painting above- Why do you seek the living among the dead ©T. Jutsum 2003
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM: THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER
The Great Vigil of Easter
April 19th, 2025
HOLY EUCHARIST 7:00 P.M.
BISHOP: The Rt. Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer
PRESIDER: The Rev. Dr. Julianne Buenting
MUSIC DIRECTOR and ORGANIST: Stephen Kennedy
TRANSITIONAL DEACON: The Rev. Joel D. Wilbur
Honoring the Baptismal Covenant, we strive for justice and peace for all people,
respecting the dignity of every human being
The New Fire and Lighting the Paschal Candle
In the darkness, the new fire is kindled. Please stand, as able.
The Presider addresses those gathered
Dear friends in Christ:
On this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life,
the Church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer.
For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word and celebrating his Sacraments,
we share in his victory over death.
Presider: Let us pray. (Silence)
O God, through your Son you have bestowed upon your people the brightness of your light:
Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Deacon carries the Paschal Candle in procession, pausing three times and singing or saying
The light of Christ.
People Thanks be to God.
The congregation members’ candles are lighted from the Paschal Candle at this time.
The Exultet chanted by cantor
Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels,
and let your trumpets shout Salvation
for the victory of our mighty King.
Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth,
bright with a glorious splendor,
for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.
Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church, and let your holy courts,
in radiant light, resound with the praises of your people.
All you who stand near this marvelous and holy flame,
pray with me to God the Almighty for the grace to sing the worthy praise
of this great light; through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, who lives and reigns
with him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Presider: It is truly right and good, always and everywhere, with our whole heart and mind and voice, to praise you, the invisible, almighty, and eternal God, and your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who at the feast of the Passover paid for us the debt of Adam’s sin, and by his blood delivered your faithful people.
This is the night, when you brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea on dry land.
This is the night, when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life.
This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.
How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God, is your mercy and loving-kindness to us, that to redeem a slave, you gave a Son.
How holy is this night, when wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away. It restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to those who mourn. It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord.
How blessed is this night, when earth and heaven are joined and man is reconciled to God.
Holy God, accept our evening sacrifice, the offering of this candle in your honor. May it shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find it ever burning—he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Celebrant: Let us hear the record of God’s saving deeds in history, how he saved his people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption.
THE STORY OF CREATION
The people sit.
Genesis 1:1-2:4a
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.
And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was so. God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
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.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Response: Psalm 33:1-11 Exultate, justi
Cantors:
1 Rejoice in the Lord, you / righteous; *
it is good for the just / to sing praises.
All:
2 Praise the Lord / with the harp; *
play to him upon the psal-/tery and lyre.
3 Sing for him a new / song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill u-/pon the trumpet.
4 For the word of the / Lord is right, *
and / all his works are sure.
5 He loves righteousness and / justice; *
the loving-kindness of the Lord / fills the whole earth.
6 By the word of the Lord were the / heavens made, *
by the breath of his mouth all the / hosts of Heaven.
7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a / water-skin *
and stores / up the sea’s depths.
8 Let all the earth / fear the Lord; *
let all who dwell in the world / stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it / came to pass; *
he commanded, / and it stood fast.
10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to / naught; *
he thwarts the designs / of the peoples.
11 But the Lord's will stands fast for / ever, *
and the designs of his heart through-/out all ages.
Presider: Let us pray. (Silence)
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature:
Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ISRAEL’S DELIVERANCE FROM THE RED SEA
Exodus 14:10-31
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."
Celebrant: Let us pray.
O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharoah, to be a sing for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham and Sarah, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Canticle 8, The Song of Moses
Response: Canticle 8 The Song of Moses Plainsong
Chanted by members of the Christ Church Choir
Antiphon: I will sing to the Lord for he has risen up in might. I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my refuge; the Lord has become my Savior. This is my God and I will praise him, the God of my people and I will exalt him. The Lord is a mighty warrior; Yahweh is his Name. The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea. The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; they sank into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy. Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders? You stretched forth your right hand; the earth swallowed them up. With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling. You will bring them in and plant them on the mount of your possession. The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established. The Lord shall reign for ever and for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. (Antiphon repeated)
Antiphon: I will sing to the Lord for he has risen up in might. I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
Presider: Let us pray. (Silence)
O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water 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.
