CCOG Letter: Passover, NTBO, and First Day of Unleavened Bread
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
Here is the latest Letter to the Brethren from the Continuing Church of God which was titled: Letter: Passover, NTBO, and the First Day of Unleavened Bread for 2013:
Dear Brethren and co-workers in Christ:
This letter contains links to help you observe the Passover, Night to be Observed, and the First Day of Unleavened Bread for 2013.
Passover
Passover is for Christians who have been baptized, have had hands properly laid upon them for God’s Holy Spirit, and have examined themselves as the Apostle Paul taught (2 Corinthians 13:5).
It is to be observed on the 14th of Nisan, which will be after sunset March 24, 2013.
Here is a link to an article titled Passover and the Early Church, here is a link to a YouTube titled History of the Christian Passover, here is a link to a YouTube titled Preparing for Passover, here is a link to how one should be Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, and here is a link to a Passover Service that many in the Continuing Church of God will use.
For the service, you may wish to refer to the article Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread or, and this will be better for many, watch the step-by-step instructions in the new video titled Passover Service.
Prior to sunset March 25, deleavening should be completed. For more information on that, please refer to the articles Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? and Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Night to Be Observed
The Night to Be Observed is observed on the 15th of Nisan, which means it should be observed after sunset on March 25, 2013.
Written information about it can be found in the article The Night to Be Observed. Some of you may wish to play the video as part of this night, which is also titled titled The Night to Be Observed.
First Day of Unleavened Bread
The first Day of Unleavened Bread runs from sunset March 25, 2013 to sunset March 26, 2013. It is a holy day and no regular work is to be done. It is also a holy convocation.
Here is my suggested format for Holy Day services for the first Day of Unleavened Bread on March 26, 2013:
- 2-3 hymns (we are using the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG, and in most areas, the Choral Accompaniment).
- Opening prayer.
- Offertory sermonette. Here is a link to one: Offertory: What has the Continuing Church of God been doing?
- Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
- Sermon (which for most will be a recorded one for the first day of unleavened bread, March 26, 2013), titled Christians and the Days of Unleavened Bread (there is a related article here Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? for those who prefer the written word over the video or who may wish to refer back to this source as the sermon is based on this article).
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
If people wish to have more than one service, they may wish to watch one or more of the following video sermons (even if you may have seen them):
There are also articles related to the above (Living as a Christian: How and Why?, Persecutions by Church and State, and Passover and the Early Church, respectively) for those who prefer to study more that way.
Have a blessed Spring Holy Day season.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread How should Christians keep Passover, especially if they are by themselves. Why does the Church of God not require lambs for Passover? How does one keep the Days of Unleavened Bread?
Preparing for Passover The Apostle Paul taught that Christians should examine themselves prior to taking Passover. This YouTube video sermon gives suggestions on how to prepare.
Passover Service This is a video which has step-by-step instructions, along with scriptural readings etc. to keep Passover.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Hebrew Calendar This John Ogwyn writing explains why we in the Continuing Church of God use the calendar that we do and answers such questions as “Did Jesus Observe the Postponements?”
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins? There is also a detailed YouTube video available titled History of the Christian Passover.
Melito’s Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well.
TPM: Passover on the 14th or 15th? While the CCOG observes Passover on the 14th, some observe it on the 15th. Why is the 14th correct?
The Night to Be Observed What is the night to be much observed? When is it? Why do Jews keep Passover twice and emphasize the wrong date?
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? What is leaven? This article supplies some biblical answers.
Christians and the Days of Unleavened Bread What does the Bible teach about the Days of Unleavened Bread? Did the apostles such as John, Paul, and Philip keep it? What is leaven? Does history show that true Christians kept the Days of Unleavened Bread? Who condemned these days? Should you live like the Pharisees that relied more on tradition or the teachings of the Bible? This YouTube was intended to be viewed on the first day of unleavened bread.
Offertory: What has the Continuing Church of God been doing? How has the Continuing Church of God been trying to fulfill Matthew 28:19-20? How has it been trying to “feed-the-flock” and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God? What are the results? Why does the Continuing Church of God use the internet and radio interviews? What does the Bible say about offerings on the Holy Days and the attitude that Christians should have about them?
Michael’s Feasts and Fasts Quiz 15 questions, amusing wrong answer screens.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2017, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.
 |
Tweet |
|