The Service of Light
On this Holy Saturday we keep vigil with the whole church. Here in the dark before the tomb we hear the church’s ancient song: the Exsultet. Sung before a single candle — the Paschal candle, lit from a new fire in the night — the Exsultet summons even the hosts of heaven to rejoice. “Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!” For we await a mystery: “Night truly blessed, when heaven is wedded to earth and we are reconciled to God.”
Let us hear now the song of the church, and recall the story of our salvation.
The Exsultet
The Liturgy of the Word
Leader: Dear friends in Christ, let us now listen attentively to the word of God, recalling how he saved his people throughout history, and in the fullness of time, sent his own Son to be our Redeemer.
First Reading: Genesis 1:1 – 2:4a
Leader: Almighty and eternal God, you created all things in wonderful beauty and order. Help us now to perceive how still more wonderful is the new creation, by which in the fullness of time you redeemed your people, through the sacrifice of our Passover, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Second Reading: Genesis 22:1-18
Leader: God and Father of all who believe in you, you promised Abraham that he would become the father of all nations, and through the death and resurrection of Christ, you fulfil that promise; everywhere throughout the world you increase your chosen people. May we respond to your call by joyfully accepting your invitation to the new life of grace. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Third Reading: Exodus 14-15:1
Leader: God of steadfast love, your wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day. By the power of your mighty arm you once delivered your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations by the water of baptism. Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fourth Reading: Isaiah 54:5-14
Leader: O God, by the power of your Word you have created all things, and by your Spirit you renew the earth. Give now the water of life to those who thirst for you, that they may bring forth abundant fruit in your glorious kingdom. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Violin Solo: What Wondrous Love Is This
Fifth Reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Leader: Living God, by the Passover of your Son you have brought us out of sin into righteousness, and out of death into life. Grant to those who are sealed by your Holy Spirit the will and power to proclaim you to all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sixth Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18a
Leader: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favourably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery. By the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity 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 tings are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Feast of the Resurrection
Priest: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
All: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Violin Solo: He is Risen!
New Testament Reading: Romans 6:3-11
The Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10
Sermon
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Dear friends, through the paschal mystery we have been buried with Christ in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life. Now that our Lenten observance is ended, let us renew the promises we made in baptism, when we rejected Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy catholic Church
Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
I do.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
I will with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will with God’s help.
God the creator, the rock of our salvation, has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, through our Lord Jesus Christ. May he keep us faithful to our calling, now and for ever. Amen
The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Risen Christ be always with you!
All: And also with you.
Hymn: Blue #205 The Day of Resurrection
The Holy Eucharist
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst…54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. (John 6)
All: 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.
All: Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light, look favourably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery. By the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity 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.
Hymn: Blue #239 Jesus Lives! Thy Terrors Now
Leader: Go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia. Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Postlude: The Strife is O’er Violin Solo
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale,
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Catherine Sider-Hamilton – Priest-in-charge: 416-463-9720
The Rev Trent Pettit – Associate Priest
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to William Middleton, People’s Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
