The Great Vigil of Easter (Yr A) Apr 15, 2017

 

The Lighting of the

Paschal Candle

 

In the darkness, fire is kindled;

after which the Celebrant

addresses the people:

 

The Story of Creation: 

Voice 1 of God        In the beginning, when I created the heavens and the earth, the earth was without life.  Darkness covered the face of the deep, and my spirit swept over raging waters.  Then I commanded, “Let there be light!”  And I saw that the light was good.  I separated the light from the darkness.  The light would be called Day, and the darkness Night.

Narrator And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Voice 2 of God “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters!” I commanded.  “Let it separate the waters above from the waters below.”

Narrator God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters above.  God called the dome Sky.  And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Voice 3 of God Then I said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear!”  And it was so.  I called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together I called Oceans.  I commanded the earth to bring forth vegetation: plants, grains, and fruit trees of every kind.  I looked at what I had done, and it was good.

Narrator And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Voice 4 of GodLet there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the night.  They will show the seasons and days and years.  Let them shine down on the earth.”

Narrator And it was so.  God made the two great lights — the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night — and the stars.  God set them in the sky to give light to the earth.

Voice 4 of GodThey shall rule over the day and over the night, and separate the light from the darkness.”

Narrator And it was so.  God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Voice 5 of God I ordered the oceans to bring forth a multitude of living creatures, and I let birds fly above the earth across the sky.  I created the great sea monsters and fish of every kind, and every kind of bird.  And it was good.  I blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply.  Fill the seas, and let birds cover the earth.”

Narrator And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

Voice 6 of God “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind,” I proclaimed  “Tame animals, reptiles, and wild animals shall roam the earth!”

Narrator And God created every type of animal, and every living creature that creeps on the ground.  And God saw that it was good.

Voice 6 of God Let us make human beings in our image and likeness.  They will have power over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over all the animals and reptiles of the earth.

Narrator So humans were created in the image of God, both men and women.  And God blessed them.

Voice 6 of God Be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth.  Take care of the fish in the seas, the birds in the air, and all living things that move upon the earth.  I have given you every plant that yields grain, and every fruit tree for food.  And to the beasts of the earth, the birds of the air, and to every other living creature, I have given green plants for food.

Narrator And so it was.  God saw everything that was made, and was very pleased.  And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Thus the whole universe was completed.  And on the seventh day, God was finished working and rested.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day God rested from all the work that had been done in creation.  And that is how the world was created.

Narrator The Word of the Lord.

 

Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea:

Narrator  Moses led the Israelite people out of slavery in Egypt.  Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, was angry and tried to recapture them.  As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back and saw the Egyptian army quickly advancing on them.  In great fear they cried out to the Lord for help, and blamed Moses for their plight.

Israelite 1 Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt for our graves?  Is that why you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?

Israelite 2 What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?

Israelite 1 Didn’t we tell you in Egypt to leave us alone and let us serve the Egyptians?

Israelite 2 We would be better off serving the Egyptians than dying in the wilderness!

Moses Do not be afraid!  Stand firm, and see how the Lord delivers us today.  We will never see the Egyptians again.  The Lord will save us.  Keep still and watch!

Voice of God Moses, why do you cry out to me?  Raise your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea.  The water will divide in half and the Israelites will be able to walk through on dry ground.  Then I will make the Egyptians so stubborn that they will follow them into the sea.  I will show my power over Pharaoh and his entire army.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.

Narrator The angel of God, who had been leading the Israelites, went behind them.  A cloud, which had also been in front, moved between the Israelites and the army of Egypt. 

And so the cloud lit up the night for the Israelites, but kept the Egyptians in darkness.  And the one did not come near the other all night.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.  All night, the Lord drove back the sea by a strong east wind.  The waters were divided and turned the sea into dry land.

The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground.  The water formed a wall for them on their right and on their left.  All of Pharaoh’s soldiers, chariots, and horses went into the sea after them.

At dawn, God looked down upon the Egyptian army from a fiery cloud, and threw the Egyptians into a panic.  Their chariot wheels were clogged with mud, and they could hardly turn.

Egyptian Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them and against us.

Voice of God Moses, stretch your hand over the sea, so that the water may come and drown the Egyptians and their chariots.

Narrator So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth.  The Egyptians tried to flee, but the waters covered the soldiers, chariots, and horses.

The entire army of Pharaoh had followed the Israelites into the sea, and not one of them lived.  But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians.  Israel saw the great work that the Lord had done.  The people stood in awe and believed in the Lord and Moses, God’s servant.

Then the prophet Miriam took a tambourine in her hand and all the women went with her and danced with tambourines.

Miriam Sing to the Lord who has triumphed gloriously; horse and driver have been thrown into the sea!

All Sing to the Lord, who has triumphed gloriously; horse and driver have been thrown into the sea!

 

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Old Testament: Zephaniah (3:14-20)

 

Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;

         shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

         O daughter Jerusalem!

The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,

         he has turned away your enemies.

The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;

         you shall fear disaster no more.

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

Do not fear, O Zion;

do not let your hands grow weak.

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,

a warrior who gives victory;

he will rejoice over you with gladness,

he will renew you in his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing

as on a day of festival.

I will remove disaster from you,

so that you will not bear reproach for it.

I will deal with all your oppressors

  at that time.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will bring you home,

at the time when I gather you;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes, says the LORD.

 

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The 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.

 

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The Gospel: Matthew (28:1-10)

 

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.”  This is my message for you.’  So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.   Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.  Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

 

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TODAY’S HOMILY

by the Rev. Ruth Paulus

 

St. Mark’s is pleased and privileged to have the Rev. Ruth Paulus provide this evening’s homily.  In addition, the Very Rev. James Larsen will preside over the service.  The Rev. Deacons George Snyder, Connie McCarroll, and William Sangrey will also participate.  Our Rev. Mike Kreutzer will also participate in the service proceedings.

 

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