Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

All: I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

All: I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 and trust in the Holy Spirit?

All: 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.

We are invited to sign ourselves with the sign of the Cross with water from

the font.

The Vigil continues with the LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT beginning at

the SIGN OF PEACE. We return to our seats for this part for the service.

The Easter Vigil

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006

The Easter Vigil

EASTERTIDE

Alleluia. Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

BLESSING OF THE FIRE & LITURGY OF THE WORD

At the appointed time, we gather outside the church at the place where a

fire has been lit. The celebrant greets the people and introduces the service.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

The Lord be with you

All: and also with you.

The new fire is blessed and so is the Paschal Candle.

After this, we light our hand candles and we process into the church led by

the minister with the Paschal Candle. As we move into the church we say,

Christ our light!

All: Thanks be to God.

At the altar, the celebrant censes the Candle while a minister reads the

EASTER PROCLAMATION. We remain standing.

After this, the Celebrant introduces the READINGS. At the end of each reading,

This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God

At the end of each reading there will be a pause for silence and a prayer.

Once the Old Testament readings are finished we say or sing the GLORIA.

During the Gloria bells are rung in joyful noise. All the lights are turned on.

The New Testament reading is introduced with the Collect and followed by

the Easter Gospel. The ALLELUIA is said or sung.

The Easter Vigil

W elcome to our Easter Vigil!

This service takes place in the most important, most holy night of the year.

The early Church appointed Easter Sunday as the first Sunday following the first

full moon of Spring - this is to say, the first short, bright night after the darkness

of winter has been overcome.

The Church invites us to follow the ancient custom of celebrating the gift of light

as a reminder of the light of Christ which ought to shine in - and through - our

lives. On this night the Paschal Candle (or Easter Candle) is blessed and lit as a

reminder of this. It symbolises Christ with his wounds shining in our midst.

Another feature of this service is found in the readings of Scripture. As we sit and

listen to the reading we rehearse the story of our salvation through God’s intervention

in the history of creation - from its formation to the resurrection of Jesus.

After this, we renew our baptismal commitment to Christ and his Church.

Finally, we welcome our risen Lord in our midst in the first Easter Celebration of

the Eucharist.

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;

I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.

All: Alleluia.

The Lord be with you,

All: And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, O Christ.

A pause for silence will follow the gospel reading - we blow out our candles.

LITURGY OF BAPTISM

After this, we move to the font to bless the new baptismal water and to re-

new solemnly our commitment to Christ and his Church.

The celebrant says,

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

Therefore I ask: Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

All: I reject them. Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

All: I renounce them. Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?

All: I repent of them. Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

All: I turn to Christ. Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

All: I submit to Christ. Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

All: I come to Christ.

After this, the water is blessed, and the Paschal Candle is immersed into the font.

Praise God who made heaven and earth,

All: who keeps his promise for ever. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give thanks and praise.

At the end of the prayer of blessing we say Amen.

The Easter Vigil