Happy Easter!
Our Easter vigil service on Saturday night begins in darkness. All the lights in the sanctuary are turned off and we sit quietly, expectantly, waiting. The darkness represents the world before the Light of the world.
The priest comes in carrying the Easter candle and stops at the top of the aisle and chants, "Christ our Light" and we respond "Thanks be to God".
When the priest reaches the altar he stops and one person lights the candle they hold from the Easter candle. They turn and light the candle of their neighbor. This sharing of the fire goes one by one throughout the sanctuary until every candle is burning and the room is filled with a beautiful soft light.
This represents the Light that Christ brought to the world through His life, death, and resurrection.
It is a challenge to believe that one man could make such a difference. In the end, it becomes a choice to accept that indeed the world is a better place because of His presence, better afterward than before. Better because He taught us the power of love and forgiveness, better than than anyone before or since.
Wishing you the blessings of renewal and rebirth during this Easter season and throughout the year.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made. For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
Amen.
The priest comes in carrying the Easter candle and stops at the top of the aisle and chants, "Christ our Light" and we respond "Thanks be to God".
When the priest reaches the altar he stops and one person lights the candle they hold from the Easter candle. They turn and light the candle of their neighbor. This sharing of the fire goes one by one throughout the sanctuary until every candle is burning and the room is filled with a beautiful soft light.
This represents the Light that Christ brought to the world through His life, death, and resurrection.
It is a challenge to believe that one man could make such a difference. In the end, it becomes a choice to accept that indeed the world is a better place because of His presence, better afterward than before. Better because He taught us the power of love and forgiveness, better than than anyone before or since.
Wishing you the blessings of renewal and rebirth during this Easter season and throughout the year.
Through Him all things were made. For us and our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary , and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
Amen.
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