On EASTER EVE, 2021 A.D - The GREAT VIGIL - Christ the King Anglican
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The GREAT VIGIL
on
EASTER EVE, 2021 A.D.
WELCOME to Christ the King Anglican Church! The liturgy is entirely
contained within this booklet. In general, we stand (*) to sing, sit to listen,
and kneel (†) to pray. Boldface indicates congregational participation. At
Holy Communion, all baptized Christians are invited to receive. To receive
a blessing without communing, still come forward and cross your arms over
your chest.A NOTE FOR THE GREAT VIGIL
The liturgy of the Great Vigil is very ancient, going back to
the 4th century. St. Ambrose of Milan authored much of
the liturgy we will use tonight. The liturgy is composed of 4
parts: 1) the Blessing of the New Fire, which features the
Exultet, an ancient chant that relates the victory of Christ
over Death to the Exodus and Passover; 2) The Liturgy of
the Word, which walks us relates the Victory of Christ to
the Flood; 3) the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, as the Great
Vigil is the customary time to baptize all catechumens; and
4) the Holy Communion, "nished by the singing of the
Gloria and the saying of Alleluias!
The use of darkness and light is a big part of the liturgy,
symbolizing how Jesus emerged from the darkness of Death
and enlightened our hearts through the power of His
Resurrection. Please be careful as you move about, and use
your vigil candles midway through the service.
Following the Vigil, we break our Lenten fasts in
celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. The Eucharistic
feast kicks off a party that is intended to stretch passed
midnight and into Easter Sunday. Stay to feast with us if
you are able!
May God bless you mightily this Easter!
Fr. Tony
2THE BLESSING OF THE NEW FIRE
(Kneeling) O Lord our God, Father Almighty, Light unfailing,
Creator of every light, graciously hearken to us thy servants,
and bless this "re which is hallowed by thy holy benediction:
Thou that lightest every man that cometh into the world,
enlighten our heart and conscience with the gleams of thy glory:
that we being enkindled with thy "re, and illumined with thy
light, and having the darkness of our sins cast out of our souls,
may be found worthy through the guidance of thy brightness to
attain unto everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end.
Amen.
† Introit
Minister: The Light of Christ!
All: Thanks be to God!
3*The Exultet
Rejoice now all ye heavenly hosts of angels,
and let the divine mysteries be celebrated,
and for the triumph of so great a King,
let the trumpet proclaim salvation,
and let the earth brightened with such effulgence delight herself,
and illumined by the splendor of the eternal king
perceive the darkness of the universe
to be dispersed and done away.
And let our mother the church rejoice
brightened by the radiance of so great a light,
and let these courts resound mightily
with the voices of his people.
Wherefore I pray and beseech you beloved brethren
attending at the glorious brightness of this illumination,
that you call with one accord upon the loving kindness of our God,
who is merciful and mighty.
That he who has deemed graciously to remember me,
the most unworthy of his servants among the order of deacons,
would pour upon me the light of his Holy Spirit,
that I may worthily perform this sacred Paschal office.
Through Jesus Christ his son our only Lord and Savior,
who with the Father liveth and reigneth,
one God in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever world without end. Amen.
4It is very meet and right that the invisible God Almighty,
the Father, and His only begotten Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
should be proclaimed with desire of heart and mind
and with the ministry of our voices.
For he did pay for us the debt of Adam to the eternal Father,
and by His holy Blood
has washed away the witness of our ancient sin.
For this is indeed the Paschal feast
where in that very lamb is slain,
and by his blood the door posts are hallowed.
The night is come where in thous didst bring our fathers,
the children of Israel, out of Egypt, through the Red Sea,
and didst make them to pass through its waters dry shod.
Wherefore the night is come
wherein were driven away
the shades of sin by the light of the "ery pillar.
O thrice blessed night, in which Egypt is utterly destroyed
and the Hebrews come forth in triumph;
night in which the heavenly things are joined into the earthly.
The night is come wherein even now
the believers in Christ throughout the whole universe,
set free from the evil of the world and the darkness of sin,
are restored to grace and knit together in holiness.
The night is come where in Christ has burst the bonds of death,
and from the grave is risen again in triumph.
For to be born into the world hath pro"ted us nothing,
except we had been redeemed.
O wonderous condescension, thy loving mercy towards us!
O inestimable love of a fatherly compassion:
to redeem the rebel servant thou didst give thine only Son!
O truly blessed night which alone was witness of the hour and season
where in Christ did perfect his Resurrection!
The night has come where of it is written,
“The night is as clear as the day,”
and, “Then shall my night be turned to day in my joy and gladness.”
Therefore through the sanctifying power of this holy night
wickedness %eeeth sin is purged,
and innocence restored to the fallen, and joy to the sorrowful;
5hatred vanishes, concord reigneth, and low laid is tyranny.
