This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.
How blessed is this night, when earth and heaven are joined and we are reconciled to God.
-from the Exsultet
Easter Vigil
Holy Saturday, April 20
7 pm
The Great Vigil of Easter is the very heart of the Christian year, the mother of all our celebrations. In the irony that defines the resurrection, we celebrate it after the sun goes down. We celebrate the coming of the light in the darkness. And we learn that what John the gospel writer says is true, "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it."
The Great Vigil has four parts:
- We begin outside, where we light the new fire, a custom which is probably Celtic in its origins. From this new fire we light the great Paschal (Easter) Candle, which will be lit at all services through the Great Fifty Days (through Pentecost). All receive light from the fire. The lit candle is brought into the church and a great chant is sung called “The Exsultet.”
- The Vigil then begins, an extended Liturgy of the Word. We listen to how God has worked in salvation history; we listen in the darkness, lit by our candles. When the readings end, Easter is Proclaimed and the Glory to God is sung and bells rung (you are welcome to bring a bell). We hear the story of the resurrection.
- As our first Easter act, we renew our Baptismal Covenant. In Baptism, we say, "we are buried with Christ in his death," and "by it we share in his resurrection."
- Finally we celebrate the First Eucharist of Easter.
This is an incredibly joyful service. At its end, we are ready to be resurrection people in the world.
Join us!