Easter 2020

The Easter Vigil and Holy Eucharist

12 April 2020

The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler, Celebrant

The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Preacher

In Social Distance For The Common Good! With the Assistance of the Cathedral Parish Clergy

The Easter Vigil

Welcome to the scattered Cathedral Parish of St. Philip on this joyous Easter morning! We participate in this service from our own safe spaces today, in Social Distance For The Common Good. Thank you for joining us!

The Easter Vigil begins where we ended on Good Friday, in the dark. Easter begins in the darkness. As this service celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we hope you will see the light of Christ shining into the darkness and spreading throughout the world. We, all of us together, share light, glory, love, and resurrection in this service, as the spirit of God brings us together in the Body of Christ. Thank you for celebrating with us and for being part of this spiritual communion!

LIGHTING OF THE NEW FIRE

The Easter Vigil liturgy begins with the lighting of the New Fire. We typically light a huge bonfire at the edge of Peachtree Road! Instead, today, we ask you to light candles wherever you are. Each of our candles, though small, is really part of the huge bonfire of Christ, starting small and spreading into the whole world! The Paschal Candle is carried into the church, as the Light of Christ. But that Light of Christ is also us, the Body of Christ, illuminating the world on this Easter morning. Please participate in the procession, and the spread of light, from home: light a candle!

The Dean addresses the People

Dear friends in Christ: On this most holy night, in which our Lord Jesus passed over from death to life, the Church invites her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer. For this is the Passover of the Lord, in which, by hearing his Word and celebrating his Sacraments, we share in his victory over death.

Let us pray.

O God, through your Son you have bestowed upon your people the brightness of your light: Sanctify this new fire, and grant that in this Paschal feast we may so burn with heavenly desires, that with pure minds we may attain to the festival of everlasting light; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. May the Light of Christ gloriously dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

The Dean sings

The Exsultet

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, . . . .

Dean: 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.

The Vigil Readings

The Dean: Let us hear the record of God’s saving deeds in history, how he saved his people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption.

The Creation: Genesis 1:1—2:4a

Hymn 8

music: Bunessan, Gaelic melody; harm. Alec Wyton (1921-2007) words: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), alt.

A Collect: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea: Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21

Hymn 648

music & words : African-American Spiritual, Go down, Moses” arr. Horace Boyer (1935-2009)

A Collect: O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, you once delivered by the power of your mighty arm your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Valley of Dry Bones: Ezekiel 37:1-14

A Collect: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS

Dean: 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.

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

All: I do.

Dean: Do you believe in God the Father?

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

Dean: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

All: 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.

Dean: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

All: 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.

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

All: I will, with God’s help.

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

All: I will, with God’s help.

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

All: I will, with God’s help.

Dean: Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

All: I will, with God’s help.

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

All: I will, with God’s help.

The Dean concludes the Renewal of Vows as follows: 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. Amen.

The Dean introduces the dogwood asperges.

THE THANKSGIVING OVER THE WATER

The Dean blesses the water, first saying: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Dean: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Dean: 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 his 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.

At the following words, the Dean touches the water: 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.

While we sing “I want to walk as a child of the light,” and as a sign of our renewal, we bless one another with water and dogwood branches (the ancient southern symbol of resurrection), or any kind of branch, or simply our hands.

Hymn 490

music and words: Houston, Kathleen Thomerson (b. 1934)

THE HOLY EUCHARIST

Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

All: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

All: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

All: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Gloria in excelsis: S 278, William Mathias

The Collect for Easter Day

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray. O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Sequence: Hymn 207

Recorded on Easter Day 2019 music: Easter Hymn, from Lyra Davidica (1708); adap. The Compleat Psalmist (1749) alt.; descants by Craig Phillips (b. 1961) words: 14th-century Latin, transl. Lyra Davidica (1708) alt.; st. 4 Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

The Holy Gospel: John 20:1-18

The Deacon reads the Gospel, first saying: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon: Bishop Wright

The Prayers of the People

Intercessor: In joy and hope, let us pray to God, saying, “Risen Lord, hear our prayer.”

