Our church is filled with Christians who are interested in our religious genealogy.  A few years ago, we decided to take the book of Esther out of the children’s Bible Study and into the main stream-congregation…we found that though the story is used for many Women’s Groups, most people have never read it as adults.

This became more than a Reading of the Bible, but also an understanding of an important calendar event!  It has been my pleasure to research and study and ask questions of Jewish friends.  While this might not  be a “proper” Purim Service, this is ours!  It evolves and changes yearly, but we try to remember the reason and the purpose:

A: Remember the 4 Main Mitzvots of the day.

1. K’riat megilla- Listen to the Public Reading of the Book of Esther– Escochar la lectura del libro de Ester

1. Mishloach manot- Send food gifts to friends– Enviar alimentos de regalo para amistades
2. Matanot la’evyonim- Give charity to the poor– Caridad a los pobres

1. Se’udah- Eat a festive meal- Compartir una cena festiva

B: Hebrew Blessing

• Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu be-mitznotav, vetzivanu ‘al mikra megillah.  Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, Master of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the reading of the Megillah.  Amen.  Bendito eres tú, Señor nuestro Dios, maestro del universo, que nos había santificado con sus mandamientos y nos mandó sobre la lectura de la Meguilá. Amén.

• Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekn ha-plam, she-‘asah nissim la-avoteinu ba-yamim ha-hem, baseman ha-zeh.  Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, Master of the universe, who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this time.  Amen.  Bendito tú, Señor nuestro Dios, maestro del universo, que realizo milagros para nuestros padres en esos días al igual que en este momento. Amén.

• Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigi’anu lazeman ha-zeh.  Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and has sustained us, and brought us to this season.  Amen.  Bendito tú, Señor nuestro Dios, maestro del universo, que nos ha mantenido vivos y nos trajo a esta temporada. Amén.

C: Read the Megillah (Book of Esther) during worship (we usually read from The Message).  Children and sometimes adults arrive in costumes, traditionally as characters from the story of Esther!  During the reading of the story, everyone shouts “boo!” (or stomps their feet) when the name “Haman” is heard, while they cheer wildly (or use noisemakers) when “Mordecai” is heard.  It is a wild experience and a lot of fun! Here are the characters:

• King Xerxes-reigning king of the empire
• Vashti-1st wife of Xerxes
• Esther-2nd wife of king, a “closet” Jew
• Haman-senior minister to King (Villain-BAD GUY)
• Mordecai-Jewish, Esther’s uncle (Hero-GOOD GUY)

D: We LOVE to worship, some songs that we use for this service are:

Quiero llenar tu trono de alabanzas, quiero llenar tu trono de adoracion, quiero adorar prostado en tu presencia, y proclamarte Senor!

Renuevame, Senor Jesus ya no quiero ser igual… Renuevame, Senor Jesus pon en mi tu corazon…porque todo lo que hay dentro de mi necesita ser cambiado Senor… Porque todo lo que hay dentro de mi corazon necesita mas de Ti!

Quiero mas, mas, mas… Cristo, mas de Ti… (2x)I need more, more, more… Jesus more of You…(2x)

Cambiare mi tristeza / I’m Trading my Sorrow

Nadie es Como Tu / There is none like you

Sopla en Mi (2x) Espiritu Santo, sopla en mi… Ayer ya paso, te necisito hoy… Espiritu Santo, sopla en mi  Breath on me (2x) Holy Ghost power, breath on me… Yesterday’s gone, today I’m in need…Holy Ghost power, breath on me

Shalom Adonai, Shalom (2x) Shalom Adonai (3x), Shalom Llo tengo la paz, de Dios (2x) Llo tengo la paz (3x) de Dios