Kindling the New Fire
Vigil of Lessons
Holy Baptism
The Holy Eucharist
The Shape of the Liturgy
The Lighting of the Paschal Candle
The Exsultet
Vigil of Lessons
The story of Creation
The Flood
Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac
Israel’s deliverance at the Red Sea
Salvation offered freely to all
A new heart and a new spirit
The valley of dry bones
The gathering of God’s people
Holy Baptism
The Holy Eucharist
The Easter Acclamation
Liturgy of the Word
The Holy Communion
The Great Thanksgiving
The Breaking of the Bread
Blessing and Dismissal
The Lighting of the Paschal Candle
In the darkness, a new fire is struck by the Presider who then says a prayer of blessing over the newly kindled flame.
On the Paschal Candle, the Presider traces the Cross, the Greek letters Α and Ω, and 2025. As he does this, he says,
Christ yesterday and today.
The beginning and the end: alpha and omega.
All time belongs to him and all the ages.
To him be glory and power through every age forever. Amen.
Five wax nails embedded with incense are inserted into the Candle, marking the Cross. Then the Presider lights the Paschal Candle from the new fire.
Bearing the Candle, the Deacon leads the People in procession into the choir, pausing three times to sing:
Each person’s candle is lit from the same fire of the Paschal Candle as it is placed in its stand.
The Exsultet
The Cantor then begins singing the Easter proclamation: Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King…
Vigil of Lessons
Hymn Give thanks to God, who is so good Praise, Lament, and Prayer
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b. 1944). Music: Ein’ feste Burg, Martin Luther (1483-1546); harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Collect
The Flood Genesis 7:1–5, 11–18; 8:6–18; 9:8–13
Hymn
God is our refuge and strength
Hymn
O God, protect me
Collect
A Song of Wisdom (Canticle A)
Antiphon: Wisdom cries aloud in the broad places: Whoever loves wisdom, let them turn in here, and they shall find her, and when they have found her, happy are they who hold her fast.
Wisdom freed from a nation of oppressors * a holy people and a blameless race. She entered the soul of a servant of the Lord, * withstood dread rulers with wonders and signs.
To the saints she gave the reward of their labors, * and led them by a marvelous way; She was their shelter by day * and a blaze of stars by night.
She brought them across the Red Sea, * she led them through mighty waters; But their enemies she swallowed in the waves * and spewed them out from the depths of the abyss.
And then, Lord, the righteous sang hymns to your Name, * and praised with one voice your protecting hand; For Wisdom opened the mouths of the mute, * and gave speech to the tongues of a new-born people.
Collect
Hymn
Surely it is God who saves me
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b. 1944); para. of The First Song of Isaiah. Music: Pleading Savior, arr. Joshua Leavitt (17941873), in Christian Lyre, 1830
Collect
As a deer in want of water
Hymn
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b. 1944). Music: O Quanta Qualia, Paris Antiphoner, 1681
Collect
Hymn Sing, sing a new song
Collect
Holy Baptism
The Litany of the Saints
Presider In the Communion of Saints, let us pray for all who are to receive the Sacrament of New Birth this day, and for ourselves as we renew our own commitment to Christ.
Holy Mary, Mother of Gód, pray for us.
Holy Michael, Gabriel and Ráphael, pray for us.
All you holy Angels of Gód, pray for us.
Holy John the Báptist, pray for us.
Holy Jóseph, pray for us.
Holy Peter and Paul, and all you holy Apóstles, pray for us.
Holy John the Beloved, and all you holy Evángelists pray for us.
Holy Mary Mágdalene, pray for us.
Holy Stephen and James of Jerúsalem, pray for us.
Holy Ignatius and Pólycarp, pray for us.
Holy Agnes and Cecília, pray for us.
Holy Blandina and your Compánions, pray for us.
Holy Perpetua and Felícity, pray for us.
Holy Laurence and Víncent, pray for us.
Holy Constance, Thecla, Ruth, and Frances of Mémphis pray for us.
Holy Bernard Mizéki, pray for us.
Holy Antony and Pachómius, pray for us.
Holy Benedict and Scholástica, pray for us.
Holy Basil and Macrína, pray for us.
Holy Francis and Cláre, pray for us.
Holy Hildegard and Dame Júlian, pray for us.
Holy Teresa and John of the Cróss, pray for us.
Holy Ignatius Loyóla, pray for us.
Holy Richard Meux Bénson, pray for us.
All holy Men and Women of Gód, pray for us.
Lord be merciful, Lord, deliver us.
From every evil, Lord, deliver us.
From every deadly sin, Lord, deliver us.
From everlasting death, Lord, deliver us.
By your incarnation, Lord, deliver us.
By your death and resurrection, Lord, deliver us.
By your outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Lord, deliver us.
Cantor Hear our prayers for those persons who are to receive the sacrament of new birth:
Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death. Lord, hear our prayer.
Open their hearts to your grace and truth.
Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer. Keep them in the faith and communion of your Holy Church. Lord, hear our prayer.
Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit. Lord, hear our prayer. Send them into the world in witness to your love. Lord, hear our prayer. Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory. Lord, hear our prayer.
Presentation of the Candidates for Holy Baptism
Presider The Candidates for Holy Baptism will now be presented.
Sponsors I present [Philip Cannon Houghteling Balboni / Allison Prentice Farrell / Kelsy Erin Hillesheim] to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
To the Candidates:
Presider Do you desire to be baptized?
Candidates I do.
Presider Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
Candidates I renounce them.
Presider Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
Candidates I renounce them.
Presider Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
Candidates I renounce them.
Presider Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?
Candidates I do.
Presider Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
Candidates I do.
Presiders Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
Candidates I do.
To the congregation:
Presider Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support Philip, Allison, and Kelsy in their life in Christ?
People We will.
Thanksgiving over the Water
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Baptismal Covenant
Presider Let us join with Philip, Allison, Kelsy, and all those who are committing themselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant. Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
People I do.
Presider Do you believe in God the Father?
People I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Presider Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
People 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.
Presider Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
People 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.
Presider Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider Will you cherish the wondrous works of God, and protect the beauty and integrity of all creation?
People I will, with God’s help.
Presider May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
The Baptism
Presider [Philip / Allison / Kelsy], I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon this your servant the forgiveness of sin, and have raised her to the new life of grace. Sustain her, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give her an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.
[Philip / Allison / Kelsy], you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever. Amen.
The People are sprinkled with baptismal water as a memorial of Holy Baptism.
Anthem Over the chaos of the empty waters
Over the chaos of the empty waters hovered the Spirit, bringing forth creation; so from the empty tomb the Second Adam issued triumphant.
By the same Spirit, we regenerated into the body of our risen Savior, seek through the power of the new creation life everlasting.
By the same Spirit we are called to worship God our Creator, Savior, Sanctifier, of whom the glory, in both earth and heaven, is manifested.
Words: Sts. 1-2, A Monastic Breviary, 1976; st. 3, The Hymnal 1982. Music: Caelitum Joseph, plainsong, Mode 1; ver. Schola Antiqua, 1983
When the newly baptized return, the Sponsor hands the Candidate a candle:
Sponsor [Philip / Allison / Kelsy], receive the light of Christ to show that you have passed from darkness into light. Amen.
Presider Let us welcome the newly baptized.
People We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.
The Holy Eucharist
Presider Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Song of Praise Jesus Christ is risen today Hymnal 207
Collect of the Day
LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Epistle Romans 6:3–11
The Great Easter Alleluia
The Alleluia is sung three times, first by the Cantor and repeated by the People.
Gradual: Psalm 114
When Israel came out of Egypt, alleluia, the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech, alleluia.
Judah became God’s sanctuary, alleluia, and Israel his dominion, alleluia.
The sea beheld it and fled, alleluia, Jordan turned and went back, alleluia.
The mountains skipped like rams, alleluia, and the little hills like young sheep, alleluia.
What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? alleluia, O Jordan, that you turned back? alleluia.
You mountains, that you skipped like rams? alleluia, you little hills like young sheep? alleluia.
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, alleluia, at the presence of the God of Jacob, alleluia.
Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water, alleluia, and flint-stone into a flowing spring, alleluia.
The Holy Gospel Luke 24:1-12
The Sermon
The Peace
THE HOLY COMMUNION
The Collection of Gifts and Offerings
Your financial gifts support the Brothers’ life and our ministry to many, here at our Monastery in Cambridge and at our rural Monastery, Emery House, in West Newbury, and others whom we reach electronically and in our travels on mission.
Offertory Hymn At the Lamb’s high feast we sing Hymnal 174
Setting: From A Community Mass; Richard Proulx (1937-2010)
Setting: Ambrosian chant; adapt. Mason Martens (1933-1991); adapt. SSJE
Setting: Mode 6 melody; adapt. Mason Martens (1933-1991)
Invitation to Communion
Presider Behold what you are. People May we become what we receive.
A Note about Holy Communion
Please refrain from intinction (dipping the Bread into the Chalice). If you wish to abstain from receiving from the Chalice, remember that the Church catholic has always taught that the fullness of the Sacrament is received even when only one form is received.
Please indicate to the Brother administering Bread at Holy Communion if you require a gluten-free Host.
Prayer after Communion
Presider Giver of all,
People we are nourished with your Easter sacraments. Fill us with the Spirit of love, and unite us in faith, that we may be witnesses to the resurrection and show your glory to all the world, in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.
Easter Blessing and Dismissal
Br. Keith Nelson, Presider & Preacher
Br. Curtis Almquist, Deacon
Br. Lain Wilson, Subdeacon
Mr. Robert Humphreville, Monastery Organist
Supplementary hymns are used by permission and licensed to be reprinted for this service by OneLicense.Net: #A-725463
Postlude
Improvisation
Robert Humphreville