Third Lesson- Salvation offered freely to all Isaiah 55:1-11
Hear, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Response: Canticle 9 The First Song of Isaiah Ecce, Deus Isaiah 12:2-6
Observing a longer pause at the asterisk. Tone accents are underlined.
Cantors:
Surely, it is God who /saves me; *
I will trust in him / and not be afraid.
All:
For the Lord is my stronghold and my /sure defense, *
and he will / be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with re-/ joicing; *
from the springs / of salvation.
And on that day / you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and / call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the / people; *
see that they remember that his name / is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has / done great things, *
and this is / known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring / out your joy, *
For the great one in the midst of you is the Holy / One of Israel.
Presider: Let us pray. (Silence)
O God, you have created all things by the power of your Word, and renews the earth by your Spirit:
Give now the water of life to those who thirst for You, that they may bring forth abundant fruit
in your glorious kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE FOURTH LESSON- THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES
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.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Almighty God, by the Passover of your Son you have brought us out of sin into righteousness, 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.
PSALM 30 Exaltabo te, Domine
(1828 BCP)
Chanted by members of the Christ Church Choir
1 I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up *
and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *
and you restored me to health.
3 You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *
you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4 Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *
give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
his favor for a lifetime.
6 Weeping may spend the night, *
but joy comes in the morning.
7 While I felt secure, I said, “I shall never be disturbed. *
You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains.”
8 Then you hid your face, *
and I was filled with fear.
9 I cried to you, O Lord; *
I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
10 “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *
O Lord, be my helper.”
12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
Let us pray. (Silence)
Almighty 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.
Easter Proclamation
The candles at the Altar may now be lighted from the Paschal Candle.
As the lights are brought up, the congregation extinguishes their candles.
The First Eucharist of Easter
Bells are rung, and lighting is raised.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
Presider: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presider: Let us pray.
O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
EPISTLE 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.
Reader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn 208 The strife is o’er Palestrina (1525-1594)
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Pascha nostrum
GOSPEL: Luke 24:1-1
Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon The Rev. Dr. Julianne Buenting, Interim Rector
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Invitation
Presider: Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism
into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that
our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism,
by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully
in his holy Catholic Church.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows Please stand, as able.
Presider
Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in this holy Catholic Church.
Presider Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
People I do.
Presider Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Presider Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary. He 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
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Presider Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People 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.
Presider Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignityof every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.
The Presider concludes the Renewal of Vows as follows
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water
and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his
grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Thanksgiving over the Water
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider
We thank you, Gracious God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it Thou didst lead the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it thy Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life. We thank you, gracious God, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Now sanctify this water, we pray thee, by the power of thy Holy Spirit, that those who here been cleansed from sin and born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Christ Jesus our Savior. To the holy and undivided Trinity, one God, be all honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The presider and deacon asperge the congregation with holy water as a reminder of baptism.
Vidi aquam: Chanted by cantors
I saw water flowing out of the Temple, from its right side, Alleluia:
And all to whom this water came were saved, and they shall say: Alleluia, Alleluia.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his mercy is forever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, unto ages of ages. Amen.
I saw water flowing out of the Temple, from its right side, Alleluia:
And all to whom this water came were saved, and they shall say: Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayers of the People Book of Common Prayer, Form III
The Leader and People pray responsively
Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence
The Presider adds the concluding Collect:
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies,
look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious,
O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
THE Offering
Your monetary offering- whether given in the offering plate or by online donation- supports the worship, pastoral care, and outreach of Christ Church as we seek to love and serve God and our neighbors. Thank you for your generosity.
To donate electronically, please scan this QR code.
