however Yeshua was our sacrificial lamb and therefore his passion and crucifixion removed the need to sacrifice. We therefore represent the body and blood of Yeshua’s sacrifice with the bread/unleavened bread and Fruit of the Vine at the Seder meal as Yeshua himself taught us.
Readings for Passover
Exodus 12:3 - 13:10,
Leviticus 23:5,
Numbers 28:16-25,
Joshua 3:5-7 & 5:2 - 6:1 & 27,
Matthew 26:2 & 17-20 and
I Corinthians 5:7
<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 234.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 47.22%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 234.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="47%">Origin:
Liberation from the slavery in Egypt, and slavery from sin and Satan. (Exodus 12)
The blood of the lamb protects against the destroyer, the Angel of Death. “He will see the blood on the top and sides of the door frame and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” (Exodus 12:23)
A flawless male lamb, one year old. (Exodus 12:5)
A male lamb (sheep or goat), one year old: Not a helpless little lamb!
No bone of the lamb may be broken. (Exodus 12:46)
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 52.78%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 234.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="52%">Fulfilment:
Liberation from the slavery of Satan, of sin.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Through the blood of Yeshua, we have eternal life.
Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of the Messiah, a lamb without blemish or defect. (I Peter 1:18-19)
Yeshua was without fault: (Jesaja / Isaiah 53:9) or “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21)
No bone of Yeshua were broken. (John 19:31-36)
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<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D 4.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: 4.5pt thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D; mso-border-insidev: 4.5pt thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 15.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #1f497d 4.5pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #1f497d 4.5pt double; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 55.14%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 15.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #1f497d 4.5pt double; BORDER-RIGHT: #1f497d 4.5pt double; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; mso-border-alt: thin-thick-small-gap #1F497D 4.5pt" vAlign=top width="55%">Recipe for Matzo Bread: Matzo Bread is unleavened bread, it can be made thin like cracker bread or thick rather like a soft biscuit. There are lots of ways it can be made and here’s a recipe for anyone who would like to have a go…
Ingredients (ensure that nothing contains yeast or raising agents):
2 cups of plain flour,
1 Tea spoon of salt,
2 Table spoons of Crisco Shortening or Smaltz can be used (rendered chicken fat), alternatively use either soft butter or half a table spoon of vegetable oil and a cube of chicken stock.
(Smaltz: Take the skin off of a chicken along with chopped up onion and “slow” fry it in a pan until the grease is fully formed. Drain, add salt to taste and refrigerate it. Smaltz can be used just as you would use margarine or butter.)
Optional Extras:
1 Clove of Garlic and
4 Chopped, sun dried tomatoes.
[NB Matza containing eggs, wine or fruit juice are NOT acceptable at the Seder Meal on the first day of Unleavened Bread. Matza made with these ingredients without water are acceptable during the remaining days of the feast.
Add enough warm water to the flour, salt and Smaltz (with crushed Garlic and chopped sun dried tomatoes if preferred) mixture until it forms into a bread dough ball. Kneed it for about 10 minutes until the dough springs back when pinched. With your hands break off golf ball size dough and roll shortening around each ball. Set a bowl full of these greased balls aside for about half an hour.
On top of a floured surface roll out each ball into flat round circles.a. For Matzo crackers make the dough very thin and poke holes into the surface, then bake until crisp (about ten minutes at 350*C, gas mark 4).
b. For Matzo bread make the dough fairly thick and bake it in a 350*C oven, gas mark 4, for about five minutes or when a golden brown colour.
Tip: After you cook the Matzo bread (especially if thin) seal it into an air tight container as soon as possible, because they dry out quickly unless of course you want matzo crackers. Also when making Unleavened bread the Kosher way you have to make it all within 18 minutes!
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Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot): The Biblical Feast of Unleavened Bread falls on the 15<SUP>th</SUP> day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which this year falls on Tuesday 30<SUP>th</SUP> March 2010. This is a High Sabbath and begins after sunset the evening before.
