COEUR d'ALENE - Parsley, horseradish and unleavened bread are just a few symbolic foods that will be served at Calvary Rathdrum's annual Passover Seder Dinner on April 3.

"It's a phenomenal event, it's such a neat experience," said Cory Kirkham, Calvary Rathdrum's lead pastor. "It's just rich with tradition and symbolism and you get to eat a family dinner in the middle of it all."

Kirkham explained the meal is a celebration of the Jews being delivered from Egypt by God and it is a time to recognize the "many things that point forward to the Messiah coming."

"Everything is symbolic," Kirkham said.

The Passover Seder plate is traditionally served with lamb (or chicken) to represent the lamb of sacrifice, unleavened bread (matzoh) to honor the unleavened bread prepared for the flight from Egypt, bitter herbs, green herbs, an apple mixture called "haroseth" and four cups of wine, or in this case, grape juice.

The parsley dipped in salt water represents the tears of the captives and the horseradish is meant to provoke tears in those eating it, but Kirkham said the sweet haroseth on the bread represents hope and better things to come.

"Even when life is hard, there are good things," he said.

This is the sixth year for the meal, which Kirkham said has increased in size each year. He said more than 200 people attended last year's dinner while this year 250 have already registered.

Calvary Rathdrum welcomes everyone to the event - individuals, families, couples and especially children.

"Everything about Passover is for kids," he said. "It's designed to have kids ask questions. They're provided with the answers to point them to God's deliverance and to his promise of the Messiah.

"There are things kids get to do - they all get to yell, they get to look for something that's been hidden. It's very kid-friendly."

The free Passover Seder Dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Reservations are required. Kirkham said because of the popularity of the event, the registration deadline has been moved to 5 p.m. today.

"We're really excited about it," Kirkham said. "You laugh a lot. You have a good time."

For reservations, call Calvary Rathdrum at 687-4341.