April 4, 2021, The Great Vigil of Easter

E ASTER D AY AT THE M ONASTERY T HE G REAT V IGIL OF E ASTER Kindling the New Fire Liturgy of Lessons Renewal of Baptismal Vows Holy Eucharist April 4, 2021 at 4:30AM

THE SOCIETY OF SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST 980 Memorial Drive  Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138  617.876.3037  www.SSJE.org

T HE G REAT V IGIL OF E ASTER The Shape of the Liturgy The Lighting of the Paschal Candle The Exsultet The Liturgy of the Word The story of Creation The Flood Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea The gifts of Wisdom Salvation offered freely to all A new heart and a new spirit The valley of dry bones The gathering of God’s people The Renewal of Baptismal Vows The Holy Eucharist The Easter Acclamation The Word of God The Prayers of the People and Exchange of Peace The Holy Communion The Great Thanksgiving The Breaking of the Bread Blessing and Dismissal

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The Lighting of the Paschal Candle In the darkness, a new fire is struck by the Presider who then says a prayer of blessing over the newly kindled flame.

On the Paschal Candle, the Presider traces the Cross, the Greek letters Α and Ω, and 2021. As he does this, he says, Christ yesterday and today.

The beginning and the end: alpha and omega.

All time belongs to him and all the ages.

To him be glory and power through every age forever. Amen.

Five wax nails embedded with incense are inserted into the Candle, marking the Cross. Then the Presider lights the Paschal Candle from the new fire.

Bearing the Candle, the Deacon leads the People in procession into the church, pausing three times to sing:

Each person’s candle is lit from the same fire of the Paschal Candle as it is placed in its stand.

The Exsultet The Cantor then begins singing the Easter proclamation: Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King…

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The Liturgy of the Word The Story of Creation

Genesis 1:1 – 2:2

Psalm 136:1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 23-26

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, * for his mercy endures for ever.

Give thanks to the God of gods, * for his mercy endures for ever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, * for his mercy endures for ever.

Refrain

Who only does great wonders, * for his mercy endures for ever; Who by wisdom made the heavens, * for his mercy endures for ever; Who spread out the earth upon the waters, * for his mercy endures for ever; Refrain Who created great lights, * for his mercy endures for ever; The sun to rule the day, * for his mercy endures for ever; The moon and the stars to govern the night, * for his mercy endures for ever.

Refrain Who remembered us in our low estate, * for his mercy endures for ever; And delivered us from our enemies, * for his mercy endures for ever; Who gives food to all creatures, * for his mercy endures for ever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven, * for his mercy endures for ever.

Collect

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Refrain

The Flood

Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18 9:8-13

Collect 5

Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac

Collect

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Genesis 22:1-18

Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea

Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21

The Song of Moses, Canticle 8:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-9, 10-13 Refrain

I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; * the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my refuge; * the Lord has become my Savior.

Refrain This is my God and I will praise him, * the God of my people and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a mighty warrior; * Yahweh is his Name.

Refrain The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; * the finest of those who bear armor have been drowned in the Red Sea. The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; * they sank into the depths like a stone.

Refrain Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; * your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.

Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? * who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?

You stretched forth your right hand; * the earth swallowed them up.

Refrain With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; * with your might you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.

You will bring them in and plant them * on the mount of your possession, The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, * the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.

The Lord shall reign * for ever and for ever.

Refrain

Collect

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Salvation Offered Freely to All

1. Surely, it is | God who | saves me; I will trust in | him . and not | be a-|fraid.

2. For the Lord is my stronghold and my | sure de-| fense, and | he will | be my | Savior. †3. Therefore you shall draw water | with re- |joicing from the springs | of sal-| vä- | tion.

Antiphon 4. And on that day | you shall | say, Give thanks to the Lord and | call up-| on his | Name; 5. Make his deeds known a-| mong the | peoples; see that they remember that his | Näme | is ex-| alted.

Antiphon 6. Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has | done great | things, and this is | known in | all the | world.

7. Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, | ring out . your | joy, for the great one in the midst of you is the | Ho - ly | One of | Israel.

Antiphon

Collect

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Isaiah 55:1-11

The Gifts of Wisdom

Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6

Psalm 19:7-8, 9-10, 11&14

The law of the LORD is perfect and revives the soul; * the testimony of the LORD is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

The statutes of the LORD are just and rejoice the heart; * the commandment of the LORD is clear and gives light to the eyes.

Refrain

The fear of the LORD is clean and endures for ever; * the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, * sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

Refrain

By them also is your servant enlightened, * and in keeping them there is great reward.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, * O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.

Refrain

Collect

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A New Heart and a New Spirit

Collect

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Ezekiel 36:24-28

The Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 143:1-2, 4-5, 6-7, 8&10

LORD, hear my prayer, and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; * answer me in your righteousness.

Enter not into judgment with your servant, * for in your sight shall no one living be justified.

Refrain

My spirit faints within me; * my heart within me is desolate.

I remember the time past; I muse upon all your deeds; * I consider the works of your hands.

Refrain

I spread out my hands to you; * my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.

O LORD, make haste to answer me; my spirit fails me; * do not hide your face from me or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.

Refrain

Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, for I put my trust in you; * show me the road that I must walk, for I lift up my soul to you.

Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; * let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Refrain

Collect

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The Gathering of God’s People

Collect

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Zephaniah 3:12-20

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows The Litany of the Saints Presider

In the Communion of Saints, let us pray for all who are to receive the Sacrament of New Birth this day, and for ourselves as we renew our own commitment to Christ.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Holy Michael, All the holy Angels of God, Holy John the Baptist, Holy Joseph, Holy Peter and Paul, Holy John, Holy Mary Magdalen, Holy Stephen, Holy Ignatius of Antioch, Holy Polycarp, Holy Lawrence, Holy Perpetua and Felicity, Holy Agnes,

pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us.

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Holy Gregory, pray for us.

Holy Augustine, pray for us.

Holy Antony, pray for us.

Holy Athanasius, pray for us.

Holy Basil, pray for us.

Holy Martin, pray for us.

Holy Benedict, pray for us.

Holy Francis and Dominic, pray for us.

Holy Catherine of Siena, pray for us.

Holy Teresa of Avila, pray for us.

Holy John of the Cross pray for us.

Holy Ignatius Loyola, pray for us.

Holy Bernard Mizeki, pray for us.

Holy Richard Meux Benson, pray for us.

All holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.

Lord be merciful, From every evil, From every deadly sin, From everlasting death, By your incarnation, By your death and resurrection, By your outpouring of the Holy Spirit,

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Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord,

deliver us. deliver us. deliver us. deliver us. deliver us. deliver us. deliver us.

Cantor

Hear our prayers for those persons who are to receive the sacrament of new birth:

Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.

Open their hearts to your grace and truth.

Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.

Keep them in the faith and communion of your Holy Church.

Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.

Send them into the world in witness to your love.

Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord, hear our prayer.

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Presider

People

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever.

Amen.

Thanksgiving over the Water Presider People Presider People Presider

People Presider

People Presider People

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The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

We thank you, Father, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death.

By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into this fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior.

To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.

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 promises 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.

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

I do.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Presider People

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He 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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Presider People

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

Presider People

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

I will, with God’s help.

Presider People

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

I will, with God’s help.

Presider People

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

I will, with God’s help.

Presider People

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as I will, with God’s help.

Presider People

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God’s help.

Presider

Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation?

People

I will, with God’s help.

Presider

May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord.

People

Amen.

yourself?

The People are sprinkled with blessed water as a memorial of each person’s baptism.

Anthem

I saw water

Vidi aquam 17

The Holy Eucharist Presider People

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Canticle

God’s Paschal Lamb Pascha nostrum

Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b 1944) c. 1987 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream,IL, 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) c. Oxford University Press

Collect of the Day

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The Word of God The Lessons The Epistle

Romans 6:1–13

Dying and Rising with Christ What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.

5 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. 6 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. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13 No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.

The Great Easter Alleluia The Alleluia is sung three times at successively higher pitches first by the Schola and followed by the People.

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The Gradual (sung by the Schola)

Psalm 114

When Israel came out of Egypt, alleluia, the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, alleluia.

Judah became God’s sanctuary, alleluia, and Israel his dominion, alleluia.

The sea beheld it and fled, alleluia, Jordan turned and went back, alleluia.

The mountains skipped like rams, alleluia, and the little hills like young sheep, alleluia.

What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? alleluia, O Jordan, that you turned back? alleluia.

You mountains, that you skipped like rams? alleluia, you little hills like young sheep? alleluia.

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, alleluia, at the presence of the God of Jacob, alleluia.

Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water, alleluia, and flint-stone into a flowing spring, alleluia.

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The Holy Gospel

Mark 16:1–8

The Resurrection of Jesus When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 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. 7 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.” 8 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.

The Sermon The Peace The Collection of Gifts and Offerings Your financial gifts support the Brothers’ life and our ministry to many, here at our Monastery in Cambridge, and for others whom we reach electronically and in our travels on mission.

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Offertory Hymn

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Hymnal 207

The Holy Communion The Great Thanksgiving

Sanctus

Hymnal S 130

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Lord’s Prayer

Hymnal S 148

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Fraction Anthem

Presider People

Hymnal S 167

Behold what you are.

May we become what we receive.*

* These words come from St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in a sermon on the Holy Eucharist in which he reflected on “one of the deep truths of Christian faith: through our participation in the sacraments (particularly baptism and Eucharist), we are transformed into the Body of Christ, given for the world.”

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Post Communion Hymn

Hymnal 205

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Post Communion Prayer Presider God of abundance, People you have fed us with the bread of life and cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one another; and you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth.

Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

Easter Blessing & Dismissal

 Br. James Koester, Presider & Preacher Br. Luke Ditewig, Deacon Br. Lucas Hall, Subdeacon Br. Jim Woodrum, Litanist Br. Jack Crowley, Thurifer 

The GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER, the most ancient liturgy of the church, is comprised of four parts: the Service of Light, in which we invite you to celebrate the new fire kindled from which to light the Paschal (Easter) Candle; the Service of Lessons, in which God’s saving deeds in history are retold; the Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant, in which believers reaffirm their commitment to the Christian way; and THE HOLY EUCHARIST, which breaks the Lenten fast with the proclamation of the Easter Alleluia. The vesture of the sacred ministers is white, symbolizing the light of Christ. We will ring handbells!

The Monastery as Sanctuary

We want our Monastery to be a sanctuary for our guests and for the Brothers. Please silence your electronic devices. We also ask you not to photograph, video, or record services in the Chapel, or to photograph other guests or Brothers without their express permission. *