Members and friends of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, gathered  for the sacred Passover Seder feast prior to Easter Sunday.  The annual event was hosted by Al and Mary Brackenbusch, near Mount Hall, close to the Canadian border.  The home is located in the middle of their wheat farm overlooking the Kootenai Valley, perhaps similar to some of the rolling hills of Israel, where long ago the Jewish people celebrated their release from the bondage of Egypt and their return to their homeland as promised in the Book of Exodus in the Bible’s Hebrew Scriptures.

Guests brought delicious dishes to accompany the ceremonial meal of fresh roasted lamb and traditional Seder plates, prepared by Mary and Al.  The stacks of unleavened bread were hand made and baked by the hosts.

Special guests and co-hosts were the the Rev. and Mrs. Norman Braatz, the Lutheran pastor who leads services part-time at St. Mary’s.  Among other honored guests were retired Episcopal priests, the Rev. and Mrs. Todd Trefts and the Rev. Marge Stanley, both of whom have assisted at St. Mary’s in the absence of a full-time vicar.

Everyone had a delightful time around the candlelit, decorated tables while recalling the events of the Exodus, and raising glasses of wine or cider to toast freedom, prosperity, health, happiness and peace.

Mary and Al have hosted other dinners for the congregation among their many other services that help keep the life blood flowing at the small mission church.  Is it any wonder that, just prior to Passover, a tornado or cyclonic wind took down Al and Mary’s barn, just a few feet from their bedroom where they were sleeping, but the house was not touched?