I don't actually remember the year when we were first introduced to the Seder; most likely 1989 or 1990. Cheryl took me to one over at Seattle Pacific University (her alma mater). And while Cheryl and I were attending Northwest Church in Seattle, we attended the one(s) they hosted there. We enjoyed it so much, in fact, we helped lead one at the Campus Advance at Camp Casey the next year -- for well over a hundred people!.
After that, we had seders just about every year at our house as an annual tradition with our family. We've had to modify them over the years, depending on the kids' ability to sit through (and understand) what is sometimes a long (yet meaningful) ceremony. And we've had to shorten them occasionally when we had visitors so as not to overwhelm them with too much ceremony.
It's always a challenge to go through a ceremony which has evolved through the centuries to adjust to the changing circumstances of its original authors. Each one we've attended (outside our house) has been a little different. The ones which feel the most meaningful are (to me) the ones at home, as the original Passover meal was a very family-centric event.
We have enjoyed our very close friendship with the Shapin family who have taught us what it is like to be Jewish, and how the modern Jewish people celebrate these feasts and festivals -- from the Reformed to the Orthodox. And we have enjoyed participating in the Christian seders which bring a whole new meaning to the phrase which is uttered at the close of the Feast: "Next Year, in the New Jerusalem!"
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