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SERVICE
OF LIGHT (THIS PORTION OF THE SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE; THE PROCESSION WILL THEN ENTER THE CHURCH.)
‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has
not overcome it’ (John 1). As the sun fades and the darkness gathers, the
Church lights its lamps to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Weather permitting, the people gather outside the
church building, where a fire has been prepared.
The paschal candle is lit from the
new fire.
May the light of Christ, rising in
glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
and minds.
PROCESSION
The lay assistant bearing the
paschal candle leads the procession to the darkened church. At the beginning of
the procession, and several times during the procession, this versicle and
response are sung:
When the
people have gathered in the narthex, the hand candles are lit from the paschal
candle. Never tilt the lighted candle; instead, the unlit candles are tilted to
receive the light from the lighted candles.
[Once
inside the church, the people remain standing.]
XEaster proclamation
Rejoice, now,
all heavenly choirs of angels,
and
celebrate the divine mysteries with exultation;
and,
for the victory of so great a King,
sound
the trumpet of salvation.
Exult, also, O
earth, enlightened with such radiance;
and,
made brilliant by the splendor of the eternal King,
know
that the ancient darkness
has been
banished from all the world.
Be glad also, O
mother Church,
clothed with the
brightness of such a light,
and
let this house resound
with the
triumphant voices of the peoples.
Wherefore,
dearly beloved,
who stand in the
clarity of this bright and holy light,
join
with me, I ask you,
in praising the
lovingkindness of almighty God;
through
our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son,
who
lives and rules with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen
The congregation is seated.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and salutary
that
we should with full devotion of heart and mind and voice
praise
the invisible God, the Father Almighty,
and
his only Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ;
who paid for us
the debt of Adam to the eternal Father,
and
who by his precious blood
redeemed
us from the bondage to the ancient sin.
For this indeed is the Paschal Feast in which
the true Lamb is
slain,
by
whose blood the doorposts of the faithful are made holy.
This is the night in which, in ancient times,
you
delivered our forebears, the children of Israel,
from the land of
Egypt;
and
led them, dry-shod, through the Red Sea.
This, indeed, is the night in which the darkness of
sin
has
been purged away by the rising brightness.
This is the night in which all who believe in
Christ
are
rescued from evil and the gloom of sin,
are
renewed in grace, and are restored to holiness.
This is the night in which, breaking the chains of
death,
Christ
arises from hell in triumph.
For it would
have profited us nothing to be born
had
we not also been redeemed.
Oh, how wonderful the condescension of your
lovingkindness!
Oh, how inestimable the goodness of your love,
that
to redeem a slave you delivered up your Son!
O necessary sin of Adam that is wiped away by the
death of Christ!
O happy fault that was worthy to have so great a
Redeemer!
O night truly blessed which alone was worthy
to
know the time and the hour
wherein Christ
arose again from hell!
This is the night of which it is written:
"and
the night is as clear as the day";
and,
"then shall my night be turned into day."
The holiness of this night puts to flight the deeds
of wickedness;
washes
away sin; restores innocence to the fallen,
and joy to those
who mourn;
casts
out hate; brings peace; and humbles earthly pride.
Therefore, in this night of grace, receive, O holy
Father,
this
evening sacrifice of praise;
which
the Church lays before you
in the solemn
offering of the candle.
We sing the glories of this pillar of fire,
the brightness of which is not diminished,
even
when its light is divided and borrowed.
For it is fed by the melting wax which the bees,
your servants,
have
made for the substance of this candle.
O night truly blessed in which heaven and earth are
joined--
things
human and things divine.
We, therefore, pray to you, O Lord,
that
this candle, burning to the honor of your name,
will
continue to vanquish the darkness of this night
and
be mingled with the lights of heaven.
May he who is the morning star find it burning--
that
morning star which never sets,
that
morning star which, rising again from the grave,
faithfully
sheds light on all the human race.
And we pray, O Lord, rule, govern,
and
preserve with your continual protection your whole Church,
giving
us peace in this time of our paschal rejoicing;
through the same Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son,
who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
The hand candles are extinguished.
SERVICE
OF READINGS
The readings from salvation history recall God’s gracious act of
creation and his saving actions for the people of Israel, in the light of the
new creation and the great act of salvation for all people in the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
FIRST READING: Genesis
1:1--242
Creation
HYMN
Give to Our God Immortal Praise!
Green LBW 520
Mercy
and truth are all his ways;
wonders
of grace to God belong;
repeat
his mercies in your song.
2 He
sent his Son with pow’r to save
from
guilt and darkness and the grave.
Wonders
of grace to God belong;
repeat
his mercies in your song.
3 Give
to the Lord of lords renown;
the
King of kings with glory crown.
