Easter Liturgy

THE EASTER LITURGY

THE VIGIL

1

The president may introduce the Vigil using these or other appropriate words.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this most holy
night, in which our LordJesus Christ 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 through word and
sacrament we share in his victory over death.

As we await the risen Christ, let us hear the
record of God's saving deeds in history, recalling
how he saved his people in ages past and in the
fullness of time sent his Son to be our Redeemer;
and let us pray that through this Easter
celebration God may bring to perfection in each
of us the saving work he has begun.

2

Any of the readings suggested at section 48 (with or without the accompanying psalms and prayers) or other suitable passages of Scripture may be used.

THE SERVICE OF LIGHT

3

The building being in darkness, the ministers go in silence, one of them carrying the unlit Easter candle.

4

All stand and face the ministers. The president lights a taper.

5

One or more of these prayers may be used.

6

Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your onetrue 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.

7

Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him,
and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever. Amen.

8

By his holy and glorious wounds
may Christ our Lord guard and keep us.
Amen.

9

The president lights the Easter candle with the taper saying

May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

10

The minister bearing the candle enters the building, followed by the other ministers, and they pause just inside the entrance.

11

THE GOSPEL is read either here or at section 23.

12

The minister bearing the candle raises it and says or sings

The light of Christ.

All

Thanks be to God.

13

The procession moves further into the building and then stops. The versicle and response are repeated, and the candles of those around are lit from the Easter candle.

14

The procession continues to the centre of the building and stops once more. The versicle and response are again repeated, and the candles of those around are lit.

15

The Easter candle is placed on a stand in the midst of the building, and all other candles in the church are now lit.

16

The minister may say

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

17

EXSULTET (the Easter Song of Praise) may be said or sung by a minister standing near the candle. For an alternative version see p. 287.

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!

Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice O earth in shining splendour,
radiant in the brightness of your King!

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church, Exult in glory!

The risen Saviour shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

Minister

The Lord be with you.

All

And also with you.

Minister

Lift up your hearts.

All

We lift them to the Lord.

Minister

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Minister

It is indeed right
that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise you, the unseen God, the Father Almighty,
and your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who has ransomed us by his death,
and paid for us the price of Adam's sin.

For this is the Passover of that true Lamb of God,
by whose blood the homes of all the faithful
are hallowed and protected.

This is the night when of old you saved our fathers,
delivering the people of Israel from their slavery,
and leading them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night when Jesus Christ vanquished hell
and rose triumphant from the grave.

This is the night when all who believe in him are freed from sin
and restored to grace and holiness.

Most blessed of all nights,
when wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away,
lost innocence regained, and mourning turned to joy.

Night truly blessed, when heaven is wedded to earth
and all creation reconciled to God!

Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night,
accept our sacrifice of praise,
your Church's solemn offering;

and grant that this Easter candle make make our darkness light;
for Christ the morning star has risen, never again to set,
and is alive and reigns for ever and ever.

All

Amen.

18

If the Vigil has not already been kept, any of the Old Testament readings suggested in section 48 (with or without the accompanying psalms and prayers) may be used.

19

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS is used or an appropriate HYMN.

20

The president says THE COLLECT.

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.

21

Sit
NEW TESTAMENT READING (EPISTLE)

Romans 6.3-11 (see p.270)

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All

Thanks be to God.

22

Sit
Psalm 118.1,16,17,22,23

This response may be used.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

1

O give thanks to the Lord for | he is | good:

his | mercy · endures for | ever.

16

The right hand of the Lord does | mighty | things:

the right hand of the | Lord | raises | up.

17

I shall not | die but | live:

and pro|claim the | works · of the | Lord. R.

22

The stone that the | builders · re|jected:

has be|come the | head · of the | corner

23

This is the | Lord's | doing:

23

THE GOSPEL (if it has not already been read at section 11)

Matthew 28.1-10 or Mark 16.1-8 or Luke 24.1-12 (see pp.271-273)

When it is announced

All

Glory to Christ our Saviour.

At the end the reader says

This is the Gospel of Christ.

All

Praise to Christ our Lord.

24

THE SERMON

THE LITURGY OF INITIATION

25

BAPTISM and/or CONFIRMATION may follow (ASB pp.229--234)

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS

26

This form or that on p.288 may be used.

Stand

President

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died and been buried with him in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life within the family of his Church. Now that we have completed our observance of Lent, we renew the promises made at our baptism, affirming our allegiance to Christ, and our rejection of all that is evil.

Therefore I ask these questions:

Do you turn to Christ?

All

I turn to Christ.

President

Do you repent of your sins?

All

I repent of my sins.

President

Do you renounce evil?

All

I renounce evil.

President

And now I ask you to make the profession of Christian faith into which you were baptized, and in which you live and grow.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
who made the world?

