April 16: The Great Vigil of Easter – St. Augustine first introduced the phrase, “The Paschal Mystery.” One theologian describes the Paschal Mystery as the saving event by which God in all times and in all places saves the human race. Epiphany will celebrate the Easter Vigil with a Sunrise Service beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning. During the Easter Vigil, we recount the following sequence of events.
*The kindling of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal (Easter) Candle.
*The recounting of Passover/Exodus from Egypt, and the entrance into the Promised Land.
*The service of Baptism and renewal of our own Baptismal vows.
*The First Joyful Eucharist of Easter.
Following the Easter Vigil, Epiphany will celebrate Easter with a delicious breakfast. We will then conclude our three great days of celebrating the Paschal Mystery with the 10:30 a.m.
Easter Sunday Eucharist during which the children flower the cross of our redemption. After the service, there will be an Easter Egg Hunt and refreshments for both the children and adults.
Since Maundy Thursday, we have been involved in an extended liturgy which is brought to conclusion at Epiphany’s principle service. This is the day of the Passover of Christ from death into life. It is also the celebration of our own pass-over in Holy Baptism, in which “we were buried with Christ in his death and raised with him into new life.”
Fr. Matt