It's the middle of Holy Week for Christians, but also a special time for Jews who are celebrating Passover, the most widely observed of Jewish holidays.

Monday night Jews around the world gathered at homes, synagogues and community centers to eat a festive Passover meal called the Seder. During this meal the story of the Israelites' miraculous redemption from slavery in Egypt is told and special symbolic foods are eaten.

Rabbi Jennifer Feldman of the Chapel Hill Kehillah teaches her congregants that matzah, the unleavened bread eaten during Passover, carries both a literal meaning and deeper, symbolic ones.

She explained: "On the most basic level, matzah is unembellished, flat, without added flavoring. We eat it because the Israelites fled Egypt without having time to allow their dough to rise. So it reminds us of both slavery and redemption," she said.

"But when we prepare for Passover by removing all 'chametz,' leavened products, from our homes, matzah takes on spiritual significance as well. We can understand the 'puffed up' nature of leavened products to represent the arrogance of Pharaoh, who regarded himself as a god. Matzah, then, represents humility.

"So when we clean out for Passover, we are also to search our own souls, cleanse ourselves of the arrogance and inflated self-importance that lead us to disregard the needs and suffering of others."

Although Passover is a weeklong observance, most Jews resume their daily work but do observe certain food restrictions like eating matzah during the holiday period.

Passover ends in some Jewish traditions with a service of remembrance, actually a memorial service for those who have died during the year. At Durham's Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road, that service is set for Sunday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.

Holy Week service

Dr. Micky Efird will speak at a Community Holy Week service at First Presbyterian Church today at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be served at noon in Watts-Hill Hall at the church.

Before the service Efird will conclude a Lenten Bible study at 10:30 a.m. with a discussion of the Passion Narrative in the Gospel of Luke. Efird is a retired professor of Biblical Interpretation at Duke Divinity School.

This service is sponsored by Trinity United Methodist, Fisher Memorial United Holy Church, Watts Street Baptist and First Presbyterian.

The public is invited to attend. The church is at 305 E. Main St. on the corner of Main and Roxboro streets in downtown.

Stories from the Cross

Holy Week services at Aldersgate United Methodist, 1320 Umstead Road, include Maundy Thursday service of Holy Communion at 7 p.m. On Good Friday, April 2, "Cross of Forgiveness" is offered in the sanctuary from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. during which worshippers are invited to spend time at the foot of the cross and offer special prayers. Worshippers may write anything they wish and nail it to the cross.

Also on Good Friday at 7 p.m. the church's Chancel Choir will sing a Lenten cantata, "The Living Last Words," written by Ruth Elaine Schram. In this dramatic meditation, worshippers will hear from witnesses to the crucifixion, including the contemptuous soldier, the crucified thief's sympathetic sister, the scornful priest, the anguished shepherd, the grieving mother of Jesus and the heartbroken disciple.

Easter Sunday services at Aldersgate include Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m. in the prayer garden; breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center; and three worship services: 8:25 a.m., 9:45 a.m. (contemporary); and 10:55 a.m. Those attending are invited to bring a flower to add to the flowering cross display in front of the church.

Service of Darkness, vespers

Holy Week services at Durham Mennonite Church include a Maundy Thursday love feast commemorating the last supper of Jesus with his disciples at Passover. The simple meal of soup and fruit will begin at 6 p.m. and will include time for scripture reading, prayers and hymns. The worship will also include Holy Communion and foot washing. Those who wish to attend the meal should call the church at 596-4702.

On Good Friday, the church will hold a Service of Darkness from 7:30-8:30 p.m., commemorating the execution of Jesus. On Holy Saturday, April 3, vespers are set from 5:30 to 6 p.m. On Easter Sunday morning, a potluck breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m., followed by Bible study at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Spencer Bradford will preach.

The church meets at 603 Lynn Road.

Organ music and scripture readings of the Passion of Christ will be offered at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, 504 W. Chapel Hill St., at noon on Good Friday, April 2. The church organist is Fred Mason Jr. The public is welcome.

An Easter 'playdate'

C3 Christ Centered Church is sponsoring a community gathering to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday morning from 8:15 to 10 a.m. at Little River Regional Park, 301 Little River Pkwy. off Guess Road.

Folks are asked to bring a lawn chair, a bag breakfast and their own coffee for this casual event. This is not a typical Easter sunrise service, but is purposely geared as a community gathering for whole families to enjoy, said Pastor James Dodson. Actually, it is more like a "playdate" at the park, he said, with kids on the playground and parents getting time to visit with each other.

The pastor will deliver a message and contemporary Christian music on the boom box will give those who prefer a chance to sing along in celebration of the resurrection.

The C3 Christ Centered Church in north Durham meets in the home of the pastor and his wife, Mary, at 6817 Guess Road for regular worship. More details available by calling 321-9027 or visiting www.c3durham.com.

After-Easter cookout

The annual Easter cookout at Hillside Park, 1301 S. Roxboro St., is on tap at 3 p.m. Monday, April 5. This is the 10^th year the event has been sponsored by Changing a Generation Ministry and Pastor Rodney Green.

It will include an Easter egg hunt and Easter baskets for children and food for all the family. The menu includes the usual cookout specialties, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans and chips. Also, free hair cuts will be offered.

Anyone who wants to donate Easter baskets or make a monetary donation to the ministry should contact Pastor Green at 519-6678 or mail the ministry at Box 1061, Durham, NC 27702.

Changing a Generation Ministry's purpose is to help people in need, including feeding folks, the pastor said.

Churches put on joint event

A Maundy Thursday service with Holy Communion, sponsored by First Presbyterian and St. Joseph's AME Church, 2521 Fayetteville Road, is set for Thursday, April 1, at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph's.

The Rev. Joe Harvard, pastor of First Presbyterian, will deliver the sermon titled, "Fools for Christ."

These two historic congregations in Durham have been worshipping together on Maundy Thursday for 25 years. The public is invited to attend.

Epworth Eggstravaganza

The annual Eggstravaganza at Epworth United Methodist, 3002 Hope Valley Road, begins at 10 a.m. today, March 27.

Egg hunts will take place for children ages 1 month to 5^th grade. Three separate hunts will accommodate the different age groups. Registration starts at 10 a.m. with the first hunt beginning at 10:15 a.m.

Other fun activities are on tap, including cookie decorating, face painting, games and a bounce house. A children's musical puppet show by Bellemont United Methodist Church of Burlington will begin at 11:15 a.m.

Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available. Donations will be accepted to benefit children's ministries.

Epworth's Holy Week worship opportunities include a Good Friday, April 2, worship service at 7 p.m.; a Saturday, April 3, prayer vigil from 3 to 5 p.m.; and an Easter sunrise service, April 4 at 7 a.m., and traditional worship at 11 a.m.

The community is invited to all these events.