1610 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98144|www.stpeterseattle.org | 206-323-5250|[email protected] Lamb of God, Maria Laughlin THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER APRIL 3, 2021 8:00 P.M. THIS IS CHRIST’S HOUSE. Come you who feel weak and unworthy. Come you who come often and you who have stayed away. Come you who love Jesus, and you who wish you could. Come sinners and saints, women and men, gay and straight, young and old. Come you who are lonely and long for friendship. Come you who are homeless, and you who have a place to rest your heads. Come you who are citizens of this land, and you who are not. Here you are citizens of the kingdom of God. Come join God’s people at the feast prepared for you from the beginning of the world. THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER is the fullest expression of Christian life and joy. On this night, the gathered community enters into the heart of our faith. We begin in darkness and move toward resplendent light and glory. We make a pilgrimage from place to place, finding our way to the Holy Table, where we feast in sign and symbol of God’s kingdom. We hear the stories of salvation history from the beginning of time, and we go forth to bring light, healing, and salvation to the new creation that this liturgy manifests for us. We begin in darkness, with nothing. Out of this darkness, a new fire is kindled. This recalls both the creation of light–the first creative act by God–and the light that is brought into the world in the new creation of Jesus Christ. From the new fire, we light the Paschal Candle, which stands as a symbol of Christ, both in its association with light and in the Candle’s association with baptism. Next, the Deacon sings the Exsultet, an ancient hymn in which vivid imagery illumines our purpose in gathering: “Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth, bright with glorious splendor, for darkness has been vanquished by our eternal King.” This hymn is a raucous celebration of the mighty power exhibited in the resurrection, when light overcame darkness, when love overcame sin, and when life overcame death. We proceed to hear stories from the Hebrew Scriptures, when God acted to create the world and to care for a covenant people. After each reading, we respond by singing scripture, either a psalm or a canticle. Then we pray together one of the ancient collects. In this way, we hear of God’s work, we sing praises to God, and to pray to God. Following our readings, we recall that we have been baptized into new life. We chant the litany of saints, inviting saints from all of history to join with us, since baptism brings us into the fellowship of the communion of saints, then renew our own baptismal promises. Then comes the highlight of the night: Easter is joyously proclaimed! After we sing our joyous acclamation three times, we sing the Gloria for the first time in the Easter season. The Holy Table is made ready for the Eucharist, and we begin the first Eucharist of Easter. At the Holy Table, we invite Jesus to be made known to us in the breaking of the bread, just as he was made known to his disciples. We go forth from the church in celebration of Christ’s resurrection in Israel some 2,000 years ago, and we go forth from the church in celebration of Christ’s new life in us, the Body of Christ. 1 WELCOME TO ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL PARISH! If you are visiting today, we want to thank you for being with us. Your presence is a gift to our community, and your prayers enhance our worship. We hope that the Kingdom of God will come near to you in this place. SOME NOTES ON WORSHIP AT ST. PETER’S: ❖ Everything you need to participate in today’s liturgy is included in this bulletin. ❖ Text written in bold in this bulletin is to be spoken by all. Acknowledgement We respectfully acknowledge that we are on the unceded ancestral lands of the Duwamish people. The Duwamish people are still here, and with gratitude we pay our respects to them as they continue to honor and bring to light their ancient heritage 2 THE LIGHTING OF THE PASCHAL CANDLE Fire is kindled 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. Let us pray. 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. Deacon People THE EXSULTET The Deacon, standing near the Paschal Candle, chants the Exsultet. Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King. [ . ] [ . ] through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, 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 [ . ] 3 [ . ] 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. 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. FIRST STORY: THE STORY OF CREATION GENESIS 1:1 – 2:4 PSALM 33:1-11 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; * it is good for the just to sing praises. Praise the LORD with the harp; * play to him upon the psaltery and lyre. Sing for him a new song; * sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet. For the word of the LORD is right, * and all his works are sure. He loves righteousness and justice; * the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, * by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts. He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin * and stores up the depths of the sea. Let all the earth fear the LORD; * let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it came to pass; * he commanded, and it stood fast. The LORD brings the will of the nations to naught; * he thwarts the designs of the peoples. But the LORD'S will stands fast for ever, * and the designs of his heart from age to age. Antiphon COLLECT 4 SECOND STORY: THE FLOOD GENESIS 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13 PSALM 46 God is our refuge and strength, * a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, * and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea; Though its waters rage and foam, * and though the mountains tremble at its tumult. The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, * the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; * God shall help her at the break of day. The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; * God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away. The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, * what awesome things he has done on earth. It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; * he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire. "Be still, then, and know that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Antiphon COLLECT 5 THIRD STORY: ISRAEL’S DELIVERANCE AT THE RED SEA EXODUS 14:10-31; 15:20-21 CANTICLE 8: Song of Moses 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.