Message from Fr. Ben: Easter Vigil Candles
The highlight of the church year is the celebration of the Great Vigil of Easter. One aspect of that liturgy which particularly stands out is the kindling of the new fire and lighting of the Paschal Candle as light pierces darkness, and life triumphs over death.
To help us in our shared, but separate, commemoration of this great occasion, I'm encouraging us to find a way to bring the service into the home by incorporating candles into it. To help with this, I'm going to put out the same handheld candles we would be using if we were keeping this feast together.
+ If you'd like a candle to use in the service, come by the church between now and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. On the back porch, there will be a container with the candles and bobeches (plastic drip protectors). Please feel free to keep your candle but, if at all possible, return the bobeches so that they may cleaned and reused at a later date.
+ If you can't make it by the church or would prefer not to get out, find a candle in your own home and pull it out.
+ Turn down/off the lights at the beginning of the service, so that we all begin this time together in the silent darkness preceding the joyous light.
+ Then light your candles after we've lit the Paschal Candle. Keep it burning through the Exsultet chant. If you put it out for the lessons, re-light it for the Renewal of Baptismal Vows.
Hopefully, this will be the first and last time that we will have to observe this wonderful liturgy apart from one another, but even so, we know that the light of Christ will shine forth in this Easter Vigil and unto the ends of the earth.
God bless!
Fr. Ben
