The Great Vigil of Easter

6210 Northeast 181st Street,Kenmore WA 98028

16 April, 2022

Description

The Easter Vigil is the liturgy intended as the first and, arguably, the primary celebration of Easter. This important worship starts at 9:00 pm on Saturday, April 16, running 2-3 hours. The service begins in darkness and consists of four parts: The Service of Light. This starts the service with the kindling of new fire and the lighting the Paschal candle.The Service of Lessons. This has readings from the Hebrew Scriptures interspersed with psalms, canticles, and prayers.Christian Initiation. This is the sacrament of Holy Baptism and/or the Renewal of Baptismal Vows by all present.The Eucharist. The sacrament of Christ’s body and blood, and the principal act of Christian worship. The term Eucharist is from the Greek, “thanksgiving.” Christ’s body and blood are really present in the sacrament of the Eucharist and received by faith. Christ’s presence is also known in the gathered eucharistic community.This liturgy recovers an ancient practice of keeping the Easter feast. Believers would gather in the hours of darkness ending at dawn on Easter to hear scripture and offer prayer. This night-long service of prayerful watching anticipated the baptisms that would come at first light and the Easter Eucharist. To protect those who have yet to vaccinate, can’t vaccinate, or are immunocompromised, masks on until it is gone. We are maintaining masking at Redeemer even though government mandates are over. Please observe social distancing.