Therefore in honor of this night, receive, O Holy Father,
this illumination as our evening sacri"ce,
which to thee in this solemn oblation of wax,
the work of the bees the creatures,
thy Holy Church here offereth at the hands of her ministers.
Full well we know the tidings of this "ery pillar
which, for the glory of God, the glowing %ame is kindling.
THE LIGHTING OF THE PASCHAL CANDLE
Which, though it be dispersed in many quarters,
yet by borrowed radiance suffers no diminution.
We therefore pray thee, O Lord, that this candle,
consecrated to the honor of thy most holy Name,
and abiding steadfast through the darkness of this night,
may show forth thy glory.
And being acceptable for its sweet smelling savour,
let it be joined with the heavenly lights above.
Let the morning star "nd its %ame still burning,
yea that morning star which knowet no setting:
yea He, who from the grave returning,
shown serene upon his humankind.
We therefore pray the, O Lord,
that onto us they servants, all the clergy and most devout people,
together with Foley our Archbishop, Joe our President,
and likewise William our Bishop,
thou wilt grant times of quietness and peace,
and that in these Paschal joys thou wilt be please to preserve us:
who liveth and reigneth and art praised,
only God, and only Lord most high, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, and the glory of God the Father. Amen.
6THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Lector: Let us hear the record of God’s saving deeds in
history, how he saved his people in ages past; and let us
pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of
redemption.
The Story of Creation: Genesis 1:1-2:3
Let us pray.
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more
wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant
that we may share the divine life of him who humbled
himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
The Flood, Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13
Let us pray.
Grant, Lord, that we who are baptized into the death of
your Son our Savior Jesus Christ may continually put to
death our evil desires and be buried with him; and that
through the grave and gate of death we may pass to our
joyful resurrection; through the merits of him who died
and was buried and rose again for us, your Son Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
The Song of Moses: Exodus 15:1-21
Let us pray.
7O God, who hast ordained that thy mighty works of old
should enlighten even this our present generation; who
didst by the mighty defense of thy right hand deliver one
people from persecution in the land of Egypt to be a "gure
of the salvation of all nations by the washing of
regeneration: Grant, we pray thee, that the fullness of all
mankind, being delivered from its present bondage, May be
made sons of Abraham and worthy members of thy true
Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A New Heart and a New Spirit: Ezekiel 36:24-28
The Collect for Easter Vigil
O God, you made this most holy night to shine with the
glory of the Lord’s resurrection: Stir up in your Church
that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism,
that we, being renewed both in body and mind, 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, now and for ever. Amen.
8The Epistle: Romans 6:3-11
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus
Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing
this, that our old man is cruci"ed with him, that the body
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be
dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth
no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in
that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he
liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be
dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
The Gospel: St. Matthew 28:1-10
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the
"rst day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great
earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from
heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,
and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his
raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did
shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered
and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye
seek Jesus, which was cruci"ed. He is not here: for he is
9risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from
the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee;
there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they
departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great
joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they
went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,
All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and
worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid:
go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there
shall they see me.
THE EASTER ACCLAMATION
Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord!
People: Praise be to thee, O Christ!
Gospeler: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look
favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and
sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your
providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation;
let the whole world see and know that things which were
cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown
old are being made new, and that all things are being
brought to their perfection by him through whom all
things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
10*Pascha Nostrum
11THE RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL VOWS
THROUGH the Paschal mystery, dearly beloved, 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, by which we once renounced Satan and all his
works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy
Catholic Church.
Dost thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp
and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same,
and the sinful desires of the %esh, so that thou wilt not follow,
nor be led by them?
People: (facing West) I renounce them all; and, by God’s help,
will endeavor not to follow, nor be led by them.
Dost thou believe in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living
God?
People: I do.
Dost thou accept him, and desire to follow him as thy Saviour
and Lord?
People: I do.
Dost thou believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith, as
contained in the Apostles' Creed?
People: I do.
Wilt thou be baptized in this Faith?
People: That is my desire.
12Wilt thou then obediently keep God’s holy will and
commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?
People: I will, by God’s help.
O MERCIFUL God, grant that like as Christ died and rose
again, so we may die to sin and rise to newness of life. Amen.
Grant that all sinful affections may die in us, and that all things
belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in us. Amen.
Grant that we may have power and strength to have victory,
and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the %esh.
Amen.
Grant that whosoever is here dedicated to thee by our office
and ministry, may also be endued with heavenly virtues, and
everlastingly rewarded, through thy mercy, O blessed Lord God,
who dost live, and govern all things, world without end. Amen.
HAVING been received as a member of Christ’s "ock, and
given the sign of the Cross as a reminder not to be
ashamed to confess the faith of Christ cruci#ed, and
manfully to #ght under his banner, against sin, the world,
and the devil; I renew my vow to continue Christ’s faithful
soldier and servant unto my life’s end. Amen.
