Tonight's Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil, held tonight at 7:30, is one of my favorite services of the church year. At my home church, we gather outside for the lighting the New Fire, bless a new Paschal Candle, and slowly proceed--led by cantors singing "Light of Christ" with candles in our hands--into the still darkened sanctuary . As we go through the doors into the sanctuary, we are greeted with the smell of lilies. We pause at the back of the sanctuary to hear readings from the Old Testament and join the cantors in singing of more psalms. As we listen, we know that all is ready: the bread and wine, soon to be for us the Body and Blood of Christ, wait our arrival. Again in procession we move further into the sanctuary to offer prayers for those who will be baptized throughout Christendom, hear the story of the Resurrection, and begin the ancient Eucharistic Liturgy. As the most intensely beautiful liturgy in the Church's year, having prepared ourselves during Lent for this Day's celebration, we are eager to this year's first announcement that "Christ is risen!"

During the liturgy June and I will be in prayer for all of you who are trusting in the faithfulness of the Father who loves us in Christ. We will ask the Holy Spirit to bless you. And, if you have asked us to pray for you, we will offer our intercessions for you by name. We will especially remember those of you who have been praying with us, mornings and evenings, throughout the year.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.!