04/08/2023
Tonight we celebrate our Easter Vigil at 7 p.m. Why another service? Didn't we just do the Last Supper and the Crucifixion? We have a lot to do to prepare for Easter.
Consider this excerpt from UMC Discipleship Ministries:
The Easter Vigil is historically the first service of Easter.
It may be held any time after sunset on the eve of Easter (Saturday night) or before or at sunrise on Easter morning. Many congregations offer it just after sunset, when the bonfire and the candles may contrast with the increasing darkness. Some also offer vigils of prayer that continue until the principal service on Easter morning.
The Great Vigil has ancient roots in Jewish-Christian practices. It is organized around primal experiences of fire, word, water, and table.
FIRST ASSEMBLY: LIGHT/NEW FIRE
The assembly around the bonfire (or a large paschal candle if the weather outdoors does not cooperate) is an assembly of solemn joy. At the end of the Maundy Thursday or Tenebrae service, all candles should have been extinguished and removed from the worship space. Now, a new fire blazes outdoors. (Christ was raised outdoors!) From the bonfire, we bring light indoors to the paschal candle, stationed by the font. The paschal candle then becomes a source for light for the whole assembly in the worship space, as each person receives light from the new fire. This is symbol and foretaste of the Risen Christ bringing light to the whole world.
As the new fire enters the worship space and approaches the paschal candle, an ancient responsive chant is sung three times, ascending by one tonal step each time.
Leader: The light of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.
The joyous ancient hymn, “Exsultet” is sung, led by a soloist. All join in a joyous refrain (dowloadable musical response). “This is the night when Jesus broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave!” Then all receive light from the paschal candle, and move to their places for the second assembly, the assembly around the Word.
SECOND ASSEMBLY: THE WORD/STORY OF SALVATION HISTORY
It is this section of this night’s ritual from which the “Great Vigil” gets its name. A “vigil” is a service of “keeping watch.” Historically, vigils have involved extended Scripture readings, psalms (or songs), and prayer, much of it in silence.
MIDDLE AXIS: FROM VIGIL TO CELEBRATION, FROM WORD TO FONT: THE EPISTLE
The transition from Old Testament readings to Epistle within this section marks two other transitions as well. First, we move from celebrating God’s mighty acts in ancient history to celebrating God’s mighty acts in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Second, we begin our shift from Word to water. While the assembly around the new fire anticipates the celebration of Christ, our Passover triumphing over death, this is the moment where the Alleluias actually burst forth. The ancient three-fold call and response, in ever-increasing volume and intensity, is:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
THIRD ASSEMBLY: THE FONT
Tonight is a night for rich celebration and full immersion in the mystery of salvation opened to all in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Celebrate here with gracious joy, with abundance of water and oil, with thanksgiving. And then you will be joyously ready for the Feast of Saving Love.
THE FOURTH ASSEMBLY: TABLE
The transition to the Lord’s Table tonight happens at the exchange of the peace. You will already have confessed sin and experienced tactile pardon with water and oil around the font. Now is the time to embrace sisters and brothers, to offer the Shalom of Christ to one another. This prepares you to gather around the Table as one body, water-washed, Spirit-born, ever-blessed and blessing.
THE RE-ASSEMBLY: SENDING FORTH
Even this exuberant, ecstatic moment of Holy Communion with the body and blood of our Risen Lord is not the climax of our worship tonight. The joy continues to build toward the sending into the world as the Risen Lord’s disciples, reborn or renewed. Give hearty thanks after Communion. Sing a rousing Easter hymn! Have a bold and powerful processional from the worship space. Share the good news of Easter joy with all you meet on your way home.
