Ordo for the Easter Vigil 2012

Easter Vigil

7 April 2012

The Gathering of the Community

The Kindling of the New Fire

Dear friends in Christ,

on this most holy night,

when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life,

the Church invites her children throughout the world

to come together in vigil and prayer.

This is the Passover of the Lord.

We remember his death and resurrection

by hearing his word and celebrating his mysteries;

we are confident

that we shall share his victory over death

and live with him for ever in God.

Let us pray.

Father,

we share in the light of your glory

through your Son, the light of the world.

Sanctify this new fire, and inflame us with new hope.

Purify our minds by this Easter celebration

and bring us one day to the feast of eternal light.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Lighting of the Paschal Candle

The paschal candle is lit from the fire. Then the candle is processed into the church.  Three times the following is sung (at a progressively higher pitch).

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

The candles of the community are lit.

The Exsultet

‘Rejoice, Angelic Choirs, Rejoice’  Common Praise #218

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading, Response and Prayer

Genesis 7.1-5, 11-18; 8.6-18; 9.8-13

Psalm 46 in Songs for the Holy One

Collect

Faithful God,

you have placed the rainbow in the skies

as the sign of your covenant with all living things.

May we who are saved through water and the Spirit,

worthily offer to you our sacrifice of thanksgiving.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Second Reading, Response and Prayer

Exodus 14.10-31; 15.20-21

‘The Song of Moses’ in Songs for the Holy One

Collect

God of steadfast love,

your wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day. 

By the power of your mighty arm you once delivered

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. 

We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Third Reading, Response and Prayer

Ezekiel 37.1-14

Psalm 143 in Songs for the Holy One

Collect

Living 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 power to proclaim you to all the world;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Easter Proclamation

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

The Great Noise

Hymn of Praise       

‘Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing’  Common Praise #211

Collect

Eternal Giver of life and light,

this holy night shines with the radiance of the risen Christ. 

Renew your Church with the Spirit given to us in baptism,

that we may worship you in sincerity and truth,

and shine as a light in the world;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Epistle

Romans 6.3-11

The Psalm

Psalm 114 in Songs for the Holy One

The Gospel

Mark 16.1-8

The Sermon

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

The Thanksgiving at the Font

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O God, maker and ruler of all things.

Your voice thundered over the waters at creation.

You water the mountains and send springs

into the valleys to refresh and satisfy all living things.

Through the waters of the flood

you carried those in the ark to safety.

Through the sea you led your people Israel

from slavery into freedom.

In the wilderness you nourished them

with water from the rock,

and your brought them across the river Jordan

to the promised land.

By the baptism of his death and resurrection,

your Son Jesus has carried us to safety and freedom.

The floods shall not overwhelm us,

and the deep shall not swallow us up,

for Christ has brought us over to the land of promise.

He sends us to make disciples,

baptizing in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Pour out your Holy Spirit;

wash away sin in this cleansing water;

clothe the baptized with Christ;

and claim your daughters and sons,

no longer slave and free,

no longer male and female,

but one with all the baptized in Christ Jesus,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Dear friends,

through the paschal mystery

we have been buried with Christ in baptism,

so that we may rise with him to a new life.

Now that our Lenten observance is ended,

let us renew the promises we made in baptism,

when we rejected Satan and all the works of evil,

and promised to serve God faithfully

in the holy catholic church.

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil

and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

I do.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

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,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.  Amen.

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?

I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God’s help.

God the creator, the rock of our salvation,

has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit,

and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins,

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

May God keep us faithful to our calling,

now and for ever.  Amen.

The people are sprinkled with the blessed water as the presider says

Remember your baptism and be thankful.

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of the risen Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn                              

‘Alleluia!  The Strife Is O’er’  Common Praise #212

Prayer over the Gifts

God of life and health,

accept the offering of your holy people,

and grant that we who are baptized into Christ

may be perfected in your salvation,

in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God,

creator of heaven and earth;

we give you thanks and praise

for the glorious resurrection of your Son

Jesus Christ our Lord;

for he is the true paschal lamb

who has taken away the sin of the world. 

By his death he destroyed death,

and by his rising to life again

he has won for us eternal life. 

Therefore, joining our voices

with the whole company of heaven,

we sing our joyful hymn of praise

to proclaim the glory of your name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might. 

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. 

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, O God of the universe. 

Your mercy is everlasting

and your faithfulness endures from age to age.

Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth. 

Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood. 

Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea. 

Praise to you for leading your people

through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. 

Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one. 

Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ. 

Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: 

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup,

gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 

Do this for the remembrance of me.

With this bread and cup

we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life

as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. 

Christ is risen. 

Christ will come again.

O God of resurrection and new life: 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us

and on these gifts of bread and wine. 

Bless this feast. 

Grace our table with your presence.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. 

Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. 

Breathe new life into us. 

Send us forth, burning with justice, peace and love.

Come, Holy Spirit.

With the ever-blessed Virgin Mary,

blessed Joseph, blessed Faith

and your holy ones of all times and places,

with the earth and all its creatures,

with sun and moon and stars,

we praise you, O God,

blessed and holy Trinity,

now and forever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Lord, we died with you on the cross.

Now we are raised to new life.

We were buried in your tomb.

Now we share in your resurrection.

Live in us, that we may live in you.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

Communion

Hymn after Communion               

‘We Walk by Faith, and Not by Sight’  Common Praise #244

Prayer after Communion

Giver of all,

we are nourished with your Easter sacraments. 

Fill us with the Spirit of love,

and unite us in faith,

that we may be witnesses to the resurrection

and show your glory to all the world,

in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen.

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine. 

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Blessing

May the God of peace

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ,

the great shepherd of the sheep,

by the blood of the eternal covenant,

equip you with everything good

that you may do his will,

working in you that which is pleasing in his sight,

through Jesus Christ;

to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn         

‘That Eastertide with Joy Was Bright’  Common Praise #231

Dismissal

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.  Alleluia, alleluia!

Thanks be to God.  Alleluia, alleluia!