Last Supper's link to Passover on tap

A Wednesday program at First Presbyterian Church at the Koolau Golf Course, 45-550 Kinaole Road, Kaneohe, will explore the connection between the Jewish Passover and the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.

David Garrett of the California-based Jews for Jesus organization will speak at the 6:30 p.m. program, which is open to the public. The program includes a Seder meal costing $8 for adults and $5 for children.

Garrett will describe the ritual Seder foods, which reflect the story of the first Passover from the Book of Exodus, when the Hebrews were led out of slavery in Egypt.

In his presentation, “;Christ in the Passover,”; Garrett will describe elements of Christian doctrine that are believed to have roots in the Jewish celebration of Passover.

Clay's mom to talk at prayer program

The Hawaii Prayer Breakfast at 7 a.m. Thursday will feature Michelle Vandenburg, mother of Olympic gold medalist Bryan Clay, as keynote speaker.

The breakfast held annually for the past 30 years offers prayers for federal, state and municipal government officials and military service members.

The breakfast will be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Tickets, at $29 per person, may be reserved by calling 486-8986.

The program will feature a video presentation of an interview with Clay, who won the gold medal for the decathlon in the 2008 Olympics at Beijing.

Music will be provided by Azusa Pacific University singers. Clay is a graduate of California Christian University near Los Angeles and trains there for track events.

Creation service celebrates the sun

Chabad of Hawaii will hold a special Wednesday service at Ala Moana Beach Park to celebrate the fourth day of the Creation when, according to the Book of Genesis, God created the sun and moon.

The Birkat Hachamah—sun blessing—service will be held at 7:30 a.m. near the pond at the Atkinson Drive entrance to the park. The service, led by Rabbi Itchel Krasnjansky, will be filmed as part of an international webcast to be shown on the Web page www.chabadhawaii.org.

The rare combined astronomical and spiritual observance is held every 28 years when, according to Orthodox Jewish belief, the sun returns to the same position, at the same time of the week, that it occupied on the Creation's fourth day. According to Jewish tradition, the six days of the Creation happened 5,769 years ago. The Hebrew calendar counts time from that date.