From the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
Tomorrow is the Great Vigil of Easter. It is the central point of the Christian liturgical year. From the earliest days of the Church it has marked the fulcrum, literally the crux, of not just the life of the Church but the life of the world.
A friend of mine wrote a description of the Vigil that I can’t much improve upon—it’s a wonderful short introduction and I hope also that it serves as an invitation. The Vigil is different than Sunday morning. It has a more ancient, primitive feel. Where Sunday has the feeling of a lively party, the Vigil has the feeling of a deep, satisfying conversation with an old friend by the fire. They are both wonderful and each is enhanced as a companion to the other.
Lest I write over my friend, Mary Ann Hill, here is her piece.
“What happens at the Great Vigil of Easter?
The Great Vigil is one of the oldest forms of worship in the Christian Church, going back to the very first centuries of the Church’s existence. It is a liturgy rich with symbolism—fire, water, darkness and light. Like the Jewish Passover, it is a celebration of God’s redemption of his people.
Following the ancient way of marking the beginning of a new day, the Great Vigil takes place after sunset, or on early Sunday morning, before the sunrise of Easter Day. In the early church Christians would gather to tell stories about their redemption, sing songs, and baptize new Christians. In fact, for a long time, the Great Vigil was the only time that baptisms were held.
When someone wanted to become a Christian, they would live with a Christian family for three years. They would learn to live as Christians, and would attend church with their faith family, leaving after the lessons and the sermon, before the celebration of Holy Communion. During that time they would receive special instruction about their new faith.
During the forty days of Lent, in the third year with their spiritual foster family, the new converts would go through a special season of preparation. Then they would be presented for baptism at the Easter Vigil.
Our Great Vigil begins in the dark with the lighting of the new fire. The new fire represents Jesus’ rising from the dead. Legend has it that, in 433 A.D., St. Patrick began his ministry to the Irish people by lighting the Easter fire on the Hill of Slane, just as the High King of Ireland was lighting his own fire as part of a pagan ceremony. It was that courageous act that caused the king to accept Patrick’s ministry and opened the way for Christianity to come to the Irish.
After our fire is kindled, a very large, impressive candle is lit from the flames. The candle symbolizes the risen Christ, but also the pillar of fire that led the children of Israel through the Red Sea, into the wilderness, and finally, to the Promised Land. Following the lighting of the Paschal Candle, the flame is passed throughout the congregation, each person sharing the light of the Christ with his or her neighbor, until the whole room shines with the light of faith. Then a hymn of praise, called the Exultet is sung by a deacon or by an appointed cantor.
As the Vigil continues, we hear stories from the Old Testament that tell of God’s mighty acts and wondrous love to save and redeem his people. The most important story is the story of the Crossing of the Red Sea. Just as God led the people of Israel through the waters from captivity in Egypt to their new life in the Promised Land, he leads us, by Christ’s death and resurrection, from the way of sin and death into everlasting life through the waters of baptism. Between each of the readings is a song and a prayer.
When we have finished telling of God’s mighty acts, those who will be baptized are presented. They make a set of promises called “The Baptismal Covenant.” As they make those promises, everyone present is invited to join in and renew their own baptismal covenant.
Finally, those to be baptized are led to the baptismal font in the darkened church, by the deacon, carrying the Paschal Candle. When the congregation has gathered around, the priest baptizes those who have been presented. The congregation welcomes the newly baptized, and then the priest sprinkles the gathered congregation with water from the baptismal font.
The service concludes with the first celebration of Holy Communion of Easter. With shouts of “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” and “The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!” all of the lights come on. The Altar area, filled with Easter flowers, small icons of the resurrection, becomes visible. Holy Communion is celebrated, and as God’s redeemed people, we come to the table to share the Bread and Wine with our newest brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The service lasts about two hours and we are fortunate to be in a community that can mark it as richly and beautifully as we do here. Please join us at 8:00pm tomorrow evening.
Yours in Christ,
—Fr Robert