THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER

Easter Eve             April 19, 2003

St. John’s Lutheran Church

Montreal

 

The Easter Vigil is a joint service by Lutheran congregations of Montreal and hosted by St. John's, downtown. Participating are:  Christ the Redeemer (D.D.O.), St. Paul's (Ville St. Laurent), Good Shepherd (St. Lambert), St. Ansgar's, and the Student Ministry group at St. John's. We welcome as a guest, Pastor Herbert Harms, Lutheran Campus Chaplain, University of Toronto.

 

After the service is an Easter Party in the parish hall where you can continue the Easter celebration and feel welcome to "raise a glass" in rejoicing over a ,journey complete: from darkness, across the River, to God's new promise of life.

 

PART I : SERVICE OF LIGHT

 

The congregation gathers outside, preferably on the sidewalk; the ministers stand at the brazier on the steps.

 

AT THE CREATION OF THE WORLD:

 

Kindling of the new fire

Invitation to keep vigil and Instruction on Christ's Passover

Prayer over the fire

Preparation of the Candle

The candle is marked with the cross, year, and an alpha and omega. These are God's marks representing the presence of Christ among his people. Five nails are inserted to remind us of Christ's wounds on the cross.

 

LIGHTING OF THE PASCHAL (EASTER) CANDLE

 

After the candle is prepared and lighted the Presider proclaims:

 

P: May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

 

PROCESSION INTO THE CHURCH

 

At the entrance to the church, the assisting minister who holds the candle lifts it high and sings:

 

P: The light of Christ.

C: Thanks be to God.

 

The PROCESSION into the darkened church begins, led by the assisting minister who bears the paschal candle. At the first landing in the stairwell, the assisting minister lifts the candle high and sings a second time:

 

P: The light of Christ.

C: Thanks be to God.

 

When the procession reaches the nave of the church, all light their candles from the paschal candle, and the procession continues into the church. At the head of the aisle, the assisting minister turns to face the congregation, and, when all have reached their places, lifts the candle high and sings a third time:

 

P: The light of Christ.

C: Thanks be to God.

 

 

EASTER PROCLAMATION

After the paschal candle has been placed on its stand.

 

(Congregation remains standing)

 

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 splendour 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

C: Amen

 

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,

 

Tapers are lighted from the paschal candle to spread the light to other candles in the church.

 

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 honour 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, one God, now and forever.

 

C Amen (sung)

 

The members of the congregation extinguish their candles and sit

 

PART II : SERVICE OF READINGS

 

Only seven lessons rather than the prescribed twelve will be read.  The pattern of each reading is: Reading ‑ silence ‑ prayer (stand) ‑ C: 'Amen’

 

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 1:1‑2:2: "Story of Creation"

SECOND LESSON: Genesis 7: 1‑5, 11‑18; 8: 6‑18; 9: 8‑13: "The Flood"

FOURTH LESSON: Exodus 14:10 ‑15:1 a: "The exodus from Egypt"

 

CANTICLE:

 

I will sing to the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength I and my Song;

he has I been my Saviour.

This is my God, and I will praise him,

my father's God, and I I will exalt him.

Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,

your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

Who among the gods is like I you, O Lord?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

awesome in splendour, doing wonders?

In your mercy you led forth the people I 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 forever and ever. (Exod. 15)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

 

FIFTH LESSON: Isaiah 55: 1‑11: “Salvation freely offered to all"

NINTH LESSON: Exodus 12: 1‑24: "Institution of the Passover"

TENTH LESSON: Jonah 3: "Call of Jonah and the Whale"

TWELFTH LESSON: Daniel 3:1‑29: "Three young men in the fiery furnace"

 

CANTICLE:

The congregation sings the refrain. During the singing, the congregation joins in the procession through the church and around to the baptismal  font.

 

All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;

you heavens, bless the Lord;

all you powers of the Lord, bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You sun and moon, bless the Lord;

 you stars of heaven, bless the Lord;

you showers and dew, bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You winds of God, bless the Lord;

you fire and heat, bless the Lord;

you winter and summer, bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You dews and frost, bless the Lord;

 you frost and cold, bless the Lord;

you ice and snow, bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You nights and days, bless the Lord;

you light and darkness,  bless the Lord;

you lightnings and clouds,  bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

Let the earth bless the Lord:

you mountains and hills, bless the Lord;

all you green things that grow on theearth, bless the Lord‑‑*

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You wells and springs, bless the Lord;*

you rivers and seas, bless the Lord;

you whales and all who move in the waters, bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

All you birds of the air, bless the Lord;

all you beasts and cattle, bless the Lord;

allyou children of mortals,  bless the Lord‑‑*

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You people of God, bless the Lord;*

you priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;

you servants of the Lord,  bless the Lord

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

You spirits and souls of the righteous, bless the Lord;*

you pure and humble of heart, bless the Lord;

let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit‑*

C praise him and magnify him forever.