His
mercies ever shall endure
when
lords and kings are known no more!
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
SECOND READING: Genesis 7:1-85, 11-18, 8:6-18,
9:8-13
The Flood
HYMN Even As We Live Each Day
Green LBW 350
The text of this hymn may not be reproduced here.
THIRD READING: Exodus 14:10-31, 15:20-21
Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea
HYMN I Will Sing to the Lord
Green LBW 19
I will sing to the Lord, for he has | triumphed gloriously;*
the
horse and its rider he has thrown in- | to
the sea.
The
Lord is my strength | and my song,*
he
has | been my Savior.
This
is my God, and | I will praise him,*
my
father's God, and I | will exalt him.
Your
right hand, O Lord, glo- | rious in power,*
your
right hand, O Lord, shat- | ters the enemy.
Who
among the gods is like | you, O Lord?*
Who
is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome
in splendor, | doing wonders?
In
your mercy you led forth the people | you
set free;*
you
guided them in your strength
to
your holy | habitation.
You
will bring them | in and plant them*
on
the mount that is | your possession,
the
place, O Lord, you have made for your dwelling,
the
sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands | have
prepared.*
The
Lord shall reign forev- | er and ever.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the | Holy
Spirit:*
as
it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forev- |
er. Amen
Text: from Psalm 89; Jeremiah 33
FOURTH READING: Daniel
3:1-29
Deliverance
from the Fiery Furnace
HYMN All
Creatures of our God and King
Green LBW 527, stanzas 1,6, and 7
1
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up
your voice with us and sing:
Alleluia
! Alleluia !
O
burning sun with golden beam,
And
silver moon with softer gleam: Refrain
Refrain: Oh praise him! Oh, praise him! Allelulia, allelulia, allelulia!
6 And you, most kind and
gentle death,
Waiting to hush our
final breath,
Oh, praise him! Allelulia!
You lead to heav’n
the child of God,
Where Christ our Lord
the way has trod. Refrain
7 Let all things their
Creator bless
And worship God in
humbleness.
Oh, praise him! Allelulia!
Oh, praise the
Father, praise the Son,
And praise the
Spirit, Three in One. Refrain
SERVICE OF BAPTISM
Affirmation
of Baptism
In the ancient Church, the Easter Vigil was the service in which those having
undergone the intensive scrutinies of Lent were baptized. Today we remember our
baptism and renew the covenant that God has made with us.
In Holy Baptism our Lord Jesus Christ received us and
made us members of his Church. In the community of God's people, we have
learned from his Word God's loving purpose for us and for all creation. We have
been nourished at his holy table and called to be witnesses to the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Now, therefore, I ask you to once again profess your faith in
Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the Church, the faith in
which we baptize.
Stand
Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that
defy God?
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel
against God?
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from
God?
I renounce them.
CONFESSION
of Faith
The pastor sprinkles the members of the congregation from the
baptismal font as they confess their faith.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ,
the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God 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
Will you continue in the apostles’
teaching and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread and the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting
evil, and, whenever you fall into sin,
repent
and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in
Christ?
I will, with
God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your
neighbor as
yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and
respect
the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.
Gracious Lord, through water and
the Spirit you have made us your own. You forgave us all our sins and brought us
to newness of life. Continue to strengthen us with the Holy Spirit, and daily
increase in us your gifts of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord,
the spirit of joy in your presence; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen
SERVICE
OF HOLY COMMUNION
Having heard the word of salvation
in the light of God, and celebrated the Passover from death to life in the
sacrament of baptism, the Church celebrates her Lord’s meal with renewed joy
and gladness. For fifty days, the Church will rejoice in Easter life. Alleluia!
KYRIE
A In
peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord,
have mercy.
A For
the peace from above, and for our salvation,
let
us pray to the Lord.
C Lord,
have mercy.
A For
the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God,
and
for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord,
have mercy.
A For
this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let
us pray to the Lord.
C Lord,
have mercy.
A Help,
save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the
cross for our
redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you
delivered us from the
power of death. Make us die every day to sin, so that
we may live with
him forever in the joy of the resurrection; through
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and
forever.
Amen
Sit
READING: Romans
6:3-11
Do you not know that all of us who
have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore
we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
newness of life.
5For if we have been united with him in a death like
his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We
know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever
has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we
believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being
raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over
him. 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life
he lives, he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves
dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Stand
VERSE
Romans 6:9; Exodus 15:1
Alleluia.
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death has no more
dominion over him. Alleluia. Let us sing to the Lord who has triumphed
gloriously. Alleluia.
