Holy Week: Vigil of Easter

The Easter vigil is one of the church's central festivals. It has fallen out of practice in many areas, but a revival seems to be underway. It is a powerful liturgy that recalls the history of salvation and marks Christ's passage from death to life. More information here, here, and here.




Women Arriving at the Tomb by He Qi


Old Testament readings and responses:
(The * marks readings which are to be included even if others are omitted.)

• Creation* from Genesis 1-2 (response: from Psalm 136)
  
• Flood from Genesis 7, 8, and 9 (response: Psalm 46)
  
• Testing of Abraham from Genesis 22 (response: Psalm 16)
  
• Deliverance at the Red Sea* from Exodus 14 and 15 (response: from Exodus 15)
  
• Salvation freely offered to all* from Isaiah 55 (response: from Isaiah 12)
  
• The wisdom of God from Proverbs 8 and 9 (response: Psalm 19)
  
• A new heart and a new spirit from Ezekiel 36 (response: Psalms 42-43)
  
• Valley of dry bones from Ezekiel 37 (response: Psalm 143)
  
• The gathering of God's people from Zephaniah 3 (response: Psalm 98)
  
• The deliverance of Jonah from Jonah 1-2 (response: from Jonah 2)
  
• Clothed in garments of salvation from Isaiah 61 (response: from Deuteronomy 32)
  
• Deliverance from the fiery furnace* from Daniel 3 (response: from an apocryphal piece called the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three)
  

New Testament reading: Romans 6:3-11

Gospel reading: John 20:1-18




The Empty Tomb by He Qi


Eternal giver of life and light, this holy night shines with the radiance of the risen Christ. Renew your church with the Spirit given us in baptism, that we may worship you in sincerity and truth and may shine as a light in the world, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.