The Easter Vigil is a reversal
If you have not yet attended Epiphany’s Easter Vigil … please read on. If you have attended the Vigil and it has become one of your favorite worship experiences … please read on.
A vigil is an evening service of Scripture readings and prayers in which believers vigilantly and eagerly wait and watch for the celebration of the Savior’s deliverance. Old Testament believers waited through the night of the Passover for God to deliver them from the Egyptians. The midnight worship reported in Acts 20:7-12 is another example of late-night waiting and watching. One might say that Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services are vigils of sorts. Coming together for a vigil helps believers practice waiting patiently for God to reveal his will in his own good time.
The Easter Vigil is the most well known, historic and ancient rites of the Christian Church. Early records indicate that it may have been celebrated in Jerusalem already by the second century, and it soon spread to the rest of the church.
It is a well-documented phenomenon that, in an age of spacecraft and computers, more and more Christians are longing to return to the quiet and contemplative worship forms of the early Church. They are sensing a need to come into the presence of God whose love is above and beyond them. They desire worship that communicates God’s transcendent majesty rather than trivializing him with folksy familiarity.
For this and a number of other reasons, the Easter Vigil is enjoying a comeback in the 21st century Christian Church. With its quiet contemplation, slow-paced movement, and symbolic communication, the Easter Vigil is attractive to many Christians who are seeking a deeper and more thorough spirituality. Especially in churches that take the Church Year seriously, the Easter Vigil seems to mark the high point of Holy Week and the turning point of the Christian Year.
The Easter Vigil is a reversal of sorts. The darkness of Good Friday is reversed with the light of the Easter Vigil. The darkness that reigned on Calvary will be forever shattered as the Light of the World rises from the dust of death and death is defeated forevermore.
We begin the Vigil outside with a bonfire, then process into the church with candlelight - for the news of the resurrection is but a small, flickering light as we are immersed in the mystery of the crucified and risen Lamb, who laid down His life for us. We begin in darkness and solemnity, but as the services progresses, the darkness disappears and the Alleluias return!
Darkness is banished by the light!
Death is defeated by the grave!
Hell’s strong bands have been broken by Heaven’s Hero!
At the beginning of the Vigil, we will meet outside by the bonfire to also burn our $50,000 mortgage to Tri-City Bank. We celebrate the hard work, effort and sacrifice made by God’s faithful members at Epiphany who gave over $27,000 and was matched by the Brookwood Foundation.
Seven years ago, the debt was over $200,000 and was crippling. People said we couldn’t do ministry. We were afraid. Hope was limited.
But you responded with your financial gifts over the years and especially during our Debt Reduction Drive. This is a big deal! It is as if we have new life! The promise of new and exciting ministries are on the horizon! The congregation (and its pastor) are energized and exhilerated for the ministry that lies ahead!
Come to the Vigil. Come for the burning of the mortgage. See the dawn beginning to peek from the Easter tomb. Celebrate the light shining on future of Epiphany’s ministries.
The Easter Vigil and mortgage burning are on Saturday, April 23 at 8:00 pm.
Always vigilant with you,
Pastor Michael Zarling
A vigil is an evening service of Scripture readings and prayers in which believers vigilantly and eagerly wait and watch for the celebration of the Savior’s deliverance. Old Testament believers waited through the night of the Passover for God to deliver them from the Egyptians. The midnight worship reported in Acts 20:7-12 is another example of late-night waiting and watching. One might say that Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve services are vigils of sorts. Coming together for a vigil helps believers practice waiting patiently for God to reveal his will in his own good time.
The Easter Vigil is the most well known, historic and ancient rites of the Christian Church. Early records indicate that it may have been celebrated in Jerusalem already by the second century, and it soon spread to the rest of the church.
It is a well-documented phenomenon that, in an age of spacecraft and computers, more and more Christians are longing to return to the quiet and contemplative worship forms of the early Church. They are sensing a need to come into the presence of God whose love is above and beyond them. They desire worship that communicates God’s transcendent majesty rather than trivializing him with folksy familiarity.
For this and a number of other reasons, the Easter Vigil is enjoying a comeback in the 21st century Christian Church. With its quiet contemplation, slow-paced movement, and symbolic communication, the Easter Vigil is attractive to many Christians who are seeking a deeper and more thorough spirituality. Especially in churches that take the Church Year seriously, the Easter Vigil seems to mark the high point of Holy Week and the turning point of the Christian Year.
The Easter Vigil is a reversal of sorts. The darkness of Good Friday is reversed with the light of the Easter Vigil. The darkness that reigned on Calvary will be forever shattered as the Light of the World rises from the dust of death and death is defeated forevermore.
We begin the Vigil outside with a bonfire, then process into the church with candlelight - for the news of the resurrection is but a small, flickering light as we are immersed in the mystery of the crucified and risen Lamb, who laid down His life for us. We begin in darkness and solemnity, but as the services progresses, the darkness disappears and the Alleluias return!
Darkness is banished by the light!
Death is defeated by the grave!
Hell’s strong bands have been broken by Heaven’s Hero!
At the beginning of the Vigil, we will meet outside by the bonfire to also burn our $50,000 mortgage to Tri-City Bank. We celebrate the hard work, effort and sacrifice made by God’s faithful members at Epiphany who gave over $27,000 and was matched by the Brookwood Foundation.
Seven years ago, the debt was over $200,000 and was crippling. People said we couldn’t do ministry. We were afraid. Hope was limited.
But you responded with your financial gifts over the years and especially during our Debt Reduction Drive. This is a big deal! It is as if we have new life! The promise of new and exciting ministries are on the horizon! The congregation (and its pastor) are energized and exhilerated for the ministry that lies ahead!
Come to the Vigil. Come for the burning of the mortgage. See the dawn beginning to peek from the Easter tomb. Celebrate the light shining on future of Epiphany’s ministries.
The Easter Vigil and mortgage burning are on Saturday, April 23 at 8:00 pm.
Always vigilant with you,
Pastor Michael Zarling
Comments
Post a Comment