GOSPEL:
John
20:1-18
The Holy Gospel according to Saint
John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Early on the first day of the
week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the
stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon
Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them,
"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they
have laid him." 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and
went toward the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other
disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to
look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then
Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen
wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head,
not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then
the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise
from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11But
Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into
the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body
of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They
said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them,
"They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid
him." 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus
standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said
to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have
carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him
away." 16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and
said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). 17Jesus
said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the
Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and
your Father, to my God and your God.' " 18Mary Magdalene went
and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told
them that he had said these things to her.
Praise to you, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY
We Know That Christ is Raised
Green
LBW 189
The text of this hymn may not be reproduced here.
PRAYERS OF
THE FAITHFUL
Let
us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people
according to their needs.
Silence is
kept.
For the people of God, baptized
into the death of Jesus; that we may walk in newness of life, rejecting sin and
seeking the freedom of your Spirit. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For those with civil authority and
all in positions of responsibility; that they may live their vocations with
integrity and wisdom. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For the poor in body, mind and
spirit; for the sick, the dying, the grieving, and for those who cannot trust
in your love for them; that they may be given signs of your grace.
The people may voice their petitions aloud or in
silence.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For your people gathered here;
that we might be encouraged by the good examples of those who have gone before
us to walk in the way of baptism, trusting in their risen life with you. Lord,
in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, Father, we
commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Amen
Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you
always.
And also with you.
The people exchange a sign of peace
with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
OFFERTORY 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia. Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of
dough. For Christ our paschal Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Almighty Father, creator of all,
you wash away our sins and give us new birth by the
Spirit
by the redemption of the blood of Christ.
In this time of rejoicing,
renew your gift of life within us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
GREAT
THANKSGIVING
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all
places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and ever-living
God.
But chiefly we are bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of
our Lord; for he is the true Passover Lamb who gave himself to take away our
sin, who by his death has destroyed death, and by his rising has brought us to
eternal life.
And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the
resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and
archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending
hymn:
The pastor leads the
people in praying the Eucharistic canon
You are
indeed holy, O God, the fountain of all holiness;
you
bring light from darkness, life from death,
speech from silence.
We worship you for our lives and for the world you
give us.
We thank you for the new world to come
and
for the love that will rule all in all.
We praise you for the grace shown to Israel, your
chosen,
the
people of your promise:
the
rescue from Egypt, the gift of the promised land,
the
memory of the fathers, the homecoming from exile,
and
the prophets' words that will not be in vain.
In all this we bless you for your only-begotten
Son,
who
fulfilled and will fulfill all your promises.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our
Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take
and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and
gave it for all to drink, saying:
This
cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed
for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from
this cup,
we
proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is
risen. Christ will come again.
Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup
we
remember the incarnation of your Son:
his
human birth and the covenant he made with us.
We remember the sacrifice of his life:
his
eating with outcasts and sinners,
and his acceptance of death.
But chiefly on this night we remember his rising
from the tomb,
his
ascension to the seat of power,
and
his sending of the holy and life-giving Spirit.
We cry out for the resurrection of our lives,
when
Christ will come again in beauty and power
to
share with us the great and promised feast.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,
that we and all who share in this bread and cup
may be united in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
may enter the fullness of the kingdom of heaven,
and may receive our inheritance with all your
saints in light.
Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Join our prayers with those of your servants
of every time and every place,
and unite them with the ceaseless petitions
of our great high priest
until he comes as victorious Lord of all.
In the presence of Christ, we pray
to his Father using the words he gave us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the
Spirit,
we pray to his
Father, saying:
Our
Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it
is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily
bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive
those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us
from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory,
forever and
ever. Amen Matthew
6:9-15
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is
sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us
keep the feast! Alleluia!
We adore Christ, present in bread and wine.
Sit
DISTRIBUTION
They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are
baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who
commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified
and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for
the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
Please come forward, take a communion cup from the
tray, and kneel at the altar rail on your ‘side’ of the worship space. Please
make an effort to leave some distance between your family unit and the next
family unit. When your side has finished communing, please place your empty cup
in the tray provided.
When
all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
strengthen
you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Pour out upon us the spirit of
your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one
heavenly food; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
BENEDICTION
Almighty God, Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen
WCLOSING HYMN
He is Arisen! Glorious
Word! Green LBW 138
Now
reconciled is God, my Lord;
the
gates of heav’n are open.
My
Jesus rose triumphantly,
and
Satan’s arrows broken lie,
destroyed
hell’s fiercest weapon.
Oh,
hear, what cheer!
Christ
victorious,
rising
glorious,
life
is giving.
He
was dead, but now is living!
Text: Birgitte K. Boye, 1742-1824; tr.
George T. Rygh, 1860-1942, alt.
DISMISSAL
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen
indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
