The Newtown Interfaith Clergy Association will continue its tradition of an interfaith Seder, this year being planned for Sunday, March 29.

The 2015 event, which this year coincides with Palm Sunday, will be hosted by Newtown Congregational Church, at 14 West Street.

The ceremony of tradition, food, and song will begin at 2 pm. It will take place in NCC’s Great Room, located on the upper level of the church.

As of this week, Rabbi Shaul Praver, Congregation Adath Israel; the Reverend Matt Crebbin, senior pastor, and the Reverend Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, transitional associate minister, both of Newtown Congregational Church; the Reverend Kathy Adams-Shepherd, rector, Trinity Episcopal Church; the Reverend Mel Kawakami, senior pastor, Newtown United Methodist Church; and Monsignor Robert Weiss, pastor, St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, were confirmed participants for the March 29 Seder. Plans are still being finalized, said Rev Crebbin, who believes additional leaders of faith will also be participating.

The leader of the town’s synagogue, Rabbi Praver thinks the interfaith Seders have been popular in recent years for a few reasons.

“This is an event which is completely relevant to both Christians and Jews,” he said. “Passover is kind of like the unifying event. It has this capacity to be relevant to both Jewish and Christian communities.

“I think what I enjoy most is really getting everybody together, and finding something common that we can do in a service,” he continued. “The whole year we’re always doing something with our own congregations, so we don’t have an opportunity to come together that often.”

Rev Crebbin said he enjoys learning something every time he attends a Seder.

“I always feel like I discover more about the Jewish tradition, and there is always something that bubbles up out of the Seders that helps me understand a little more the insight that Judaism gives to its own story about the Passover, and that story of the people of Israel finding their way to freedom from slavery, and what it still means today,” he said March 17. “I always appreciate that, and certainly appreciate being together with the other members of the various communities, to learn and discover a deeper appreciation for our traditions.”

While interfaith Thanksgiving services that have been held in recent years have also brought members of all faith communities together, it does not encourage audience participation beyond hymns and participatory readings. Rabbi Praver looks forward to the more open setting a Seder offers.

“The Seder is different than other services in that there is time to visit with one another,” he said. “There is a certain amount of openness during these events, and wonderful conversations can happen.

“That is, of course, a Jewish thing: conversation,” he added, laughing. “It’s nice to be able to do it with the other faith communities as well.”

This year’s will be the first Newtown Interfaith Seder for the Reverend Caroline Hamilton-Arnold, who began her work at Newtown Congregational Church on September 1. She has been to an interfaith Seder before, but never a formal one, she said last week.

“I think it’s a great experience for us to learn about our neighbors, by being participants in what is important for them,” Rev Hamilton-Arnold said March 13. “I think it’s great for us to share in the experiential learning of our Jewish neighbors, and to have the rabbi lead us through it really is a beautiful thing.”

The Interfaith Seder — which was resurrected in 2011 and held that year, and in 2012, at Congregation Adath Israel; and then hosted last year by Newtown United Methodist Church (an interfaith Seder was not celebrated in 2013) — typically hosts about 150 people. Rev Crebbin is expecting to accommodate about 120, he said Tuesday morning. Reservations are requested.

“It always helps us to know, especially if we need to expand our seating, to be able to accommodate everybody,” he said. “It also really helps with our planning.”

A $5 donation is also requested per person, and while it is being called an interfaith event, Rev Crebbin reiterated that everyone is welcome.

“We really want to encourage everyone to join us,” he said. “You don’t have to be a member of any faith community in Newtown, or anywhere. We’d really like to have anyone come and learn and enjoy.”

Reservations can be made by calling the NCC church office at 203-426-9024 or e-mailing newcong@sbcglobal.net. Checks should be made out to Newtown Congregational Church, with 2015 Seder in the memo line, and can either be dropped off at the church or mailed to NCC, 14 West Street, Newtown CT 06470.

Anyone who would like to volunteer for the event is also invited to contact the NCC church office, Rev Matt Crebbin said. Volunteers will be needed for set up and breakdown, along with small items for part of the meal.