Have you ever attended an Easter Vigil service? Steeped in ancient mystery, it is the grandest of all Christian liturgies, overflowing with divine promise and laden with worship of Jesus Christ- the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
LENTEN SEASON – Everyone is welcome to join us as we celebrate this Lenten Season.
Wednesdays — March 7, 14, 21 at 6:30 PM
Holy Week Services —
Palm Sunday, March 25, 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
Maundy Thursday, March 29, 6:30 PM
Good Friday, March 30, 6:30 PM
March 31 at 7:01 PM Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday, April 1, 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
Easter Vigil
Have you ever attended an Easter Vigil service? Steeped in ancient mystery, it is the grandest of all Christian liturgies, overflowing with divine promise and laden with worship of Jesus Christ- the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
We will gather around a small fire outside of the church about ten minutes before sunset, which is precisely at 7:01PM on March 31st of this year. All present are welcome to throw grains of holy incense on burning charcoals and trust that their prayers will be lifted to heaven like the fragrant plumes rising, as in Psalm 141, “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice”; or in Revelation 5, “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
We then proceed to dedicate the Paschal Candle, marking the Anno Domini and tracing on it the Greek letters “Alpha & Omega” in remembrance of Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever. The great and towering candle is lit and then the ancient Phos Hilaron is offered together. Next, we solemnly enter our darkened sanctuary (resembling the darkened tomb of our Lord) brandishing tapers all lit from that singular flame atop the Paschal Candle and chanting three times “CHRIST IS OUR LIGHT” as we go. The breathtakingly beautiful and ancient EXULTET then is chanted for all to hear. At its conclusion, all tapers are extinguished, and only that one flame atop the Paschal Candle remains flickering.
Then, while still in a darkness, six magnificent readings from the Old Testament are reverently read, each by different participants, as all present drink in those sublime, saving texts rich with covenantal promise and the hope of God’s Chosen People. After each of those texts, prayers for ever-deepening faith are carried up to heaven by hurrying angels.
When the six texts are all completed, the BENEDICITE OMNIA OPERA is prayed responsively. Participants are then transitioned into remembrance of Holy Baptism- all its promises, all its healing graces, all its lavish washing away of Adam’s guilt, Satan’s rebellion and personal transgressions that tax our lonesome sojourns through a valley of tears (lacrimarum vale). “BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU!” says the apostle, and our heavy hearts are again made light, for such is His yoke. By God’s Spirit are we sealed, and with a holy unction we remember.
Our thoughts then are brought back to a certain Nazarene’s tomb sealed shut just outside the city gates of old Jerusalem as the “Deacon’s Litany” is offered in postures most humble. At its conclusion, a shout like a trumpet blast CHRIST IS RISEN; HE IS RISEN INDEED- ALLELUIA! cracks the stone-coldness of a bleak world and brightness of new light illumines the sanctuary- every candle, every bulb, anything at all that sheds light and scatters the darkness. With joyous ringing of bells, “THIS IS THE FEAST” is sung by all with exuberance and praise, and is no doubt accompanied by angels and archangels who share in the festal gathering around us.
With tapers again aflame, the inspired account of our blessed Lord’s victory over sin, death and the devil, perfectly preserved for us in St. Mark’s Holy Gospel, is proclaimed largely and with pomp in the new brightness filling the atmosphere. There is no sermon on this holiest of nights, but after the sacred text is read, a glad choiring of “The Strife is O’er” is taken up by all. Then, with hearts burning within us, a breaking of bread in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. The flesh and blood of Him who saves us, Him whom our souls love, is devoutly consumed, and fleeing far hence from sight of that most precious blood is the angel of death, whose wrathful passing over touches us not- we who are covered in the Lamb’s blood.
Blessed are those called to His Supper. Holiest of nights- we Christian soldiers homeward march to restful sleep and dreams of heaven.
