It is important, in using this service, to emphasize that it is a vigil, which means a lengthy meditative service ending in a joyous celebration of our Lord's resurrection. The vigil may be adapted for varying uses: 1) late Saturday evening, timed to climax after midnight; 2) predawn Easter, beginning in darkness and concluding in the light of the new day; or 3) a predawn service before attending one's traditional Sunday morning service.
There are three central points of focus in this service: a large candle which will be dedicated as the Easter or Paschal candle; a bible for the reading of the history of God's salvation; and a vessel of water, by which we will remember our baptism.
In virtual darkness (a small light may be used), the following is said:
On this most holy night
when our Savior Jesus Christ passed from death to life,
we gather with the Church throughout the world
in vigil and prayer.
For this is the Passover of the Lord,
in which through Word and Sacrament
we share Christ's triumph over sin and death,
and with invincible hope
we await Christ's coming again.
Strike a match and light the candle, saying:
May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
overcome the darkness of sin and death. Amen.
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
Radiant in the splendor of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
Echoing the mighty song of all God's people!
Metrical version of Exsultet (sung to Woodlands):
Click here for a version with MIDI
file.
Sing, choirs of heaven! Let saints and angels sing!
Around God's throne exult in harmony!
Now Jesus Christ is risen from the grave!
Salute your King in glorious symphony!
Sing, choirs of earth! Behold, your light has come!
The glory of the Lord shines radiantly!
Lift up your hearts, for Christ has conquered death!
The night is past; the day of life is here!
Sing, Church of God! Exult with joy outpoured!
The gospel trumpets tell of victory won!
Your Savior lives: he's with you evermore!
Let all God's people shout the long Amen!
Then this prayer is said:
May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
for Christ, the Morning Star, has risen,
come back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all creation,
for he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Then may be said:
Let us listen attentively to the word of God,
recalling God's savings deeds throughout history,
and how, in the fullness of time,
God's Word became flesh and dwelt among us:
Jesus Christ, our Redeemer!
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
After a period of silence, this psalm is said or sung:
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Psalm 136:1-9,23-26
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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,* for his mercy endures for ever. | |
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Give thanks to the God of gods,* for his mercy endures for ever. | |
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Give thanks to the Lord of lords,* for his mercy endures for ever. | |
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Who only does great wonders,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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Who by his wisdom made the heavens,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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Who spread out the earth upon the waters,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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Who created great lights,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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The sun to rule the day,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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The moon and the stars to govern the night,* for his mercy endures for ever. | |
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Who remembered us in our low estate,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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And delivered us from our enemies,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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Who gives food to all creatures,* for his mercy endures for ever; | |
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Give thanks to the God of heaven,* for his mercy endures for ever. |
Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God,
you created all things in wonderful beauty and order.
Help us now to perceive
how still more wonderful is the new creation,
by which in the fullness of time
you redeemed your people
through the sacrifice of our Passover, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
The LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its mate; and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive on the face of all the earth. For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark, they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind every bird, every winged creature. They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in. The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters.
At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground; but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark; and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any more.
In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and saw that the face of the ground was drying. In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. Then God said to Noah, "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,"As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.
After a period of silence, this psalm is said or sung:
| Psalm 46 | |
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God is our refuge and strength,* a very present help in trouble; | |
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Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,* and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea; | |
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Though its waters rage and foam,* and though the mountains tremble at its tumult. | |
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The Lord of hosts is with us;* the God of Jacob is our stronghold. | |
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There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,* the holy habitation of the Most High. | |
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God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown;* God shall help her at the break of day. | |
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The nations make much ado and the kingdoms are shaken;* God has spoken and the earth shall melt away. | |
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The Lord of hosts is with us;* the God of Jacob is our stronghold. | |
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Come now and look upon the works of the Lord,* what awesome things he has done on earth. | |
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It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;* he breaks the bow and shatters the spear and burns the shields with fire. | |
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‘Be still, then, and know that I am God;* I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.’ | |
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The Lord of hosts is with us;* the God of Jacob is our stronghold. |
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
you have placed in the skies
the sign of your covenant with all living things:
Grant that we, who are saved through water and the Spirit,
may worthily offer to you our sacrifice of thanksgiving;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the LORD said to Moses: Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall camp opposite it, by the sea. Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them.' I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD. And they did so.
As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers."
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers." So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea."
