The Great Vigil of Easter
| April 3, 2010 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
Music: The Redeemer Choir with Christina Siemens and Andrew Payne , Trumpeter Judson Scott; Music of G. F. Handel, Richard Proulx’s This Is the Day the Lord Has Made
From the 1st Century, the Church’s primary celebration of the Resurrection has taken place in the middle of the night on Saturday. It was at this liturgy that the majority of people were baptized. It is the central festival and core of the Church Year.
The Great Vigil of Easter consists of four parts:
- The Liturgy of Light
- The Liturgy of Salvation History
- Christian Initiation
- Holy Communion
In Roman times, it was the custom to extinguish all fires and lamps when a member of the household had died. The kindling of a “new fire” indicated the period of mourning was ended.
Following that custom, the Great Vigil begins in the Memorial Garden. A new fire is kindled and blessed.
A large candle (called the Paschal Candle) is prepared and blessed. This Paschal Candle represents the resurrection life and light of the Risen Christ.
The Paschal Candle is lit from the new fire.
The watercourse in the Memorial Garden symbolizes the dividing line between Life after Death and this earthly life. The Paschal Candle is carried in procession across the watercourse, recalling that the Risen Christ has brought Resurrection Life into our earthly lives. We all follow the Candle in procession to the sealed doors, responding to the sung words “The Light of Christ” with “Thanks be to God.”
At the doors, the seal is broken. (The Risen Christ has broken the bounds of death and the grave.)
We follow the Paschal Candle into the nave. Once we are in the pews, the Paschal Candle is brought to the ends of the pews. Those on the ends light their candles and pass the light on to others in the pew. Soon the room is ablaze with light, reminding us all of the new light and life given to us in Baptism.
The Paschal Candle is placed on its stand. An ancient hymn of praise (the Exsultet), extolling God’s saving actions in the Passover, Exodus and Resurrection is sung.
Following the hymn of praise, we are seated. Then a series of dramatic and musical presentations tracing Salvation History in the Old Testament are presented.
Next, the latest chapter in salvation history is written as the sacrament of Holy Baptism is administered.
A very brief interlude follows. This interlude is concluded with a powerful musical selection.
Following the musical selection, Holy Communion begins with the joyful announcement “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!” Recalling the wonder with which the first disciples heard this news and with our own joy over our redemption, we respond, “The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!”
What follows is the year’s most glorious celebration of Holy Communion. Here at Redeemer, it includes majestic music, with instrumental accompaniment, art, flowers, incense and our best vestments.
The Paschal Candle occupies a place of honor beside the Altar, where it will burn throughout the fifty day Easter Season.
From that Altar we receive the Risen Christ and the Resurrection Life he brings in the consecrated bread and wine of the Easter Eucharist (Communion).
Following this glorious liturgy we move to the Undercroft for a joyful reception to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.