 

As the canticle is sung the Presider and ministers move in procession to the baptistry. The congregation is encouraged to follow and journey to the font and to surround the baptismal area, lighting their hand candles  as they  join in the procession.

 

PART III: HOLY BAPTISM

 

P: Dear Friends in Christ, let us ask God, the lover of humankind, to bless this font, that those reborn in it this coming year may be joined to the community we share in Christ. By your grace bless this womb of your church where your children will be born again.

Water is poured into the font.

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them up to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

 

P: It is indeed right that we give thanks to God who passes over us in a wonderful and unseen power. The power of God's touch rests in the gentleness of grace and the miracle of new life. In baptism we use your gift of water which from the beginning covered the earth with the energy of life.

 

It was at the very beginning of the world that your Spirit moved over the waters and gave water the power to sanctify new life. By water you washed away the sinfulness of a world gone awry. By the waters of the flood you condemned the wicked and initiated virtue. Through water you led the children of Israel by a pillar of fire, out of their bondage in Egypt into the freedom of the promised land. On this night Christ leads us through his death and resurrection from the bondage of sin into the freedom of the promised land.

 

May you look mercifully upon your church gathering here and assist us to let grace flow in torrents from this place so that our love may multiply your acts of renewal. Open the fonts of baptism all over the world for the renewal of the nations, so that under your majestic dominion the Holy Spirit may flood the earth with healing and the grace of your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

 

C: Blessed be God forever!

 

The waters are divided by the presider's hand into the form of a cross.

 

P: May this water be fruitful so that a heavenly child may come forth from the divine womb of this font. May young and old, male and female be gathered into a new infancy by the motherhood of grace and may we all be renewed by these waters and affirmed in the promises revealed by God in Jesus Christ.

 

Because of your passage on this night through the waters from death to life, may all unclean spirits depart from here at your command; may all wickedness and satanic deceit be banished. May no power of the enemy remain here to fly about and lay traps, nor creep in by stealth and corrupt by its poison.

 

The presider touches the water.

 

P: May the word of Christ spoken in baptism free us from all assaults of the devil and may this font be our symbol of renewal. May it be the font of life, a water of new birth, a stream of purification, so that all who are washed in this bath of salvation, may obtain, through the Holy Spirit working in them, communion with Christ.

 

C: Blessed be God forever.

 

The Presider makes a cross above the water.

 

P: I bless you, O Water created by the Almighty, who in the beginning separated you from the dry land and lifted life out of your murky depths.

 

The Presider divides the water and sprinkles it toward the four corners of the world.

 

God made you flow from a fountain in paradise and asked you to water the whole earth; God led us to this place; like an oasis in the dessert, to quench our thirst and refresh us for the journey.

 

I bless you also as the sign given by our Lord Jesus Christ when by his power he changed you into wine at Cana in Galilee and when he walked upon your surface and when he was baptized in your Jordan stream by John.

 

Following the institution of Christ, we baptise believers and return ourselves, again and again, to the waters for healing and refreshment.

 

C: Blessed be God forever.

 

The presider breathes three times on the water in the form of a cross.

 

P: May the breath of God breathe on us and may God's lips kiss these waters.

 

First the presider and then the two assistants lower the Easter Candle, representing

Christ as the pillar of fire, into the water and each repeats:

 

Let the power of the Holy Spirit descend into the waters of this font

 

The celebrant blows on the waters in the shape of a greek psi  representing

the Greek word for soul, life (psuchä),

 

And let us rise from these waters born of the Spirit to live a new life: to continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ.

 

Here may our sin be washed away, may human nature be recreated to the glory of its maker, and may the word of forgiveness heal us from all pain and make us innocent once again. Through the power of Christ rising from the dead, reborn in the Spirit, and the one who will come to judge the living and dead and all the world to come.

 

C: Amen.

 

Sponsors for those Affirming their baptism present the candidates:

 

I present (The candidate is named)  to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

 

A representative from the congregation receives the candidate:

 

We rejoice to receive you into our fellowship as a member with us of the one holy, catholic and apostolic Church and on this night into the community of the baptised. Our family of Lutherans gives thanks that you have persevered and in your journey come here tonight to be reborn.

 

P: (The candidate is addressed), do you desire to be baptised?

Response: I do.

 

P In Christian love you have presented this candidate for Holy Baptism. You should, therefore, faithfully care for him and help him in every way as God gives you opportunity, that he may bear witness to the faith we profess, and that, living in the covenant of his Baptism and in communion with the Church, he may lead a godly life until the day of Jesus Christ. Do you promise to fulfill these obligations?

Response by sponsors and catechumenate team: We do.

 

A: On this night God's people keep vigil, awaiting the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the mystery of this night, we were buried with Christ and lay dead in order that as Christ was raised, so we should also set our feet on the new path of life. Therefore, let us join together to renew the promises made at our baptism and profess our faith in Christ Jesus.