After a period of silence, there follows Miriam's Song
Song of Miriam and Moses : Exodus 15:1-2,11,13,17-18
"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my might,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed;
you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
ou brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession,
the place, O LORD, that you made your abode,
the sanctuary, O LORD, that your hands have established.
The LORD will reign forever and ever.
Let us pray.
God of steadfast love,
your wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day.
Through the waters of the sea
you once delivered your chosen people from slavery,
a sign for us of the salvation of all nations
through the grace of Baptism.
Grant that all the peoples of the earth
may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham,
and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Thus says the Lord God: I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
After a period of silence, these psalms are said or sung.
| Psalm 42 | |
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As the deer longs for the water-brooks,* so longs my soul for you, O God. | |
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My soul is athirst for God, athirst for the living God;* when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? | |
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My tears have been my food day and night,* while all day long they say to me, ‘Where now is your God?’ | |
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I pour out my soul when I think on these things:* how I went with the multitude and led them into the house of God, | |
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With the voice of praise and thanksgiving,* among those who keep holy-day. | |
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Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?* and why are you so disquieted within me? | |
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Put your trust in God;* for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. | |
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My soul is heavy within me;* therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, and from the peak of Mizar among the heights of Hermon. | |
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One deep calls to another in the noise of your cataracts;* all your rapids and floods have gone over me. | |
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The Lord grants his loving-kindness in the daytime;* in the night season his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. | |
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I will say to the God of my strength, ‘Why have you forgotten me?* and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me?’ | |
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While my bones are being broken,* my enemies mock me to my face; | |
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All day long they mock me* say to me, ‘Where now is your God?’ | |
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Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?* and why are you so disquieted within me? | |
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Put your trust in God;* for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. |
| Psalm 43 | |
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Give judgement for me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people;* deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked. | |
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For you are the God of my strength; why have you put me from you?* and why do I go so heavily while the enemy oppresses me? | |
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Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me,* and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling; | |
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That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness;* and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. | |
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Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?* and why are you so disquieted within me? | |
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Put your trust in God;* for I will yet give thanks to him, who is the help of my countenance, and my God. |
Let us pray.
God of holiness and light,
in the mystery of dying and rising with Christ
you have established a new covenant of reconciliation.
Cleanse our hearts
and give us a new spirit to all your people,
that your saving grace may be professed
and proclaimed to the whole world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."
So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.
Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act," says the LORD.
After a period of silence, this psalm is said or sung.
| Psalm 143 | |
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Lord, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications;* answer me in your righteousness. | |
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Enter not into judgement with your servant,* for in your sight shall no one living be justified. | |
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For my enemy has sought my life and has crushed me to the ground;* making me live in dark places like those who are long dead. | |
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My spirit faints within me;* my heart within me is desolate. | |
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I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds;* I consider the works of your hands. | |
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I spread out my hands to you;* my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land. | |
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O Lord, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me;* do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit. | |
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Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you;* show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you. | |
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Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord,* for I flee to you for refuge. | |
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Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God;* let your good Spirit lead me on level ground. | |
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Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake;* for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble. |
Let us pray.
Living God,
by the Passover of your Son
you have brought us out of sin into righteousness
and out of death into life.
Grant to those who are sealed by your Holy Spirit
the will and the power to proclaim you to all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This or another hymn of praise is sung. For a version with MIDI, click here.
Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!
Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun's eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened Paradise, Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!
Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!
Hail, the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection day, Alleluia!
King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He's King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Then is proclaimed loudly, traditionally three times:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Then this prayer is said.
Let us pray.
Eternal Giver of life and light,
this holy night shines with the radiance of the risen Christ.
Renew your Church with the Spirit given to us in Baptism,
that we may worship you in sincerity and truth,
and shine as a light in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Romans 6:3-11
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore 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. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We 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. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
After a period of silence, then this psalm is sung or said.
| Psalm 114 | |
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Alleluia! When Israel came out of Egypt,* the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, | |
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Judah became God’s sanctuary* and Israel his dominion. | |
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The sea beheld it and fled;* Jordan turned and went back. | |
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The mountains skipped like rams,* and the little hills like young sheep. | |
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What ailed you, O sea, that you fled?* O Jordan, that you turned back? | |
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You mountains, that you skipped like rams?* you little hills like young sheep? | |
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Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,* at the presence of the God of Jacob, | |
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Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water* and flint-stone into a flowing spring. Alleluia! |
Then the Gospel story of our Lord's resurrection is read.
