Resources for Saturday 11 April, Easter Eve – The Service of Light - The United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough (Church of Ireland)

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11.04.2020

Resources for Saturday 11 April, Easter Eve – The Service of Light

During Holy Week daily services will appear on this website. Today’s service is best held in the late evening, commencing in candlelight and later turning on lights as set out in the service leaflet. Where there are two or more praying together, it is suggested that before commencing you decide on who will lead which parts of the service. Please note that words in bold indicate the responses at various parts of the service and words otherwise said together as a group. In today’s service, the parts to be allocated are: 1. A person to lead the Service of Light, the Renewal of Baptismal Vows and the Dismissal. 2. A person to lead the Vigil. 3. A person or various people to read the Scriptures. 4. A person to lead the Prayers. Where there are less than four people present, these roles will need to be combined. You can find below the full text:

EASTER LITURGY

The Service of Light

Candles are lit.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

on this most holy night,

when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life,

the Church invites her children throughout the world

to come together in vigil and prayer.

This is the Passover of the Lord.

We remember his death and resurrection

by hearing his word and celebrating his mysteries,

confident that we shall share his victory over death

and live with him for ever in God.

Let us pray.

Eternal God,

who made this most holy night

to shine with the brightness of your one true light:

set us aflame with the fire of your love,

and bring us to the radiance of your heavenly glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

May the light of Christ, rising in glory,

banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

All listen to the opening segment of

The Easter Proclamation (Exsultet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Ytyy2apLg&t=4s

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven,

exult, let angel ministers of God exult,

let the trumpet of salvation

sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph!

Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her

ablaze with light from her eternal King,

let all corners of the earth be glad,

knowing an end to gloom and darkness.

Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice

arrayed with the lightning of his glory

let this holy building shake with joy

filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.

The Lord be with you

and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is right and good that with hearts and minds and voices

we should praise you, Father almighty, the unseen God,

through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

who has saved us by his death,

paid the price of Adam’s sin,

and reconciled us once again to you.

Glory to you for ever.

For this is the Passover feast,

when Christ, the true Lamb of God, is slain

whose blood consecrates the homes of all the faithful.

Glory to you for ever.

This is the night when you first saved our ancestors,

freeing Israel from her slavery

and leading her safely through the sea.

Glory to you for ever.

This is the night when Jesus Christ vanquished hell,

broke the chains of death

and rose triumphant from the grave.

Glory to you for ever.

This is the night when all who believe in him are freed from sin,

restored to grace and holiness,

and share the victory of Christ.

Glory to you for ever.

This is the night that gave us back what we had lost;

beyond our deepest dreams

you made even our sin a happy fault.

Glory to you for ever.

Most blessed of all nights!

Evil and hatred are put to flight and sin is washed away,

lost innocence regained, and mourning turned to joy.

Glory to you for ever.

Night truly blessed, when hatred is cast out,

peace and justice find a home, and heaven is joined to earth

and all creation reconciled to you.

Glory to you for ever.

Therefore, heavenly Father, in this our Easter joy

accept our sacrifice of praise, your Church’s solemn offering.

Grant that this Easter Candle may make our darkness light.

For Christ the morning star has risen in glory;

Christ is risen from the dead and his flame of love still burns within us!

Christ sheds his peaceful light on all the world!

Christ lives and reigns for ever and ever! Amen.

The Vigil

Introduction to Vigil readings

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

let us now listen attentively to the word of God,

recalling how he saved his people throughout history,

and in the fullness of time,

sent his own Son to be our Redeemer.

The First Reading:

Crossing the Red Sea

Exodus 14: 10–31; 15: 20–21

As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, “Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’ But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.’

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.’

The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, ‘Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.’ So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.’

Hymn: CH537 “O God, our help in ages past”

Listen to and sing along with this hymn at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVy77bGE9Ho

Our God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come,

our shelter from the stormy blast,

and our eternal home.

Beneath the shadow of thy throne

thy saints have dwelt secure;

sufficient is thine arm alone,

and our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,

or earth received her frame,

from everlasting thou art God,

to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight

are like an evening gone;

short as the watch that ends the night

before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever–rolling stream,

soon bears us all away;

we fly forgotten, as a dream

dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come:

be thou our guard while troubles last,

and our eternal home.

Response: The Lord is my strength and my might.

He has become my salvation.

Collect: Lord God our redeemer,

who heard the cry of your people and sent your servant Moses to lead them out of slavery:

free us from the tyranny of sin and death and, by the leading of your Spirit,

bring us to our promised land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis

The members of the congregation turn on their lights and all say together:

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Second Reading:

Dying and Rising with Christ

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.

Psalm 114

1 When Israel came out of Egypt, ♦

the house of Jacob from a people of a strange tongue,

2 Judah became his sanctuary, ♦

Israel his dominion.

3 The sea saw that, and fled; ♦

Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams, ♦

the little hills like young sheep.

5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? ♦

O Jordan, that you were driven back?

6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams, ♦

you little hills like young sheep?

7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, ♦

at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8 Who turns the hard rock into a pool of water, ♦

the flint–stone into a springing well.

Hymn: CH657 “O God of Bethel, by whose hand”

Listen to and sing along with this hymn at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_036HxIYRw

O God of Bethel, by whose hand

thy children still are fed;

who through this earthly pilgrimage

hast all thy people led;

our vows, our prayers, we now present

before thy throne of grace;

God of our fathers, be the God

of their succeeding race.

Through each perplexing path of life

our wandering footsteps guide;

give us each day our daily bread,

and raiment fit provide.

O spread thy covering wings around

till all our wanderings cease,

and at our Father’s loved abode

our souls arrive in peace.

Let us pray that we may reign with the risen Christ in glory.

A period of silent prayer is kept.

Lord of all life and power,

who through the mighty resurrection of your Son

overcame the old order of sin and death

to make all things new in him:

grant that we, being dead to sin

and alive to you in Jesus Christ,

may reign with him in glory;

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

be praise and honour, glory and might,

now and in all eternity. Amen.

The Third Lesson

The Resurrection of Jesus

Matthew 28: 1–10

Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ according to St Matthew, Chapter 28, beginning at verse 1

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

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.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn: CH288 “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son”

Listen to and sing along with this hymn at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXzmjNE-yLA

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won; angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away kept the folded grave–clothes, where Thy body lay:

Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son, endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life; life is nought without Thee: aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors, through Thy deathless love: bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above.

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS

Remember your baptism and be faithful.

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

As we celebrate again the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ we remember that through these saving acts we have died and been buried with him in baptism, so that we might rise again with him to a new life within the family of his Church.

We now meet to renew the promises made at our baptism, to affirm our allegiance to Christ and our rejection of all that is evil.

Do you renew and affirm the promises made when you were baptized?

I do.

Do you turn in faith to Christ?

I do.

Do you then renounce all evil?

I do, by God’s help.

Will you obey and serve Christ?

I will, by God’s help.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth?

I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed the world?

I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God?

I believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church.

This is our faith.

We believe and trust in one God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The minister continues

Those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God.

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?