The Great Vigil of Easter

We gather in the darkness of the night on which Jesus rose from the dead. This service is unlike any other service in the year. It is the Christian Passover feast in which we celebrate the Passover of Jesus from death into life and our own Passover from death to life in Holy Baptism.

The service has four parts.

The Service of Light

We gather to kindle a fire to drive away the darkness and from the New Fire a large candle called the paschal candle is lighted. As it is carried into the midst of our assembly the presider sings out “The light of Christ” and we respond “Thanks be to God.” From that candle, the people light their own small candles and church is filled with the light of Christ. Then our cantor sings the ancient hymn known as the Exsultet which praises God for this night in which the ancient people of Israel were delivered from Egypt at the Red Sea, in which Christ raised from the dead, and in which we are baptized into his death and resurrection.

The Vigil

We then settle down and read a number of passages from the Old Testament which cover the major events of salvation history. After each reading, we stand and sing a psalm and one of the ministers leads us in a prayer that relates the story to our salvation and our baptism.

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

The readings, by reminding us of our sacred story, have reaffirmed our identity as the People of God, the Body of Christ. Now we renew the promises of Baptism by which the Church gave birth to us as members by water and the Holy Spirit. It is in the rising of the baptized from the waters of baptism that the resurrection of Christ is renewed in our midst. When we, the members of his Body, stand in prayer, the Body of Christ is raised and made visible to the world.

Holy Eucharist

This is the Eucharist of the year; the one of which all our other Eucharists are repetitions. In sign and sacrament, holy story and song, the dying and rising of Jesus in the midst of his people is once again realized. Sharing in the holy gifts of the altar, we find ourselves made one with Christ and rejoice in this foretaste of the glory of God’s Kingdom.