Grace Baptist Church Seder Service Brings Community Together

By Sharon Mager

PASADENA, Md. — Grace Baptist Church of Sunset Beach held a Seder service on April 1, led by Rabbi/Pastor Robert Pristoop, who leads the Mishkan HaShofar congregation in Silver Spring.

Rabbi/Pastor Robert Pristoop plays the shofar during prayer (Photo by Sharon Mager)

The church fellowship hall was packed, serving as a true community gathering as members of Bay Life Church, Curtis Bay, along with representatives from Metro Maryland Youth for Christ, also attended. GBC Pastor Chris Mauger, smiling widely, said he was thrilled to see the hall so full—especially as he marked his first anniversary as pastor of the church.

Pristoop led the group through the history of Israel, what he called “the Reader’s Digest version,” from the calling of Abraham to the crossing of the Red Sea—and God’s provision and covenantal relationship throughout. He also pointed to the many ways Christ is foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament and God’s plan of salvation woven through history.

Recalling a man who said he had never seen Jesus in the Old Testament, Pristoop asked him, “What was the sex of Balaam’s donkey?” The man replied that he didn’t know—he had never noticed.

Pristoop explained that Scripture identifies the donkey as female (Numbers 22:21-33). The point, he said, was that the man hadn’t seen that because he wasn’t looking for it. And he wasn’t seeing Jesus because he wasn’t looking for Him.

Throughout the evening, Pristoop guided attendees through each part of the Passover meal, explaining the significance of the elements—the egg, bitter herbs (parsley), horseradish, charoset, lamb bone, matza, and the four cups.

Everyone at the tables sampled each element, and they drank three of the four cups (the last to be shared in the Kingdom of Heaven).

Some laughed and made faces at the horseradish, chuckling with one another, and were surprised by the sweetness of the charoset, an apple mixture.

Pristoop also shared the customs of the feast, including the hiding of the Afikomen—a piece of matza that is broken, wrapped, and hidden. Children search for the piece and celebrate when they find it, representing Christ’s body—broken, buried and resurrected.

Grace Baptist Church Deacon Arthur Ives prepares for prayer. (Photo by Sharon Mager)

In his early years, Pristoop would ask about the meaning behind these traditions when his Jewish family celebrated the feast, but was never satisfied with the answers—until he came to Christ and God opened his eyes. He shared that his decision to become a Christian came at a cost, including the loss of relationships with family and friends.

Looking at those gathered, Pristoop emphasized that Jesus is the true Lamb of God.

“Don’t miss this,” he said. “When God looks at us, He doesn’t see us. He sees the blood of the Lamb, and we pass over from death to life.”

He also spoke of Christ’s return and led a time of prayer, inviting those present to receive Christ as Savior.

With all eyes closed in the room, he blew the shofar, pointing to the promise and the warning of the last trumpet.

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Sharon Mager serves as BCM/D content and stories editor.