Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead us, and bring us to your holy hill and to your dwelling in our heart. O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

Be awake, thou sleeping one. Rise from Death to Light.

Jesus (He), who left the heavens, for the dust of earth,

Jesus (He), who took the spittle down His face,

Received the blows upon His cheeks.

Jesus (He), who slept upon a cross’d tree, embroidered in

His red:

Jesus, Came to Death to bring you life.

The cherubim have unbarred the gates of Paradise.

The throne is hewn and decked.

A banquet ready, everlasting chambers are

prepared.

The treasure chest being split, a kingdom awaits

thee. Awake! Arise!

(copied and adapted Poem by Derek Webster from The Dessert, An Anthology for Lent by John Moses, p.129)

We have reached the culmination of our Sacred Three Days known as the Triduum that encompasses Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. We have gathered to recall Christ’s suffering. We have gathered in memorial recalling Christ’s death. Tonight, we have gathered to watch, prayer, and keep vigil.

Jesus proclaimed that he would build up the temple in three days. This night we have gathered in faith to acknowledge and participate in the paschal mystery of God’s mercy and power in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, communally we are here to rejoice in celebration of the new life promised to all people by our Creator.

Our Great Vigil of Easter tonight is the grandest of all celebrations and the holiest of our liturgies. The Great Vigil is considered the “Queen of Feast” because it is the first celebration of Easter and the primary feast of the Christian year. Prayer was the emphasis of the vigil in the early church. Around 381-384 AD, an Abbess nun, Egeria recounted her observations of an Easter Vigil held in Jerusalem. According to her, the vigil continued throughout the night with readings, psalms, and litanies ending at daybreak with the first Eucharist of Easter. The challenge during those times was to keep people awake the entire night. Often at least twelve scripture readings were included in the service. However, we will not do that to you tonight. Additionally, in the early church, the Easter Vigil was the only and primary time for baptisms. The newly baptized rejoiced throughout the night with great anticipation of the first light and their first Communion.

This night I encourage you to allow your “sense” of the mystery of death shape your reflections in some way while we wait eagerly with anticipation to celebrate the living Christ, our Easter gift from God. (copied and adapted)

The Vigil is a service with four parts: the service of light; lessons and readings with psalms, canticles, and prayers; Holy Baptism Initiation and the Renewal of Baptism Vows; and the first Eucharist of Easter.

Our service began in darkness with the kindling of the new fire in our holy hibachi to light the paschal candle. This is a reminder of the pillar of light by day and the pillar of light by night that led the Israelites in the wilderness. During the procession of the paschal candle, we listened to the singing of “The Light of Christ,” and we responded, “Thanks be to God.” We passed onto each other and held our candle light to break through the darkness within our broken world and the lives of each other while the ancient hymn, “The Exsultet”, was sung beckoning us to “rejoice in the victory of the mighty and eternal King” because the light of Christ banishes all darkness.

Now, with the light of Christ having entered the sanctuary, we pause to hear the liturgy of the Word. The Old Testament stories of creation remind us of God’s power that tamed primeval chaos. The story of the Exodus recounts Passover, the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian captivity by way of the Red Sea.

John the Baptist said “I have baptized you with water; Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). So tonight, we have witnessed the baptism of three persons whom we will nurture in faith. We happily welcome them into the fold as new members of the Church. Additionally, knowing that we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus the opportunity to renew our baptism vows was offered as well.

Finally, all the candles on the altar are lit. The first Eucharist of Easter is celebrated. Lights continue to erase the darkness; bells ring out with gusto while we raise our voices in resounding joy in hymns of praise. We will gather at the feast table in celebration of the Passover of Christ recalling the water of baptism and the body and blood of Christ with the Eucharist. These are the paschal sacraments of which our faith is sustained throughout our lives. We are one with God and with each other because we share one bread and one cup.

“May God bless you this Easter Season. May you be filled with the living water of Christ forever. May the light of Christ be with you to break through any dark areas you may encounter in life. May the joys of Easter be with you this night and always.

Amen.