EASTER VIGIL 2026
Service will be livestreamed and available from 7.55pm Saturday 4th April at
https://www.youtube.com/live/bWJKVTnZBBY
LITURGY OF THE LIGHT
The service begins in the garden with the lighting of 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.
BLESSING OF 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.
FIRST LESSON - GENESIS 1:1-3a
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.
The priest inscribes the Paschal Candle, saying,
Christ yesterday and today
The beginning and the end
Alpha and Omega
All time and all ages belong to him
to whom be glory and power
through every age and for ever. Amen.
Grains of incense are inserted into the Paschal Candle in the form of a cross.
By his holy
and glorious wounds
may Christ our Lord
strengthen us
and make us whole. Amen.
The Paschal Candle is lit from the Easter fire.
May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
THE PROCESSION
The Paschal Candle is carried into church and we enter in procession behind it. We light our candles from the Paschal Candle then go to our seats but remain standing. The procession will stop at the door, the centre of the nave and the sanctuary steps and we sing:
Cantor: The light of Christ.
All: Thanks be to God
THE EASTER PROCLAMATION (EXULTET)
The Paschal Candle is placed on its stand and either the full Easter Proclamation or a shorter version is sung by the priest or deacon. We remain standing during the Exultet.
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 forever! 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.
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.
It is right and good that with full hearts and minds and voices we should praise you, the unseen God, through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who has saved us by his death, paid the price of Adam’s sin and reconciled us once again to you. For this is the Passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all the faithful. This is the night, when you first saved our forebears, freeing Israel from slavery and leading them dry-shod through the sea. This truly is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin. This is the night, when all who trust in Christ are freed from sin, restored to grace and holiness and share the victory of God. This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. O God, how wonderful your care for us. O how boundless your merciful love, to
ransom a slave you gave away your Son. O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a redeemer.
O most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead. Of this night scripture says: ‘The night will be bright as day, it will become my light and my joy.’ The power of this holy night puts evil to flight, washes sin away, restores lost innocence and turns mourning into joy. It cast out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride.
Therefore, in the joy of this night, accept this candle, our sacrifice of praise, the work of bees and of human hands, your Church’s solemn offering.
May this pillar of fire, a flame, divided but undimmed, glow to the honour of God.
Therefore, we pray, accept this Easter candle, consecrated to the honour of your name: let it mingle with the lights of heaven and dispel the darkness of this night.
May the Morning Star find it still burning. For Christ, the true Morning Star, is risen from the dead and sheds peaceful light on all the world; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Dear friends in Christ, we have begun our solemn vigil. Let us now listen to the word of God, recalling how he saved his people throughout history, and, in the fullness of time, sent his only Son to be our Redeemer. Through this Easter celebration, may God bring to perfection the saving work he has begun for us.
SECOND LESSON: Exodus 14 (selected verses)
As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. But Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Lord will fight for you. Then the Lord said to Moses, ’Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.
PSALM – SICUT CERVUS
THIRD LESSON: Ezekiel 36. 24–8
I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
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? 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. 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. 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. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
THE ALLELUIA
THE GOSPEL Matthew 28:1-10
When the gospel is announced:
Glory to Christ our Saviour
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.
After the Gospel.
Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel:
Praise to Christ our Lord.
RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
BLESSING OF THE WATER
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, raised the dead to life, and opened for us the gates of salvation.
As you 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. 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.
Through the Paschal mystery 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.
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 and trust in God the Father.
Do you believe in God the Son, who redeemed humankind?
I believe and trust in God the Son.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit, the giver of life?
I believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit.
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 faith of the Church.
This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
THE PEACE
The risen Christ stood among his disciples and said, “Peace be with you.”
We meet in Christ’s name:
Let us share his peace.
THE OFFERTORY HYMN: NOW THE GREEN BLADE RISETH (NEH 115)
1 Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,
wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Chorus
Love is come again,
like wheat that springeth green.
2 In the grave they laid him, Love whom men had slain,
thinking that never he would wake again,
laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Chorus
3 Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
he that for three days in the grave had lain,
quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Chorus
4 When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
thy touch can call us back to life again,
fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Chorus
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation;
through your goodness we have this bread to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made:
it will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation;
through your goodness we have this wine to offer,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands;
it will become the cup of our salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
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
Worship and praise belong to you, Author of all being. Your power sustains, your love restores, our broken world. You are unceasingly at work, from chaos bringing order and filling emptiness with life. Christ, raised from the dead, proclaims the dawn of hope. He lives in us that we may walk in light. Your Spirit is fire in us, your breath is power to purge our sin and warm our hearts to love. As children of your redeeming purpose, freed by him who burst from the tomb and opened the gate of life, we offer you our praise, with angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Praise and thanksgiving be to you, Lord of all, for by the Cross eternal life is ours and death is swallowed up in victory. In the first light of Easter, glory broke from the tomb and changed the women’s sorrow into joy. From the Garden the mystery shone clear that he whom they had loved and lost is with us now, in every place for ever.
Making himself known in the breaking of the bread, speaking peace to the fearful disciples, welcoming weary fishermen on the shore, he renewed the promise of his presence and of new birth in the Spirit who sets the seal of freedom on your sons and daughters.
Before he was given up to suffering and death, recalling the night of Israel’s release, the night in which slaves walked free, at supper with his disciples he took bread and offered you thanks. He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying: “Take, eat. This is my Body: it is broken for you.”
After supper, he took the cup, he offered you thanks and gave it to them saying: “Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant; it is poured out for you, and for all, that sins may be forgiven. Do this in remembrance of me.”
We now obey your Son’s command. We recall his blessed passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension; and we look for the coming of his Kingdom. Made one with him, we offer you these gifts and with them ourselves, a single, holy, living sacrifice.
Hear us, most merciful Father, and send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and this wine, that, overshadowed by your Spirit’s life-giving power, they may be the Body and Blood of your Son, and we may be kindled with the fire of your love and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.
Help us, who are baptised into the fellowship of Christ’s Body to live and work to your praise and glory; may we grow together in unity and love until at last, in your new creation, we enter into our heritage in the company of the Virgin Mary, the apostles, and prophets, and of all our brothers and sisters living and departed.
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.
THE FRACTION
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As our Saviour Christ has commanded and taught us, we are bold to say:
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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace
INVITATION
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us, alleluia.
Therefore let us celebrate the feast, alleluia, alleluia.
COMMUNION (a hymn or anthem may be sung)
THANKSGIVING AND SENDING OUT
Give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious:
And his mercy endures for ever.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Lord, you have nourished us with the Easter sacrament: fill us with the spirit of your love, and unite us in faith; that we may be witnesses to the resurrection and show your glory to all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
BLESSING
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work; working in you that which is pleasing and good; And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you, and remain with you always. Amen
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, alleluia, alleluia.
In the name of Christ, alleluia, alleluia.
RECESSIONAL HYMN – GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN REJOICE AND SING (NEH 107)
1 Good Christian men, rejoice and sing!
Now is the triumph of our King!
To all the world glad news we bring:
Alleluia!
2 The Lord of Life is risen for ay;
Bring flowers of song to strew his way;
Let all mankind rejoice and say
Alleluia!
3 Praise we in songs of victory
That Love, that Life, which cannot die,
And sing with hearts uplifted high
Alleluia!
4 Thy name we bless, O risen Lord,
And sing to-day with one accord
The life laid down, the life restored:
Alleluia!
VOLUNTARY