Paschal Candle in the darkened church
Here you can find resources for our liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are.
The readings for today and some prayers from our liturgy are on the downloadable pew sheet.
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Thank you for joining us for the Easter Vigil
as we continue our journey through the Easter Triduum:
The Easter Fire and Blessing of the Paschal Candle
We hear the story of salvation as we journey from darkness to light
The renewal of Baptismal Vows and the first Eucharist of Easter
Downloads (PDF)
You can choose to listen to the complete recording (audio only, or audio with images), or see this year’s worship resources, below.
- Audio file of the complete Easter Vigil (2021):
- Audio file with images of the complete Easter Vigil (2021):
2025 Service
The Liturgy of Light
The Blessing of the Fire and Preparation of the Candle
At church, we gather outside; all stand and face the Easter fire.
Dear friends in Christ, let us begin our solemn Vigil. On this most holy night when our Saviour Jesus Christ passed from death to life, we gather, with all the Church throughout the world, to watch and pray. This is the Passover of Jesus Christ. Through light and word, through water, bread and wine, let us celebrate the new life that Christ shares with us.
The priest blesses the fire:
Almighty God, who gloriously raised your only-begotten Son from the dead: sanctify this fire, that it may be a sign of life and hope; may we, who celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, be set aflame with love, and renewed in faith, so that we may shine as a light in the world, and glorify you in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The priest traces a cross in the Paschal candle, Alpha and Omega, and the numerals of the current year, saying,
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.
Incense studs are inserted into the Paschal Candle as these words are said:
By his holy and glorious wounds may Christ our Lord guard and keep us. Amen.
The Paschal Candle is lit from the Easter fire. The priest says:
May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
The Procession
Carried aloft by the deacon, the Paschal Candle leads the congregation into the church.
Deacon: The light of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
The clergy and servers light their candles from the Paschal Candle.
The Paschal Candle leads the congregation to the centre of the Nave.
Deacon: The light of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
The candles of the congregation are lit from the Paschal Candle. The Paschal Candle leads the congregation to where its stand has been prepared:
Deacon: The light of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God.
The Paschal Candle is placed on its stand.
Exultet
The Exultet is sung (see pew sheet for the text)
The Liturgy of the Word
Following the singing of the Exsultet:
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.
See the pew sheet for the six Old Testament readings with their psalms, canticle and prayers
Gloria reflection
In church, the candles of the altar are lit, and Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is sung by all, during which bells are rung
Collect
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 given to us in baptism;
that, being renewed both in body and mind,
we 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, world without end. Amen.
The Epistle: Romans 6.3-11
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.
Gospel: Luke 24.1-12
The Easter Sermon of St John Chrysostom
Are there any who are devout lovers of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Are there any who are grateful servants? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
“You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!
Baptism & The Renewal of Baptismal Vows
In church, we sing the hymn Blest be the everlasting God (after 1 Peter 1.3-5) as the clergy and servers lead the procession to the font, where we all assemble
The priest says:
Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whose great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope:
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The Baptismal Prayer
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 God thanks and praise.
Praise and thanksgiving be to you, Author of all being;
for on this night your only-begotten Son
passed through the waters of death, and rose to new life,
the firstborn of your new creation.
He that died upon the cross,
was buried, and descended to the dead;
he broke the chains of death, and opened for us the gates of salvation.
As you delivered Noah from the waters of the flood,
and led the children of Israel through the Red Sea,
so you deliver your people from the waters of chaos.
As your Son, when he hung upon the cross,
gave forth water from his side along with blood,
so you grant us a well-spring of life.
Look therefore with love upon the face of your Church,
and unseal for us, and all the world, the fountain of new birth.
The base of the Paschal candle is lowered into the water
Send down upon the waters of this font and upon your people
your holy and life-giving Spirit.
Lead those who are baptised with Christ through the waters of death,
to be one with him in his resurrection;
and sustain your people by your Spirit to bring hope and strength to the world.
The Paschal candle is removed from the water
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be to you, Lord of all ages,
world without end. Amen.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
The priest addresses the congregation:
The Christian life means turning from evil and turning to Christ.
Do you renounce evil? I renounce evil.
Do you repent of sin? I repent of sin.
Do you turn to Christ? I turn to Christ.
Will you follow Christ? I will follow Christ.
Do you believe in God the Father, who made the world? I believe.
Do you believe in God the Son, who redeemed humankind? I believe.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to God’s people? I believe.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith. We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
As disciples of Christ, will you continue in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you proclaim the good news by word and deed, serving Christ in all people?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you work for justice and peace, honouring God in all Creation?
With the help of God, I will.
This is the task of the Church.
This is our task: to live and work for the kingdom of God.
The priest sprinkles holy water over all as a symbol of our renewed baptismal vows.
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit,
and has bestowed on us forgiveness of all our sins,
guard us by his grace,
and grant us, when our earthly course is ended,
resurrection to eternal life,
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
Offertory Prayer
As the grain once scattered in the fields,
and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now reunited on this table in bread and wine,
so, Lord, may your whole Church soon be gathered together
from the corners of the earth into your kingdom. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
The Lord’s Prayer
Please join in the prayer Jesus himself taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Thanksgiving and Sending Out
Post-Communion Prayer
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, alleluia, alleluia.
In the name of Christ, alleluia, alleluia.
Organ Postlude
Notices
This Week
Thursday 24 April
- 11am Holy Communion
Next Week & Looking Ahead
Sunday 27 April
Easter 2
- 10.30am Sung Eucharist
Readings: Acts 5.27-32; Revelation 1.4-8; John 20.19-31
HT Prayer Tree
The Prayer Tree at the back of church is an aid to prayer. Take a label and write your prayer/message on it and hang it on the tree.
Please add the current date. The label will be removed one month after this date, but if you would like to leave the label on the tree, please just alter the date or write another label.
See Libby Coats if you have questions.