BLTN 04.03.21 The Great Vigil of Easter - FINAL VERSION
BLTN 04.03.21 The Great Vigil of Easter - FINAL VERSION
BLTN 04.03.21 The Great Vigil of Easter - FINAL VERSION
The people gather in the courtyard and remain standing. The Paschal Candle is placed in its stand. A Priest
standing near the Candle, sings the Exsultet as follows
Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our
mighty King.
Rejoice and sing now, all the round earth, bright with a glorious splendor, for darkness has been vanquished by
our eternal King.
Rejoice and be glad now, Mother Church, and let your holy courts, in radiant light, resound with the praises of
your people.
All you who stand near this marvelous and holy flame, pray with me to God the Almighty for the grace to sing
the worthy praise of this great light; through Jesus Christ his son our Lord, who lives and reigns with him, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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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; for he is the true
Paschal Lamb, who at the feast of the Passover paid for us the debt of Adam's sin, and by his blood delivered
your faithful people.
This is the night, when you brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them
through the Red Sea on dry land.
This is the night, when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace
and holiness of life.
This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.
How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God, is your mercy and loving-kindness to us, that to redeem a
slave, you gave a Son.
How holy is this night, when wickedness is put to flight, and sin is washed away. It restores innocence to the
fallen, and joy to those who mourn. It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord.
How blessed is this night, when earth and heaven are joined and man is reconciled to God.
Holy Father, accept our evening sacrifice, the offering of this candle in your honor. May it shine continually to
drive away all darkness. 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 for ever and ever. Amen.
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Then God himself stepped down -- and the sun was on his right hand, and the moon was on his left; the stars
were clustered about his head, and the earth was under his feet. And God walked, and where he trod his
footsteps hollowed the valleys out and bulged the mountains up.
Then he stopped and looked and saw that the earth was hot and barren. So God stepped over to the edge of the
world and he spat out the seven seas -- he batted his eyes, and the lightnings flashed -- he clapped his hands, and
the thunders rolled -- and the waters above the earth came down, the cooling waters came down.
Then the green grass sprouted, and the little red flowers blossomed,
The pine tree pointed his finger to the sky, and the oak spread out his arms, the lakes cuddled down in the
hollows of the ground, and the rivers ran down to the sea; and God smiled again, and the rainbow appeared, and
curled itself around his shoulder.
Then God raised his arm and he waved his hand over the sea and over the land, and he said: “Bring forth! Bring
forth!” And quicker than God could drop his hand, fishes and fowls and beasts and birds swam the rivers and
the seas, roamed the forests and the woods, and split the air with their wings. And God said: “That's good!”
Then God walked around, and God looked around on all that he had made. He looked at his sun, and he looked
at his moon, and he looked at his little stars; he looked on his world with all its living things, And God said:
“I'm lonely still.”
Then God sat down -- on the side of a hill where he could think;
By a deep, wide river he sat down; with his head in his hands, God thought and thought, till he thought: “I'll
make me a man!”
Up from the bed of the river God scooped the clay; and by the bank of the river he kneeled him down; and there
the great God Almighty Who lit the sun and fixed it in the sky, Who flung the stars to the most far corner of the
night, Who rounded the earth in the middle of his hand; this Great God (like a Mama bending over her
baby), toiling over a lump of clay till he shaped it in his own image;
Then into it he blew the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
Amen. Amen.
SONG: “The Lord is My Light” (J. Berthier, may be sung as a round) All sing.
VERSES: The People respond with “God’s gonna trouble the water.”
(1) (Leader) See that host all dressed in white, (People) God’s gonna trouble the water.
(Leader) The leader looks like the Israelite, (People) God’s gonna trouble the water.
REFRAIN.
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(2) (Leader) See that band all dressed in red, (People) God’s gonna trouble the water.
(Leader) Looks like the band that Moses led, (People) God’s gonna trouble the water.
REFRAIN.
(3) (Leader) If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed, (People) God’s gonna trouble the water.
(Leader) Just follow me down to Jordan’s stream, (People) God’s gonna trouble the water.
REFRAIN.
Silence is kept.
The Celebrant and the People rise. The Easter proclamation is offered three times.
Celebrant Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 16:1-8
Please stand.
Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought
spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, when
the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll
away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"
When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side;
and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of
Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid
him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see
him, just as he told you."
So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said
nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Gospeller The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Celebrant addresses the people with these words. All stand.
Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with
him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn
practices and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to
serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.
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Celebrant Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the
Lord?
People I will, with God's help.
Celebrant Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God's help.
Celebrant Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God's help.
Celebrant Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human
being?
People I will, with God's help.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Adapted from Intercessions for the Christian People, Gail Ramshaw.
Priest On this holy night of resurrection and joy, let us pray for the church and world, saying:
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Intercessor O God, we give thanks for the goodness of creation, for the victory of resurrection, and for the
grace of redemption. We praise you for leading us from darkness into light, and for bringing us
through the waters of death into new life in you. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Intercessor That the church throughout our world, all celebrating your resurrection with joy, may bring the
light of Christ into the world. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Intercessor For the newly baptized throughout the church, buried and raised with Christ, and all who have
renewed their baptismal vows, may grow in trust and hope. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Intercessor That our community, renewed this night through word and sacrament, may care for one another
in love that surpasses understanding. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
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Intercessor That the people of the world, remembering the source of creation, may care for the waters of the
earth and for all living things, and recall that we are all connected to the One who created us all.
Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Intercessor That the leaders of nations, knowing their power, may bring peace and justice to the world. We
give thanks for Baltimore Cease Fire and Safe Streets Baltimore, and all those who work for
peace in our city. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Intercessor That all those who have commended themselves to us for any need, and for all who suffer,
recalling the mystery of Christ crucified and risen, may be comforted. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Intercessor That all who have departed from this life may rest in peace eternal and rise in the glory of
Christ’s everlasting light. Lord, in your mercy,
People Hear our prayer.
Celebrant In joy and faith and hope, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray to the mercy of
God, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
THE PEACE
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The people greet one another in the name of the risen Christ. After a brief period has passed, the People
process into the church ringing bells and using noisemakers to raise a loud shout to God, following the Paschal
Candle and the bell cross. The People are invited to stand at designated places around the altar.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
After the service you are invited to make your way outside into the courtyard for the voluntary and a time of
fellowship. Baskets for the Offering are located near the main parish building doors.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER D
The People remain standing.
Celebrant The Lord is with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
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Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created
them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance.
Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your
presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven,
we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we say,
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Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit, a living sacrifice in Christ, to
the praise of your Name.
Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the blood of your Christ. Reveal
its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace.
And grant that we may find our inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs, matriarchs, prophets,
apostles, and martyrs, and with all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in
union with them and give you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty God and Father, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. AMEN.
THE COMMUNION
The people receive the sacraments in one kind at four stations around the chancel rail. Please return to your
designated spot after you have received.
VOLUNTARY: Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord Virtual Choir Audio Mix
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Wade in the Water, Spiritual, © 2017, arranged by Robert Chrystal.
The Lord is My Light © by J. Berthier, Taize Community. Used by permission of One License #726426
Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks to the Risen Lord, Hymn #178, Used by permission of One License #726426
Raise a Hallelujah, We Sing Hallelujah, Used by permission - CCLI License # 2632494.