Easter Vigil: Communion
For the final stage of the vigil we unite together in breaking bread and remembering Christ. For this part you will need some bread and wine. As we draw to the moment of celebrating Christ’s resurrection if you have champagne or sparkling wine that would be entirely appropriate!
We are using a lovely liturgy from Janet Morley written for the community of St Hilda. If you are on your own read through quietly and savour the words. If you are with others in your home say a part of the prayer in turn. Make it your own - we read one of the accounts of Jesus's resurrection earlier in the evening but you might like to do that if you didn’t.
(The Church of England does not recognize communion in homes in this way, which is a sadness to us in Grace at least, so it’s just communion but not a Church of England one!)
Sharing Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,
"Peace be with you."
They were glad when they saw the Lord.
The peace of the risen Christ be always with you
And also with you. Alleluia.
Share a a sign of peace with those in the house with you or by posting a message on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #GraceEasterVigil2020
Grief and Hope preparation
Later in the communion prayer is the line
"Blessed is our brother Jesus, who walks with us the road of our grief."
Think of a sentence that begins
Today my grief is...
and write it down. At that point in the prayer read out your line and if you would like to, tweet it with the hashtag #GraceEasterVigil2020 or post a photo of it to Instagram.
At the end of the communion prayer there will be a space to express our hope.
Think of a sentence that begins
Christ is risen from the dead, today my hope is...
and write it down. At that point in the prayer read out your line and if you would like to tweet it with the hashtag #GraceEasterVigil2020 or post a photo to Instagram with the same hashtag.
Communion prayer
O Eternal Wisdom,
we praise you and give you thanks,
because the beauty of death
could not contain you.
You broke forth from the comfort of the grave;
before you the stone was moved,
and the tomb of our world was opened wide.
For on this day you were raised in power
and revealed yourself to women as a beloved stranger,
offering for the rituals of the dead the terror of new life
and of desire fulfilled.
Therefore, with the woman who gave you birth,
the women who befriended you and fed you,
who argued with you and touched you,
the woman who anointed you for death,
the women who met you, risen from the dead,
and with all your lovers throughout the ages, we praise you, saying
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Resurrection God,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one
who comes in the name of God
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is our brother Jesus, who walks with us the road of our grief,
Today my grief is… (add your sentences here)
and is known again in the breaking of bread; who, on the night he was handed over, took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: 'This is my body, which is for you. Do this to remember me.''
In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying: 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it, to remember me.''
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Come now, disturbing spirit of our God, breathe on these bodily things and make us one body in Christ.
Open our graves, unbind our eyes, and name us here; touch and heal all that has been buried in us, that we need not cling to our pain, but may go forth with power to release resurrection in the world. Amen.
Christ is risen from the dead. Today my hope is... (add your sentences here)
Eat bread and drink wine. If you are on your own simply take it. If you are with others pass the bread and wine to one another. When you pass bread say something like 'Christ's body broken for you' and with the wine say 'Christ is risen!' with the response 'He is risen indeed Alleluia!'
Blessing
Christ who appeared to the disciples when the doors were shut; appear unto all of those in the world today who live their lives behind behind closed doors.
With the risen life of Christ within you, go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Post a tweet, image or video of you saying Alleluia Christ is Risen! Or Happy Easter! with the hashtag #GraceEasterVigil2020
Tune into Facebook live where Steve Leach will be DJing a resurrection mix from midnight to 1am