THE PEACE
Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
OFFERTORY MOTET: Surrexit Christus hodie Samuel Scheidt (1587 -1654)
Surrexit Christus hodie Christ rose today
Humano pro solamine For human comfort,
In hoc Paschali gaudio In this Paschal joy
Benedicamus Domino Let us bless the Lord.
Laudetur sancta Trinitas Let the Holy Trinity be praised
Deo dicamus gratias. Alleluia! Let us give thanks to God. Alleluia!
HYMN 174 At the Lamb’ high feast
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
All who are able, stand.
SURSUM CORDA Plainsong
It is truly right to glorify you, eternal God, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and forever. Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance. Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we sing
SANCTUS
We acclaim you, holy God, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures. When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again, you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.
O God, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose, he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new. And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for Christ who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.
When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them he took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper Jesus took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Almighty God, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption. Recalling Christ’s death and his descent among the dead, proclaiming his resurrection and ascension to your right hand, awaiting his coming in glory; and offering to you, from the gifts you have given us, this bread and this cup, we praise you and we bless you.
Presider and People
We praise you, we bless you, we give thanks to you,
and we pray to you, Lord our God.
The Presider continues
God our Creator, we pray that in your goodness and mercy your Holy Spirit may descend upon us, and upon these gifts, sanctifying them and showing them to be holy gifts for your holy people,
the bread of life and the cup of salvation, the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit,
a living sacrifice in Christ, to the praise of your Name.
Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the blood of your Christ. Reveal its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace. And grant that we may find our inheritance with our forebears in faith, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, with Mary, the Mother of God,
and all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them
and give you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours,
Almighty God and Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. AMEN.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
A period of silence is kept.
FRACTION ANTHEM
Presider: The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him by faith, with thanksgiving.
You are invited to the altar to receive communion, or a blessing from the Priest.
The Bread is given to communicants with these words
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. Amen
COMMUNION MOTET: Suscepimus Deus Andrea Rota (1553-1597)
Suscepimus Deus We received God
Laetetur mons Sion, et exsultent filiae Judae, Let Sion's mount with joy resound,
propter judicia tua, Domine. Her daughters all be taught
Circumdate Sion, et complectimini eam; In songs his judgments to extol,
narrate in turribus ejus. tell it in her towers.
Please stand, as able
Post Communion Hymn 205 Good Christians all rejoice and sing!
Post Communion Prayer
Presider: Let us pray. (Silence)
Eternal God, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Easter Blessing
May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection
of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.
Amen.
May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make
you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.
Amen.
May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer,
bring you to your eternal inheritance.
Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and
remain with you for ever.
Amen.
Dismissal
Deacon Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia!
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
ITE, MISSA EST Translation: The Mass is ended. Thanks be to God.
VOLUNTARY
Preludium in D Major (BWV 532) Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
MUSIC MINISTERS FOR THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER 2025
Stephen Kennedy, director of music
David Higgs, associate organist
John Kirkpatrick, principal cantor
Michael E. Ruhling, cantor of the Exultet
VanDelinder Fellows
Andrew Johnson, assistant organist
Jimmy Jeffery, fellow
Dominic Fiacco, fellow
The Christ Church Choir
Caroline Barata,* Anna Bjerken,* Jackie Burkhardt, Thea Cleaveland, Benjamin Doane,
Amelia Harkey,* Joan Hunt, Kristy Liddell, Kyle Liddell, Andrea McGaugh,*
Caleb Meyerhoff,* Kristina Niemiec, Daniel Perez,* Lisa Pigut,
Mary Reins,* Sonja Shelton, Maya Watters*
*Choral Scholars
Renaissance sackbut players of the Christ Church Schola Cantorum
Gabriel Williams, Ethan Pound, Jacob Lytle, Jacob Ellgass
Newsletter: songforchristchurch
CALENDAR
Easter Sunday
Service of Festal Eucharist 8:00 am and 11:00am
9:00 pm Compline
Compline season ends on Sunday, April 27 and will resume in October