March 27, 2027 – Great Vigil of Easter

See the Book of Common Worship (Westminster John Knox Press, 2018) for the Easter Vigil liturgy.

— Gathering —

Call to Worship

In the beginning God brought light from darkness.
This is the night of salvation.

When we turn away, God turns toward us.
This is the night of salvation.

This is the story that shapes us:
God’s promise in our brokenness.
This is the night of salvation.

Prayer of the Day

In your holiness, O God,
we wait for your promise to be fulfilled.
Our faith is tested.
We do not know how your power
will ease our hopelessness.
We ask that your Spirit
bring us peace of mind and peace of heart,
and yet, we are restless.
Our souls feel the stirring of something new.
As we sing about the change that is going to come,
prepare us for your mighty work,
even if we cannot yet see or imagine it. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

On this day of holy waiting,
we remember, O Lord, that much of the world
never seems to leave Holy Saturday.
Your people live in grief and uncertainty,
having borne the pain of injustice
while searching for the light of new life.
Forgive us, O God, if we have played a part
in the Good Fridays of this world.
Forgive us, O God, if we are prone to passive waiting,
rather than helping to usher in your Easter promises.
Forgive us, O God, of all the ways we fall short,
and hold us in your love until we can see your glory revealed.

Prayers of Intercession

God of light and life,
by your word you made the heavens and the earth
and in the light of your Word made flesh
the darkness is vanquished.
With choirs of angels we sing your praise.
Hear us as we pray.

We pray for the earth and its creatures . . .
As the bow in the skies prompts us
to recall your covenant with all living things,
cause us to care for your good creation.
God of light and life, hear our prayer.

We pray for the church, the body of Christ . . .
As you led our forebears, the children of Israel,
dry-shod through the sea,
guide your servants to walk in the light
of Christ’s resurrection.
God of light and life, hear our prayer.

We pray for the outcast and downtrodden . . .
Bring dignity to the despised
and honor to the rejected,
for the sake of Christ who endured the cross
and is raised to honor and glory.
God of light and life, hear our prayer.

We pray for those in authority . . .
Subdue their worst impulses,
remind them of their high calling,
and teach them true wisdom.
God of light and life, hear our prayer.

We pray for the baptized . . .
Raise those who have died with Christ in baptism
to live with him in newness of life
and shine as a light in the world.
God of light and life, hear our prayer.

God of light and life,
bathe us in the paschal mystery,
and renew in us the joy and promise
of this holy night.
To you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God,
be honor and glory now and forever. Amen.

Great Thanksgiving

Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
By your wisdom, you created the world and everything in it.
By your power, you have delivered us from evil in every age.
By your mercy, you have promised never to forsake us.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.

Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Before the rising of the sun on the first day of the week,
Jesus rose from the dead! With the first believers,
we bear witness to this good news of great joy.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
As we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death,
raise us up, by the power of your Spirit, to walk in new life.
Let us be dead to sin and alive to you in Christ Jesus.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.

Prayer after Communion

At the communion table:
Thank you, O God, for giving us communion
with our risen and glorious Lord.
Now send us out to be a sign
of the new life that has come into the world;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.