Crucified and Risen
Saturday, April 11, 2009 9 pm Silent Vigil 10 pm Service of Worship The Easter Vigil Remembering The Crucified Woman Thirty years ago, on Good Friday, an eight foot sculpture called Crucified Woman, the work of a Canadian, Almuth Lutkenhaus, was put on display at Bloor Street United Church. Our service tonight remembers that time of controversy and new insight. The sculpture stands today in a peaceful garden at Emmanuel College, casting her compassionate eye over students and faculty, travellers and sparrows. You are invited to keep vigil by sitting quietly in prayer and meditation. You may wish to offer this prayer in the silence of your heart. O God, you have searched the depths we cannot know, and touched what we cannot bear to name; may we so wait, enclosed in your loving darkness, that we are ready to watch for the dawn, filled with memory and faith. Amen. - 2 -
I. THE CREATION INTROIT The Creation Willy Richter In the beginning God created the Heav n and the earth. And the earth was waste and void. And darkness upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: And there was light. Genesis 1:1 3 WELCOME from Hildegard of Bingen Good people, Most royal greening verdancy, Rooted in the sun, You shine with radiant inner light. In this circle of earthly existence, You shine so finely, It surpasses understanding. God embraces you. You are encircled by the arms of the mystery of God. HYMN 282 Long Before the Night - 3 -
CALL TO WORSHIP In the beginning, obscurity covered the face of the deep. Then the rushing breath of life hovered over the waters. Let us breathe together. Let us catch our breaths from the need to make, to do. Let us be conscious of the Breath of Life. We breathe out what the trees breathe in We breathe in what the trees breathe out. Together we breathe each other into life. Blessed is the One within the many. Blessed are the Many who make one. Let us hear the ancient story of an ending and a beginning. II. THE CRUCIFIED ONE READING Mark 15.25 41 REFLECTION Remembering the Crucified Woman READING Margaret Laurence on the Crucified Woman (from Divining Margaret Laurence, by Nora Stovel) HYMN 137 The Love That Clothes Itself in Light - 4 -
III. VIGIL RESPONSIVE READING Weep, O my sisters and brothers: weep for the blood of women shed for you, the blood of the matriarch, the blood of the prophet, the priestess, and the witch; weep for the women slaughtered, weep for the lovers raped, weep for the daughters stolen, the mothers humbled and enslaved, weep for woman healers burned. Weep, O my beloved friends: weep for the purification of this most hallowed eve, weep until we rise in blood and flame to redress and revive and rebirth. We can rise with the fire of freedom. Truth is a fire that burns our chains, and we can stop the fires of destruction. Healing is a fire running through our veins. READING They Have Threatened Us with Resurrection Julia Esquivel HYMN 284 Joyful Is the Dark THE GOSPEL John 20.1 18 LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE - 5 -
SHARING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST As the choir sings the following anthem, you are invited to pass the Light of Christ. Please join the choir in the reprise of verse 3. ANTHEM Who Is There on This Easter Morning arr. Healey Willan Choir: verses 1 to 3 All: (repeating verse 3) Who is there doubts that night is ended? Hear from on high the trumpets call! Christ is in triumph now ascended, risen and reigning, Lord of all! Who is there doubts that night is ended? Hear from on high the trumpets call! SEEKING THE RISEN CHRIST REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM During the reading and sung response, adapted from Matthew 25, the ministers will asperge the congregation. - 6 -
UNISON PRAYER God of light and new creation, let our celebration of light empty our innermost tombs, renew our lives, and release your power, in the name of the risen Christ. Amen. (Individual candles may be extinguished) IV. SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP COMMUNION HYMN 178 Because You Live, O Lord During the singing of this hymn the Sanctuary will be dressed for Easter! THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION May God be with you: And also with you. Lift up your hearts: We lift them up to God. Let us give thanks to God: It is right to give God thanks and praise. Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: - 7 -
To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live. O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right; for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries. You that are simple, turn in here! To those without sense she says, Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight. God of majesty, with reverent hearts we name you also God of self giving love. We give thanks, blessing above blessing, for Jesus Christ, fruit of Mary s womb and Word of life. (Proverbs 8.1 8, 19 21; 9.4b 6) - 8 -
So it is that we join the song of all creation to proclaim your praise: On the night before he died, Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave you thanks, broke it, and said, Take and eat; whenever you do this, remember me. Likewise, after supper, he took the cup, saying, This is the new covenant; remember me. Holy Mystery, we pray for your Spirit. Make us, while many, one. Make us, though broken, whole. Make us, despite death, alive. And so we pray: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Amen. - 9 -
SHARING OF THE BREAD AND THE CUP The body of Christ, the Bread of life. The lifeblood of Christ, the cup of blessing. This is an open table. All are welcome. At this table all are fed and no one turned away. At this table all share the cup and no one is denied. In the name of the One who said, I am the bread of life, I invite you to come and eat. In the name of the One who said, I am the true vine, I invite you to come and drink. In the name of the One who said, Love one another, as I have loved, you, I invite you to the table of Jesus Christ. You are invited to receive communion by coming forward down the centre aisle beginning from the front of the church. There will be two stations with grape juice being offered on the East side, and wine near the piano. You are invited to take bread and dip it in the cup. Please return to your seats via the side aisles. As a gluten free alternative, rice crackers and small glasses of juice are available. If you wish to be served in the pew, please indicate to a server or minister. COMMUNION ANTHEM For You, Deep Stillness For you deep stillness of the silent inland; for you, deep blue of the desert skies; for you, flame red of the rocks and stones; for you, sweet water from the hidden springs. From the edges seek the heartlands, and when you re burnt by the journey, may the cool winds of the hovering Spirit sooth and replenish you. In the name of Christ. Robin Mann arr. D. Passmore Julie Perrin - 10 -
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Eternal and gracious One, though we live in a world of need, here we have tasted your goodness, and hungered for a world more just; though afflicted by brokenness and division, here we have heard your call to be people of healing community though daily we touch our limits, here we have received the gift of your unfailing grace. Now send us to our work, O God, in faith and hope and love. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah! HYMN 170 O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Alleluyas Simon Preston - 11 -
What is the Easter Vigil? Easter Vigil begins late on Saturday night, or before dawn on Easter morning. Traditionally, this is the time when we remember the whole cycle of life from creation through death and resurrection. The congregation recalls the ancient story of redemption, and renews its baptismal faith. The service marks the transition from Holy Week to Easter, from Passion to Resurrection, from death to life. You are warmly invited to return tomorrow for a continuation of our Easter celebration at 10:30 a.m. Many thanks to all those whose ideas and preparations and participation contributed to the service tonight. - 12 - Cover Picture: Angus Müller