Yeshua was our sinless Messiah
The feast of Unleavened Bread speaks of sanctification. Yeshua was set apart, his spirit the Angel of Great Counsel (LXX Isaiah 9:6). Unleavened Bread is a picture of sanctification, as Yeshua was buried; Leaven is representative of sin, of which Yeshua the Messiah had none. On the night before Passover eve, the house is searched for yeast (or leaven), and all which is found will be burnt. Starting the 15th day of Nissan, exclusively unleavened bread is eaten for 7 days.
Readings for Unleavened Bread
Deuteronomy 16:8,
Leviticus 23:6-8,
Numbers 28:17 & 33:3,
I Corinthians 5:6-8;
Each day Psalm 113 - 118 are recited during the Hallel (praise).
<TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; WIDTH: 100%; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" class=MsoNormalTable border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 102.1pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 47.22%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 102.1pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="47%">Origin:
For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses. (Exodus 12:15)
</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 52.78%; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; HEIGHT: 102.1pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width="52%">Fulfilment:
Yeast, a symbol for sin (I Corinthians 5:8) is eliminated!
Yeshua’s body is buried (put into the ground): Unleavened bread (he was without sin).
I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)
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First Fruits (Yom HaBikkurim): The Biblical Feast of First Fruits takes place on the first Sunday after Nisan 15<SUP>th</SUP>, which this year falls on Sunday 4<SUP>th</SUP> April 2010 and this year coincides with the Easter Sunday. [NB The word “Easter” goes back to a Pagan Teutonic / Germanic / Anglo-Saxon godhead “Eostera” and is not Christian.]
Yeshua was the first to be raised from the dead
The feast of First Fruits speaks of the Lord’s triumphant resurrection; death simply could not hold her foe. On the third day, Yeshua’s spirit rose victoriously from the grave. The feast of First Fruits, to be celebrated on the morning after the first Sabbath following the feasts of Unleavened Bread (Sunday) (Leviticus 23:10-11) is symbolic of Yeshua being the first of the First Fruits (I Corinthians 15:23). In biblical times and today again, on the first day after Passover - Holiday (Sabbath), the feast of First Fruits is celebrated.
Readings for First Fruits
Exodus 22:29,
Leviticus 23:10-11,
I Corinthians 15:20-23 and
Luke 24:7.
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When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. (Leviticus 23:10-11)
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Yeshua’s Resurrection. He is the First Fruit.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the First Fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (I Corinthians 15:20)
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New Deacons, Priests and Bishops: We welcome Rev Henrik Kiviniemi to the Arian Catholic Clergy as a new Auxiliary Deacon serving in Oulu, Finland. Please join us by praying that his Finland Diocese will develop and thrive with his assistance, we also look forward to his later Ordination into the Priesthood. There are also potentially eight clergy waiting to convert to the Arian Catholic Church and we ask for prayers for God’s guidance to assist them in their Translation.
There are many more people across the world who are ready or in preparation to take Holy Orders yet the cost of reaching them in order to provide hands-on training and to perform ordinations is prohibitive! If you can help by way of a donation, no matter how small, or in some other way, your contribution could help to put us on track to establishing our first Archbishop in Australia or the Americas for example and enable an Arian Catholic Presbyter to minister to those in remote areas who need it.
Please help in any way you can, you can send a donation in UK Pounds Sterling (to the Arian Catholic Church) or alternatively Coins and Postage Stamps from any country, legal tender or not can still be turned into cash, even old mobile phones. Perhaps you are able to set up a bible reading group in your area and organise fund raising events; if you would be prepared to become an active member of the Church’s Laity or think that you could be an area co-ordinator, please let us know your details and what you could do and we can then add you to our network to build a list of lay organisers around the world.
Prayers
Please join us in prayer this week as we look forward to welcoming more ministers into the Church and to reaching more people around the world with the true message of the Messiah Yeshua’s Gospel. At this time we are also praying for missing Madeline McCann and her family, for a resolution to the financial crisis that is affecting people around the world, for a resolution to the conflicts in the Middle East and the political and economic turmoil that is causing unnecessary suffering in Zimbabwe, for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake and for everyone who is suffering or struggling with their faith at this time.