American society tends to treat Christmas as the most important
holiday of the year, religious or secular. That trend is evident
from the annual countdown of shopping days until Christmas, the
massive store displays, the television commercials and the amount
of money spent at that time of year in purchasing gifts.
American society tends to treat Christmas as the most important holiday of the year, religious or secular. That trend is evident from the annual countdown of shopping days until Christmas, the massive store displays, the television commercials and the amount of money spent at that time of year in purchasing gifts. But for Christians, Easter – the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ – is the oldest and greatest feast of the church calendar.
Many Christians mark this day by attending an outdoor worship service at sunrise (such as the one scheduled at Gilroy’s First Baptist Church at 7:30 a.m.).
Others observe it by attending a festive service inside a church later on Easter morning (usually the best-attended services of the year, bringing out worshipers who make that their annual visit to church). But there is an ancient, unique way to observe Easter, a rich experience that can be considered the central rite of the entire Christian year.
In the earliest centuries of Christianity, an extraordinary single liturgy began on Saturday night and continued until dawn on Easter Day. It became known as the Great Paschal Vigil. Paschal comes from the Greek word meaning both “Easter” and “Passover.” Many Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches traditionally finish Holy Week with some form of this ancient service.
Although each church has its own variations, the Vigil Liturgy generally follows this pattern: Service of the Light, Service of the Word, Service of the Water and Service of the Cup.
In early Christian celebrations, evening liturgies began by lighting candles. Beginning outside the church building, a “New Fire” is kindled and used to light the Paschal (Easter) Candle that is brought into the church by a procession. Christians interpret this as bringing the Light of Christ into the world, and in many congregations the worshipers proceed into the darkened churches carrying small individual candles.
Then follows a series of Bible readings, illustrating God’s mighty deeds in bringing people salvation through the creation, the story of Noah’s experience with the great flood and the story of Abraham’s battle of faith over the life of his son Isaac.
The third part of the vigil is the celebration of rites of initiation. In the ancient church, all baptisms were performed at the Easter Vigil, and this is still a preferred time for administering that sacrament. Some churches also use this opportunity for confirmations or reception of new members by transfer of membership from other denominations.
The vigil concludes with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (“The First Mass of Easter”). Light radiating from candles banishes darkness from inside the church at the beginning of the service, symbolizing the receiving of the risen Christ into their lives.
The Great Vigil of Easter is a beautifully symbolic service that provides a unique way to experience the joy that Easter brings to Christians. The following South Valley churches welcome you to participate on Saturday:
MORGAN HILL
– Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave., at 8 a.m. (779-3551)
– St. Catherine Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., at 8:30 a.m.(779-3959)
– St. John’s Episcopal Church, 17740 Peak Ave., at 6 a.m. (779-9510).
HOLLISTER
– St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1200 Fairview Road, at 8 a.m. (831-637-9212)
– St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 720 Monterey St., at 8 a.m. (831-637-7570
GILROY
– St. Mary Catholic Church, 11 First St., at 8 a.m. (847-5151)
– Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1735 Hecker Pass Road, at 7 a.m. (842-2713): Pastor Ron Koch reports this is an unusually accessible vigil for children because it is shortened, allows participants to accompany hymns with bells and features the traditional Bible narratives read from children’s books.