We pray for the church throughout the world, that our risen Savior may fill us with the joy and hope of resurrection, and that isolated Christians may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter. Risen Lord

All: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: We pray for the world and its leaders, that forces of darkness and violence may be overcome by peace and justice. We pray for Donald, our president; for the congress and the courts; for Brian, our governor; and for Keisha, our mayor. Risen Lord

All: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: We pray for those who lack food, work, or shelter, and for all who minister to their needs and serve the common good. Risen Lord

All: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: We pray for the sick, the weakened, and the dying; for all those suffering from the effects of COVID-19; and for those caring for them; that they may know the light of your presence. Risen Lord

All: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: We pray for all those on our parish prayer list, including those with new or immediate concerns: (please see the prayer list below)

Marie Corrigan, Harvey Decker, Patricia Madison, Bob McGill, and Sara Wilkerson

We offer our own prayers and intercessions. Risen Lord

All: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: We pray for those who have died, that they may rejoice in eternal life: Deirdre Holloway, Cecil Miner, Jean Stewart, and Tom Talley

We give you thanks for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and for the many blessings of this life. Risen Lord

All: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: O Lord our God, receive the prayers we offer this day, and grant that we who have received new life may live forever in the joy of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All: And also with you.

The Parish Notices

Those for whom prayers have been requested:

For Immediate Needs: Marie Corrigan, Harvey Decker, Patricia Madison, Bob McGill, Sara Wilkerson

Long Term Prayers: R. Huntley Allen, Patricia Anderson, Dr. T. Mayo & Pat Atkins, Warren Barnes, Edgar & Judith Beach, Perry Benton, Virginia Bicksler, Heather Clark, Sue Clary, Terry Dornbush, Sarah duBignon, Kitty Dukehart, Deborah Ellington, Randy Farmer, Rita Fink, Robert Fox, William Ham, Katie Hughey, Louise Kan, John Kelleher, Chris Kopecky, Lisa Krysiak, Rose Leon, Elaine Lyon, Carol McDonald, Glenn Miller, Ashley Minear, Royce Mitchell, Susan Myers, Charlie Neal, Marion Palmore, Joann Lewis Pobst, Garry Pryor, Rowland Radford, Tommy Ripley, Agnes Elizabeth Robertson, Peter Sanders, Louis “Skip” Schueddig, Bill Sutton, Jackie Stewart, Julie Thompson, Tommy Truesdale, Ryan Webb ,Lowell Palmer Weicker, Jr., Faye Van Winkle, Karen Young

For Family and Friends: Eileen Abeyesundere, Alford Family, Karyn Bacon, Bettina Bass, Suzette Brading, Tom Bingham, David Bond, Lynn Chandler, Ethan Childers, Andrew Clark, Robert Coatney, Robert Discavage, Maureen Fernandez, Carleton Fuller, Bruce Gillies, Holloway Family, Tom Ingegneri, Stephen Jones, Bernard A. Kan, Pete Livezey, Joyce Lyford, Pat Martin, Michelle Maxwell, John McCann, Bonnie Shields McCormack, Will McGuffin, David Mickle, Dawna Dunn Newton, Steven Norman, Sally Taylor Rogers, Frank Roth, James Sands, Lillian Sandoval, Patricia Schooley, Jim & Becky Settle, Steve & Colleen Settle, Milton Shiver, Tina Susco, Yvonne Tate, Pierson Thames, Jeffrey Thomas, Janiece Townshend, Roger Traylor, Ron M. Wallace, Katherine Welden, Whit A. Wright, Patricia Young, Hollis Youngner

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Offertory

The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A, BCP, p. 361

The Celebrant continues: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

The Sanctus: S 128, William Mathias

The Celebrant continues: Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

The Lord’s Prayer

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Communion

During this time of meditation, we receive the gifts of God, in whatever form God provides.

The Fraction Anthem: S 151, Tonus Peregrinus

Cantor, then all repeat the Alleluias.

Choir: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast.

All repeat the Alleluias.

The Postcommunion Prayer

Celebrant: Let us pray.

All: Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing

The Closing Hymn: 179

Recorded on Easter Day 2019 music: (Fortunatus, Arthur Seymour Sullivan (1842-1900); arr. Craig Phillips words: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus (c. 540-600) transl. John Ellerton (1826-1893)

The Dismissal

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ! Alleluia, alleluia!

All: Thanks be to God! Alleluia, alleluia!

Voluntary

“Toccata” from Symphonie V: Charles-Marie Widor

The gift of brass and timpani for the portions of this service that were recorded on Easter Day 2019 was given by Delbert Lowell Jacks to the glory of God in memory of Thomas Ruben Jones.

All music is reprinted by permission under www.OneLicense.net (license number A-717455). Music from The Hymnal 1982 © Church Publishing, Inc., except where noted below: Hymn S128 by permission of Oxford University Press. Hymn S151 © 1979 GIA Publications Inc. Hymn S278 by permission of Oxford University Press. Hymn 8 words by permission of David Higham Associates Ltd. London. Hymn 178 words © 1973 The Word of God; melody © 1973 The Word of God; arrangement © 1979 Celebration. Hymn 490 words & music © 1975 Celebration.