 

P: Do you renounce all the forces of evil, the devil, and all his empty promises?

All:      I renounce them.

 

During the profession of faith, water from the font is sprinkled on the baptised as a remembrance of baptism.

 

P: Do you believe in God the Father?

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

P:  Do you believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God?

C: 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.

P: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

C: 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.

 

BAPTISM: Water bath, Laying on of Hands, Sealing with the sign of the Cross, giving of a candle As the candle is given, a representative of the congregation says:

 

Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.

 

At the conclusion of the baptisms a representative of the congregation says:

 

Through Baptism God has made this new brother a member of the priesthood we all share in Christ Jesus, that we may proclaim the praise of God and bear his creative and redeeming Word to all the world. C: We welcome you into the Lord's family. We receive you as a fellow member of the body of Christ, a child of the same heavenly Father, and a worker with us in the kingdom of God.

 

P: God, the all‑powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins.

May Almighty God also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

C:        Amen.

 

LITANY OF THE SAINTS

 

Congregations returns to their  seats and extinguises their hand candles. All remain standing and continue with litany.  During the litany all the baptised are sprinkled with water in a celebration of our community in Christ through baptism.

 

The Litany joins our gathering of the baptised with the saints who have gone before us and by naming names we gather into our company all the faithful who shares with us the grace of God.

 

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Be gracious to us.

Hear us, O God.

Deliver your people.

Hear us, O God.

 

You loved us before the world was made:

Hear us, O God.

You rescued the people of your promise:

Hear us, O God.

You spoke through your prophets:

Hear us, O God.

You gave your only Son for the life of the world:

Hear us, O God.

 

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:

Great is your love.

and was born of the virgin Mary:

Great is your love.

who by his cross and suffering has redeemed the world:

Great is your love.

and has washed us from our sins:

Great is your love.

who on the third day rose from the dead:

Great is your love.

and has given us the victory:

Great is your love.

who ascended on high:

Great is your love.

and intercedes for us at the right hand of God:

Great is your love.

 

For the gift of the Holy Spirit:

Thanks be to God.

For the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church:

Thanks be to God.

For the great cloud of witnesses into which we are baptised:

Thanks be to God.

 

For Sarah and Abraham, Isaac and Rebekah:

Thanks be to God.

For Gideon and Deborah, David and Esther:

Thanks be to God.

For Moses and Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel:

Thanks be to God

For Miriam and Rahab, Abigail and Ruth:

Thanks be to God.

For Mary, mother of our Lord:

Thanks be to God.

For John, who baptised in the Jordan:

Thanks be to God.

For Mary Magdalene and Joanna, Mary and Martha:

Thanks be to God.

For James and John, Peter and Andrew:

Thanks be to God.

For Paul and Apollo, Stephen and Phoebe:

Thanks be to God.

For John the Evangelist, patron of this congregation:

Thanks be to God.

For Ansgar and Boniface

Thanks be to God.

For all holy men and women, our mothers and fathers in faith:

Thanks be to God.

For the noble band of the prophets:.

Thanks be to God.

For the glorious company of the apostles:

Thanks be to God.

For the white‑robed army of martyrs:

Thanks be to God.

For the cherubim and seraphim, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and the Holy Angels:

C Thanks be to God.

 

Be gracious to us:

Hear us, O God.

Deliver your people:

Hear us, O God.

 

Give new life to these chosen ones by the grace of baptism:

Hear us, O God.

Strengthen all who bear the sign of the cross:

Hear us, O God.

 A1 Clothe us in compassion and love:

Hear us, O God.

Bring us with all your saints to the river of life:

Hear us, O God.

 

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Be gracious to us.

Hear us, O God.

Deliver your people.

Hear us, 0 God.

 

 

LITURGICAL DRAMA: "WHOM DO YOU SEEK?"

 

The congregation remains standing. The three Marys come to the tomb, seeking Jesus. An angel greets them,

“Whom do you seek?”

“Jesus of Nazareth”

“He is not here.  He is risen!”

 

DECORATING OF THE CHURCH

Following the drama, all lights are turned on, and the brass continues as the church is prepared for the Easter celebration.  All are invited to come forward and bring an easter plant out and place it in front of the altar or pillars.

 

PART IV: THE FIRST HOLY COMMUNION OF EASTER

 

HYMN OF PRAISE:  Glory to God

 

LESSON: Romans 6: 3-11:

 

HOLY GOSPEL            John 20: 1-18

 

HYMN OF THE DAY: Christ the Lord is Ris'n today

 

PEACE: Each member shares the peace with their neighbous, r offering a kiss, hug, or handshake and the words: "Peace be with you."

 

OFFERING: The gifts of bread and wine are brought forward.

 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING: Holy Communion

 

POST‑COMMUNION HYMN: Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

 

BENEDICTION

 

DISMISSAL: Christ is risen, Go in peace…