The Great Vigil of Easter is the first Easter service of the season. It consists of four distinct sections:
Saturday Night (8:00 p.m.):
Lighting of the new fire and singing the Exsultet (Easter proclamation)
Vigil of readings, psalms, and prayers
Sunday Morning (7:30 a.m.):
Baptism and/or renewal of baptismal vows
The first Eucharist of Easter
This year:
The vigil portion will take place “through the hours of the night with large blocks of silence for prayer and meditation. The church through these hours is always keeping vigil, but not everyone is there all the time.” (Bishop Neil Alexander in “Celebrating Liturgical Time,” p. 135)
Information on entering the church: Starting at 8:30pm and continuing in the early morning hours, please enter through Entrance A (on Bell Court).
SCHEDULE
Time and Liturgy/Readings
8:00 p.m.
Lighting of the new fire and singing the Exsultet outside in the Columbarium
8:30 p.m.
The Vigil begins. Each section contains a Scripture reading, a Psalm, and a spoken prayer, followed by time for silent prayer and meditation.
1st Reading: The story of Creation
2nd Reading: The Flood
9:00 p.m.
3rd Reading: Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac
4th Reading: Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea
9:30 p.m.
5th Reading: God's Presence in a renewed Israel
6th Reading: Salvation offered freely to all
6:00 a.m.
7th Reading: A new heart and a new spirit
8th Reading: The valley of dry bones
6:45 a.m.
9th Reading: The gathering of God’s people
7:30 a.m.
The Renewal of Baptismal Vows and the First Eucharist of Easter