Mark 16:1-8
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might goand anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?' When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.' So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Silence for reflection.
Then this or another hymn is sung. For a version with MIDI, click here.
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun: Alleluia!
Refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The powers of death have done their worst;
But Christ their legions hath dispersed;
Let shouts of holy joy outburst: Alleluia! Refrain
The three sad days are quickly sped;
He rises glorious from the dead;
All glory to our risen Head! Alleluia! Refrain
He closed the yawning gates of hell;
The bars from heaven's high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise His triumphs tell! Alleluia! Refrain
Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death's dread sting Thy servants free,
That we may live, and sing to Thee: Alleluia! Refrain
I hereby renounce the forces of evil,
which defy God's righteousness and love
and corrupt and destroy the creatures of God.
I renounce the ways of sin
that draw me away from the love of God.
I hereby turn to Jesus Christ
and accept him as my Lord and Savior
and intend to be Christ's faithful disciple,
obeying his word, and showing his love in the world.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead.
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.
We give you thanks, Eternal God,
for you nourish and sustain all living things
by the gift of water.
In the beginning of time,
your Spirit moved over the watery chaos,
calling forth order and life.
In the time of Noah,
you destroyed evil by the waters of the flood,
giving righteousness a new beginning.
You led Israel out of slavery,
through the waters of the sea,
into the freedom of the promised land.
In the waters of Jordan,
Jesus was baptized by John
and anointed with your Spirit.
By the baptism of his own death and resurrection,
Christ set us free from sin and death,
and opened the way to eternal life.
We thank you, O God, for the water of baptism.
In it we were buried with Christ in his death.
From it we were raised to share in his resurrection.
Through it we were reborn by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son,
we celebrate our fellowship in him in faith.
We pray that all who have passed through the water of baptism
may continue forever in the risen life
of Jesus Christ our Savior.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
Now each person makes a sign of the cross, touching their head, their breast and their two shoulders in sequence, using that water, saying:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As the final act of thanksgiving, this Litany of Redemption is said or sung.
O give thanks to the Lord who is gracious:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who has loved us from all eternity:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who only does great wonders:
God's mercy endures forever.
In whose excellent wisdom the heavens were made:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who laid the out the earth above the waters:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who has made the great lights:
God's mercy endures forever.
The sun to rule the day:
God's mercy endures forever.
The moon and stars to govern the night:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who gives food to all flesh:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who called Abraham from Haran:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who brought Israel from Egypt:
God's mercy endures forever.
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who divided the Red Sea in two:
God's mercy endures forever.
And made Israel to go through the midst of it:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who led them through the wilderness:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who remembered us when we were in trouble:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven:
God's mercy endures forever.
And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and took our flesh:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who by his cross and resurrection has redeemed the world:
God's mercy endures forever.
And has washed us from our sins in his own blood:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who on the third day rose from the dead:
God's mercy endures forever.
And has given us the victory:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who ascended up on high:
God's mercy endures forever.
And opened wide for us the everlasting doors:
God's mercy endures forever.
Who sits on the right hand of God:
God's mercy endures forever.
For the Lord our God is a merciful God:
God's mercy endures forever.
To whom all glory, honor and worship due:
to the most Holy Trinity, now and forever, world without end. Amen.
If you are celebrating with others, you may now greet one another in the Lord's name, using words such as:
The peace of the risen Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
The service concludes as follows.
This prayer is said.
Almighty God,
we thank you that by the death and resurrection
of your Son Jesus Christ
you have overcome sin
and brought us to yourself,
and that by the sealing of the Holy Spirit
you have bound us to your service:
Renew in us
the covenant you made with us at our baptism.
Send us forth in the power of that Spirit
to perform the service you set before us;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
- The Lord's Prayer is said.
Then this or another hymn is sung. For a version with MIDI, click here
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke Jacob's sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.
'Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days' sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus' resurrection.
Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb's dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.
"Alleluia!" now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb's dark portal;
"Alleluia!" with the Son, God the Father praising,
"Alleluia!" yet again to the Spirit raising.
Finally, declare the Easter greeting again, traditionally three times:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Material for this service was compiled from:
The Book of Common Prayer, 1979, Episcopal Church;
The Book of Common Worship, 1993, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.);
An Anglican Prayer Book, Church of the Province of South Africa;
The Methodist Worship Book, 1999,The Methodist Church (of England)
New Revised Standard Version and Celebrating Common Prayer.
Additional material by Stephen T. Benner.