THE EASTER VIGIL
Today your fire, O Christ, is kindled afresh in our world;
today your light shines in our darkness.
The word of life resounds across the ages,
the water of life flows out from the rock.
Your baptism of sorrow becomes the baptism of rejoicing;
the altar of the cross becomes the altar of new life.
Glory to you, O Lord, glory to you!
Come, all peoples, sing praise to Christ and worship him:
he has freed the universe from the enemy’s deceit,
and destroyed the power of hell.
Glory to your cross, O Lord, and to your holy resurrection!
1. The Service of Light
Meet outside the church around the fire.
When the ministers arrive, the priest briefly announces the service, then blesses the fire.
The Paschal Candle is marked with Alpha and Omega and the date 2007; five incense grains are placed in the candle, representing Christ’s five wounds.
The candle is lit from the fire and carried into the dark church.
All follow as the candle is carried up the aisle, stopping three times. At each station is sung:
The light of Christ! Thanks be to God!
and all genuflect towards the candle.
At the first station the priest and acolytes light their candles.
At the second station the congregation begin to light their candles.
After the third station, other candles are lit around the church.
The Paschal Proclamation (Exsultet) is sung by candlelight.
At the end the congregation put out their candles.
2. The Ministry of the Word
By candlelight, four passages from the Old Testament are read, each followed by a responsorial psalm, a collect, and a short period of silence.
1st Reading: Genesis 1. 1-2.2 The Creation
Response: Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.
Collect – silence. (Psalm 104)
2nd Reading: Exodus 14.15 – 15.1 Crossing the Red Sea
Response: I will sing to the Lord, glorious his triumph! (Ex.15)
Collect - silence.
3rd Reading; Jonah 1 & 2 Jonah and the fish
Response: With the Lord there is mercy (Psalm 130)
Collect - silence
4th Reading: Isaiah 55.1-11 Let us return to the Lord who saves us
Response: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation
Collect – silence. (Isaiah 14)
The priest intones the Gloria; the organ plays loudly; the lights are switched on; bells etc are rung. Then the Mass continues with the rest of the Gloria, and the Collect:
Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory: to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen.
Epistle: Romans 6.3-11.
Alleluia is sung, for the first time since Lent began, in a new setting by Glyn Jenkins
Gradual Hymn:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
The strife is o'er, the battle done,
now is the victor’s triumph won;
O let the song of praise be sung: Alleluia!
Death’s mightiest powers have done their worst,
And Jesus hath his foes dispersed:
let shouts of praise and joy outburst: Alleluia!
On the third morn he rose again,
glorious in majesty to reign;
O let us swell the joyful strain: Alleluia!
He broke the age-bound chains of hell,
the bars from heaven's high portals fell;
let hymns of praise his triumphs tell: Alleluia!
Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live, and sing to thee: Alleluia!
Candles are re-lit for the Gospel.
Gospel: Luke 24.1-12
The Easter Homily of St John Chrysostom is read. Whenever the word “embittered” is read, all repeat it forcefully
3. The Liturgy of Baptism
The Ministers and Congregation process to the font with lighted candles, while the Litany of the Saints is sung:
Lord, have mercy: Lord have mercy!
Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy!
Holy Mary Mother of God: Pray for us!
Saint Michael: Pray for us!
Holy angels of God: Pray for us!
Saint John the Baptist: Pray for us!
(etc……………)
Lord, be merciful: Lord, save your people
From all evil: Lord, save your people
(etc ……………)
Be merciful to us sinners: Lord hear our prayer
Bless those to be baptised: Lord hear our prayer
Jesus, son of the living God: Lord, hear our prayer.
All gather round the font. The font is filled and blessed, and the Paschal Candle is dipped three times in the water.
The Priest addresses the congregation:
In Baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light: to follow Christ, to die to sin, and to rise to new life in him. Therefore I ask:
Do you turn to Christ? We turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins? We repent of our sins.
Do you renounce evil? We renounce evil.
May Almighty God deliver us
from the powers of darkness,
restore in us the image of his glory,
and lead us in the light and obedience of Christ.
All: Amen.
The priest then invites everyone to reaffirm their profession of faith:
Let us now all profess the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit? I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
All are then sprinkled with the baptismal water, while this canticle is sung:
All you who thirst, come to the waters;
and you will never b e thirsty again. (Refrain)
As rain from heaven, so is God’s word,
It waters the earth and brings forth life. (Refrain)
Dying with Christ, so we shall rise with him,
death shall no longer have power over us. (Refrain)
Turn to the Lord, cast off your wickedness,
you will find peace in his infinite love. (Refrain)
The Peace is given.
4. The Eucharist
Offertory hymn:
At the Lamb's high feast we sing
praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide
flowing from his pierced side;
praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast,
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Where the Paschal blood is poured,
death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.
Mighty victim from on high,
hell's fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight,
thou hast brought us life and light:
now no more can death appall,
now no more the grave entrall;
thou hast opened paradise,
and in thee thy saints shall rise.
Easter triumph, Easter joy,
sin alone can this destroy;
from sin's power do thou set free
souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Risen Lord, to thee we raise;
Holy Father, praise to thee,
with the Spirit, ever be.
Communion hymn:
Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.
In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,
Thinking that never he would wake again.
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green,
Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain.
Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.
When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Thy touch can call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.
Prayer after Communion:
Giver of all, we are nourished with your Easter sacraments. Fill us with the Spirit of love, and unite us in faith, that we may be witnesses to the resurrection and show your glory to all the world, in the name of Jesus the risen Lord. Amen.
The blessing is given: to each section all respond Amen.
Final hymn:
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son,
Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. Refrain
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Refrain
The Dismissal is given:
Go in the peace of Christ, alleluia, alleluia!