All

I believe and trust in him.

President

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

All

I believe and trust in him.

President

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

All

I believe and trust in him.

President

This is the faith of the Church.

All

This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

President

Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all those who have been baptized in your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

27

Intercesssions or other suitable prayers may be added.

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

THE PEACE

28

The president says

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, Peace be with you!
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.

He then says

Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ be always with you

All

and also with you. Alleluia!

29

The president may say

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

and all may exchange a sign of peace, greeting one another with these words. The Lord is risen. Answer He is risen indeed.

THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

30

The bread and wine are placed on the holy table.

31

The president may praise God for his gifts in appropriate words to which all may respond

Blessed be God for ever.

32

The offerings of the people may be presented. These words may be used.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you,
and of your own do we give you.

33

At the preparation of the gifts A HYMN may be sung.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND CUP AND
THE GIVING OF THANKS

34

The president takes the bread and cup into his hands and replaces them on the holy table.

35

The president uses one of the four EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS (pp.101--113) with this PROPER PREFACE.

And now we give you thanks because you raised him gloriously from the dead. For he is the true Pascal Lamb who was offered for us and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising again he has restored to us eternal life.

THE COMMUNION

THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND
THE GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP

36

THE LORD'S PRAYER is said either as follows or in its traditional form.

President

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.

All

Our Father...

37

The president breaks the consecrated bread, saying

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

All

Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

38

Either here or during the distribution one of the following anthems may be said.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.

or

Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world: give us your peace.

39

Before the distribution the president says

Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he said for you.

Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

All

Alleluia! Let us keep the feast.

40

The president and people receive the Communion. Any authorized words of distribution may be used (see p.7).

During the distribution HYMNS and ANTHEMS may be sung. The Alternative Service Book provision is followed for consecration of additional bread and wine and for disposing of what remains.

AFTER COMMUNION

41

The president may say

Jesus said, He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.54

42

Silence may be kept and A HYMN may be sung.

43

Either or both of the following prayers is said.

44

President

Heavenly Father,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness,
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant that, as his death has recalled us to life,
so his continual presence in us
may raise us to eternal joy. Amen.

45

All

Almighty God,
We thank you for feeding us
with the Body and Blood of your son, Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

46

President

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All

He is risen indeed. Aleluia!

President

God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

President

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!

All

In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

or

President

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

All

Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

47

The ministers and people depart.

48

READINGS, PSALMS and PRAYERS FOR THE VIGIL

	THE EASTER LITURGY
	THE VIGIL
1	The president may introduce the Vigil using these or other appropriate words.
		Brothers and sisters in Christ, on this most holy night, in which our LordJesus Christ 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 through word and sacrament we share in his victory over death. As we await the risen Christ, let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, recalling how he saved his people in ages past and in the fullness of time sent his Son to be our Redeemer; and let us pray that through this Easter celebration God may bring to perfection in each of us the saving work he has begun.
2	Any of the readings suggested at section 48 (with or without the accompanying psalms and prayers) or other suitable passages of Scripture may be used.
	THE SERVICE OF LIGHT
3	The building being in darkness, the ministers go in silence, one of them carrying the unlit Easter candle.
4	All stand and face the ministers. The president lights a taper.
5	One or more of these prayers may be used.
6		Eternal God, who made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of your onetrue 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.
7		Christ yesterday and today, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, all time belongs to him, and all ages; to him be glory and power, through every age and for ever. Amen.
8		By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard and keep us. Amen.
9	The president lights the Easter candle with the taper saying
		May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.
10	The minister bearing the candle enters the building, followed by the other ministers, and they pause just inside the entrance.
11	THE GOSPEL is read either here or at section 23.
12	The minister bearing the candle raises it and says or sings
		The light of Christ.
	All	Thanks be to God.
13	The procession moves further into the building and then stops. The versicle and response are repeated, and the candles of those around are lit from the Easter candle.
14	The procession continues to the centre of the building and stops once more. The versicle and response are again repeated, and the candles of those around are lit.
15	The Easter candle is placed on a stand in the midst of the building, and all other candles in the church are now lit.
16	The minister may say
		Alleluia! Christ is risen.
	All	He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
17	EXSULTET (the Easter Song of Praise) may be said or sung by a minister standing near the candle. For an alternative version see p. 287.
		Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God's throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation! Rejoice O earth in shining splendour, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes for ever! Rejoice, O Mother Church, Exult in glory! The risen Saviour shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God's people!
	Minister	The Lord be with you.
	All	And also with you.
	Minister	Lift up your hearts.
	All	We lift them to the Lord.
	Minister	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
	All	It is right to give him thanks and praise.
	Minister	It is indeed right that with full hearts and minds and voices we should praise you, the unseen God, the Father Almighty, and your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who has ransomed us by his death, and paid for us the price of Adam's sin. For this is the Passover of that true Lamb of God, by whose blood the homes of all the faithful are hallowed and protected. This is the night when of old you saved our fathers, delivering the people of Israel from their slavery, and leading them dry-shod through the sea. This is the night when Jesus Christ vanquished hell and rose triumphant from the grave. This is the night when all who believe in him are freed from sin and restored to grace and holiness. Most blessed of all nights, when wickedness is put to flight and sin is washed away, lost innocence regained, and mourning turned to joy. Night truly blessed, when heaven is wedded to earth and all creation reconciled to God! Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, accept our sacrifice of praise, your Church's solemn offering; and grant that this Easter candle make make our darkness light; for Christ the morning star has risen, never again to set, and is alive and reigns for ever and ever.
	All	Amen.
18	If the Vigil has not already been kept, any of the Old Testament readings suggested in section 48 (with or without the accompanying psalms and prayers) may be used.
19	GLORIA IN EXCELSIS is used or an appropriate HYMN.
20	The president says THE COLLECT.
		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 LITURGY OF INITIATION
25	BAPTISM and/or CONFIRMATION may follow (ASB pp.229--234)
	THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
26	This form or that on p.288 may be used. Stand
	President	As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died and been buried with him in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life within the family of his Church. Now that we have completed our observance of Lent, we renew the promises made at our baptism, affirming our allegiance to Christ, and our rejection of all that is evil. Therefore I ask these questions: Do you turn to Christ?
	All	I turn to Christ.
	President	Do you repent of your sins?
	All	I repent of my sins.
	President	Do you renounce evil?
	All	I renounce evil.
	President	And now I ask you to make the profession of Christian faith into which you were baptized, and in which you live and grow. Do you believe and trust in God the Father, who made the world?
	All	I believe and trust in him.
	President	Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed mankind?
	All	I believe and trust in him.
	President	Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God?
	All	I believe and trust in him.
	President	This is the faith of the Church.
	All	This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
	President	Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all those who have been baptized in your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
27	Intercesssions or other suitable prayers may be added.

	THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
	THE PEACE
28	The president says
		The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, Peace be with you! Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
	He then says
		Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ be always with you
	All	and also with you. Alleluia!
29	The president may say
		Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
	and all may exchange a sign of peace, greeting one another with these words. The Lord is risen. Answer He is risen indeed.
	THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
30	The bread and wine are placed on the holy table.
31	The president may praise God for his gifts in appropriate words to which all may respond
		Blessed be God for ever.
32	The offerings of the people may be presented. These words may be used.
		Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.
33	At the preparation of the gifts A HYMN may be sung.
	THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
	THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND CUP AND THE GIVING OF THANKS
34	The president takes the bread and cup into his hands and replaces them on the holy table.
35	The president uses one of the four EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS (pp.101--113) with this PROPER PREFACE.
		And now we give you thanks because you raised him gloriously from the dead. For he is the true Pascal Lamb who was offered for us and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising again he has restored to us eternal life.
	THE COMMUNION THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND THE GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP
36	THE LORD'S PRAYER is said either as follows or in its traditional form.
	President	As our Saviour taught us, so we pray.
	All	Our Father...
37	The president breaks the consecrated bread, saying
		We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
	All	Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
38	Either here or during the distribution one of the following anthems may be said.
		Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
	or	Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world: give us your peace.
39	Before the distribution the president says
		Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he said for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
	All	Alleluia! Let us keep the feast.
40	The president and people receive the Communion. Any authorized words of distribution may be used (see p.7). During the distribution HYMNS and ANTHEMS may be sung. The Alternative Service Book provision is followed for consecration of additional bread and wine and for disposing of what remains.
	AFTER COMMUNION
41	The president may say
		Jesus said, He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6.54
42	Silence may be kept and A HYMN may be sung.
43	Either or both of the following prayers is said.
44	President	Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the power of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy. Amen.
45	All	Almighty God, We thank you for feeding us with the Body and Blood of your son, Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.
	BLESSING AND DISMISSAL
46	President	Alleluia! Christ is risen.
	All	He is risen indeed. Aleluia!
	President	God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
	President	Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!
	All	In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
	or
	President	Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
	All	Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
47	The ministers and people depart.
48	READINGS, PSALMS and PRAYERS FOR THE VIGIL

THE EASTER LITURGY

THE VIGIL

THE SERVICE OF LIGHT

THE LITURGY OF INITIATION

THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

THE PEACE

THE PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND CUP AND THE GIVING OF THANKS

THE COMMUNION

THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND THE GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP

AFTER COMMUNION

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

READINGS, PSALMS and PRAYERS FOR THE VIGIL

THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND CUP AND
THE GIVING OF THANKS

THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND
THE GIVING OF THE BREAD AND CUP