We yield thee hearty thanks, most merciful Father, that it
hath pleased thee to regenerate us thy Servants with thy
Holy Spirit, to receive us for thine own Children, and to
incorporate us into thy holy Church. And humbly we
beseech thee to grant, that we, being dead unto sin, may
live unto righteousness, and being buried with Christ in
13his death, may also be partakers of his resurrection; so that
finally, with the residue of thy holy Church, we may be
inheritors of thine everlasting kingdom; through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Let us confess the faith once delivered unto the saints in
the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
* The Apostles’ Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was
conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin
Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was cruci"ed,
dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third
day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into
heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the
Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic
Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness
of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life
everlasting. Amen.
14Homily
Offertory
* Presentation OLD HUNDREDTH
15† A General Confession & Absolution
Y E who do truly and earnestly repent you of your
sins, and are in love and charity with your
neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the
commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in
his holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy
Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble
confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling.
A LMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We
acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and
wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most
grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed,
Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy
wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly
repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;
The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The
burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son
our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past;
And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please
thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy
Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A LMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his
great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to
all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn
unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you
from all your sins; con"rm and strengthen you in all
goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
16† Sursum corda
† Preface and Sanctus John Merbecke
I T is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should
at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O
Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.
BUT chie%y are we bound to praise thee for the glorious
Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the
very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken
away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed
death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us
everlasting life.
T HEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the
company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious
Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,
17† The Prayer of Consecration
A LL glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly
Father, for that thou, of thy tender mercy, didst
give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the
Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one
oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and
sufficient sacri"ce, oblation, and satisfaction, for the
sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his
holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual
memory of that his precious death and sacri"ce, until his
coming again: For in the night in which he was betrayed,
he took Bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake
it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is
my Body, which is given for you; Do this in
remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper, he took the
Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them,
saying, Drink ye all of this; for this is my Blood of the
New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for
the remission of sins; Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it,
in remembrance of me.
† The Oblation
T HEREFORE O Lord and heavenly Father, according
to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our
Saviour Jesus Christ, we, thy humble servants, do
celebrate and make here before thy Divine Majesty, with
these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the
memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make; having
in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death,
his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the
innumerable bene"ts procured unto us by the same.
18† The Invocation
A ND we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful
Father, to hear us; and, of thy almighty goodness,
vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy
Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine;
that we, receiving them according to thy Son our
Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance
of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most
blessed Body and Blood.
A ND we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness,
mercifully to accept this our sacri"ce of praise
and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant
that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ,
and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole
Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other
bene"ts of his passion. And here we offer and present
unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be
a reasonable, holy, and living sacri"ce unto thee; humbly
beseeching thee, that we, and all others who shall be
partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily
receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son
Jesus Christ, be "lled with thy grace and heavenly
benediction, and made one body with him, that he may
dwell in us, and we in him. And although we are
unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee
any sacri"ce; yet we beseech thee to accept this our
bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but
pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord;
by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy
Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father
Almighty, world without end. Amen.
19† The Lord’s Prayer John Merbecke
And now, as our Saviour Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,
† Prayer for Humble Access
W E do not presume to come to this thy Table, O
merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but
in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy
so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But
thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have
mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the %esh
of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our
sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls
washed through his most precious Blood, and that we may
evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
20† Agnus Dei John Merbecke
THE HOLY COMMUNION
† Prayer of Thanksgiving
A LMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily
thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us
who have duly received these holy mysteries with the
spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of
thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us
thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that
we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of
thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful
people; and are also heirs through hope of thy
everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most precious
death and passion. And we humbly beseech thee, O
heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we
may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such
good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and
the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without
end. Amen.
21* Gloria in excelsis John Merbecke
22† Blessing
T HE God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord
Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of
the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work
to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight;
and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let us forth in joy and peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God! Alleluia!
23Christ the King Anglican
The Most Rev. Foley Beach The Rev. Tony H. Melton
ACNA Archbishop Vicar, Christ the King
The Most Rev. Ray R. Sutton The Rev. Josh Grote
REC, Presiding Bishop Assisting Priest, Christ the King
The Rt. Rev. William White The Rev. Dcn. Bill Johnston
Bishop Ordinary of REC-SE Deacon, Christ the King
The Rev. Dcn. Kyle Hughes
Director of Catechesis, Christ the King
Upcoming Events for Holy Week
• Easter Sunday, April 4 @ 10am @ The Gardens
Mission Statement
To radiate the Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of King Jesus
Vision Statement
Reconnecting Northwest Atlanta to God and His Church by
courageously planting vibrant and Christ-centered parishes in
the Anglican Way.
What we Believe
We are a conservative, orthodox Anglican church. We profess
our faith through the three ancient creeds of the Church: the
Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. The Holy Scriptures
and the Book of Common Prayer (1928) are our rule for Faith and
Practice.
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