St. Joan of Arc’s annual Seder Meal on Holy Thursday April 17th, 2003 was another big success and it was as enjoyable as last year!

I arrived to the lively organ and sparkling vest of accordionist Mark Stillman. I found a table near the podium in the center of the gym and did the usual SJA look-around to see who is present and go over and talk and hug. I can’t think of another church where people arrive early not only to get a good seat but also to visit with fellow parishioners before the event.

As more people began to arrive and the choir starting populating the risers, Dan Chouinard joined Mark Stillman on the floor for several minutes of accordion duets as people clapped and danced. A rousing Hava Nagila was played.

Fr. George with the Sextons

Father Jim Cassidy welcomed everyone to the Seder then turned the evening over to Father George Wertin. George sat at the central table with the host family. This year the host family was the Sexton’s: Tim and LouAnn and their two sons: Conor and Shea.

George and the Sextons led us in the traditional Passover rituals: the Lighting of the Candle, the Memorial of the Bitter Herbs, the Presentation of the Matzoh and the 4 questions of the children to their Father asking about the meaning of Passover. As each ritual was announced, each table passed the representative food around the table.

Then it was time for the really, really, good food! Prepared again this year by parishioner Cathy Meyer of TLC Café. I did not think she could outdo last year’s meal but she did! The menu consisted of Middle Eastern foods with the traditional Middle Eastern dish of Macaroni & Cheese (!) among the offerings. My favorite dishes were the Kibby (lamb meatloaf), the Tabooley (bulgar salad) and the Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. Mmm-mmm!

Jerry Hartlaub had the life-threatening job of being in charge of calling the tables to the buffet. The crowd starts out restive but as certain tables don’t get called yet the groaning starts. A couple of parishioners joked: St. Joan’s is a peace church until it comes to food, then get out of the way! Thank you, Jerry.

After the supper, the prayer service began. The choir sang such Joan of Arc traditionals as “Somlandela”, “We are Called” and an absolutely beautiful “What Wondrous Love”. The musicians were: Dan Chouinard, Dick Hedlund, Cyril Paul, Anna and Fred Vagle and special guests: Mark Stillman and Jim tenBensel.

After the readings, George reflected on how important it is to connect with each other during this time of war. He also challenged each of us to ask ourselves: What can Joan of Arc do to be better? Several people at my table mentioned: continue to include all, especially our gay & lesbian members-much on everyone’s mind and heart with the recent Mel White controversy.

Then dancer May Lane Bernardo led a group of parishioners carrying the gifts and two beautifully ribbon decorated staffs to the center table as the choir sang “Somos El Cuerpo De Cristo (We are the Body of Christ)”. After George blessed the gifts the Eucharist began. Each table sent a person to the center tables to get a goblet of wine and a plate of bread for their table. Then each person at the table took communion and gave communion to each other.

Closing blessing and then it was over-except for the cleanup! A lot of people stayed and helped clean the tables, take down the tables, stack chairs and take the glassware to the kitchen.

A special thanks to Roseann Shaughnessy Rogers for coordinating the event and all those parishioners who arrived early to set up and stayed late to cleanup. You make the event a success!

Janice LaDuke was baptized at St. Joan of Arc but her parents left St. Joan's in the early 70's and went to a "less radical" Catholic church instead. She's very glad to have found her way back to St. Joan's in 1994!! Janice is a librarian by profession and has been working in the library of a healthcare consulting firm since 1997. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to all kinds of music and working on her home near Como Lake in St. Paul. Janice is also Echo Thoren's assistant every Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. service.

Kudos also to the choir members, musicians and Anna Vagle, director, who stay late after the Seder to rehearse for the upcoming busy Easter weekend. Your music and extra effort during the Lenten season are very much noticed and appreciated.

Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!