Easter Sunday

Dawn Service of Light

St James’ Finchampstead
 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

¶ The Service of Light

The building being in darkness, the ministers go in silence to the main
entrance, one of them carrying the unlit Easter Candle.

All stand and face the ministers.

Eternal God,
who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light:
set us aflame with the fire of your love,
and bring us to the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
If the Easter Candle has not been marked during the Vigil, it may be
marked here.
Christ yesterday and today,
the beginning and the end,
Alpha and Omega,
all time belongs to him,
and all ages;
to him be glory and power,
through every age and for ever.
All Amen.

Nails or incense studs may be inserted into the Easter Candle.

By his holy and glorious wounds

may Christ our Lord guard and keep us.
All Amen.

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Standing before the Candle, the president says
As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the
dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died
and been buried with him in baptism.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

Therefore I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
All I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
All I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
All I repent of them.

The president lights the Easter Candle, saying

May the light of Christ, rising in glory,

banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

The president says

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Therefore I ask:

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

All I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
All I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
All I come to Christ.

The minister bearing the Candle enters the building, followed by the other
ministers, and they pause just inside the entrance.

The minister bearing the Candle raises it and says

The light of Christ.

All Thanks be to God.

The procession of the Easter Candle moves further into the building and
then stops.The versicle and response are repeated, and the candles of
those around are lit from the Easter Candle.

The procession continues to the centre of the building and stops once
more.The versicle and response are again repeated, and the candles of
those around are lit.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

The Easter Candle is placed on a stand in the midst of the building.

¶ The Exsultet

All Sing, choirs of heaven! Let saints and angels sing!

Around God’s throne exult in harmony!
Now Jesus Christ is risen from the grave!
Salute your King in glorious symphony!

Sing, choirs of earth! Behold, your light has come!

The glory of the Lord shines radiantly!
Lift up your hearts, for Christ has conquered death!
The night is past, the day of life is here!

Sing, Church of God! Exult with joy outpoured!

The gospel trumpets tell of victory won!
Your Saviour lives; he’s with you evermore!
Let all God’s people sound the long Amen!
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is right and good that with hearts and minds and voices
we should praise you, Father almighty, the unseen God,
through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
who has saved us by his death,
paid the price of Adam’s sin,
and reconciled us once again to you.
All Glory to you for ever.

For this is the Passover feast,

when Christ, the true Lamb of God, is slain
whose blood consecrates the homes of all the faithful.
All Glory to you for ever.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

This is the night when you first saved our ancestors,

freeing Israel from her slavery
and leading her safely through the sea.
All Glory to you for ever.

This is the night when Jesus Christ vanquished hell,

broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.
All Glory to you for ever.

This is the night when all who believe in him are freed from sin,
restored to grace and holiness,
and share the victory of Christ.
All Glory to you for ever.

This is the night that gave us back what we had lost;

beyond our deepest dreams
you made even our sin a happy fault.
All Glory to you for ever.

Most blessed of all nights!

Evil and hatred are put to flight and sin is washed away,
lost innocence regained, and mourning turned to joy.
All Glory to you for ever.

Night truly blessed, when hatred is cast out,

peace and justice find a home, and heaven is joined to earth
and all creation reconciled to you.
All Glory to you for ever.

Therefore, heavenly Father, in this our Easter joy

accept our sacrifice of praise, your Church’s solemn offering.
Grant that this Easter Candle may make our darkness light.

For Christ the morning star has risen in glory;

Christ is risen from the dead
and his flame of love still burns within us!
Christ sheds his peaceful light on all the world!
Christ lives and reigns for ever and ever!
All Amen.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

The Easter Acclamation

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
All He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

A joyful fanfare may be played, bells rung, cymbals clashed, noise made.

Gloria in Excelsis
The Gloria in excelsis is used, during which all the candles in the church
are lit from the Easter Candle, the lights are switched on and the people’s
candles extinguished.

All Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

President Let us pray that we may reign with the risen Christ in glory.

The Collect
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
Amen

New Testament Reading

Romans 6.3-11
3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried
with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
newness of life.
5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that
our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever
has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we believe
that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised
from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion
over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life
he lives, he lives to God. 11So you also must consider yourselves dead
to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

Gospel Reading
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia.
He has defeated the powers of death.
Alleluia.
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.
Alleluia.
He has the words of eternal life.
Alleluia.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
All Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 28.1-10 (A), Mark 16.1-8 (B) or

Luke 24.1-12 (C)

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Profession of Faith
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
All I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

All 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.
Amen.

Intercessions
We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.
Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to
the nations …
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, bread of life, give food to the hungry …
and nourish us all with your word.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, our way, our truth, our life,
be with us and all who follow you in the way …
Deepen our appreciation of your truth
and fill us with your life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep,
recover the straggler,
bind up the injured,
strengthen the sick
and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, the resurrection and the life,
we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed
in you …
Raise us with them to eternal life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us,
accept our prayers, and be with us always.
Amen.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

¶ The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples
and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
cf John 20.19
Alleluia.
The peace of the risen Christ be always with you
All and also with you. Alleluia.
All may exchange a sign of peace, greeting one another with these words
Christ is risen.

Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Offertory Hymn
The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
Lord of life,
with unbounded joy we offer you our sacrifice of praise.
As we are fed with the bread of heaven
may we know your resurrection power;
through Christ our risen Lord.
All Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

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

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

You are worthy of our thanks and praise,

Lord God of truth,
for by the breath of your mouth
you have spoken your word,
and all things have come into being.
You fashioned us in your image
and placed us in the garden of your delight.
Though we chose the path of rebellion
you would not abandon your own.
Again and again you drew us into your covenant of grace.
You gave your people the law and taught us by your prophets
to look for your reign of justice, mercy and peace.
As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth,
we echo the song of the angels in heaven,
evermore praising you and saying:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Lord God, you are the most holy one,
enthroned in splendour and light,
yet in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ
you reveal the power of your love
made perfect in our human weakness.
All Amen. Lord, we believe.
Embracing our humanity,
Jesus showed us the way of salvation;
loving us to the end,
he gave himself to death for us;
dying for his own,
he set us free from the bonds of sin,
that we might rise and reign with him in glory.
All Amen. Lord, we believe.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

On the night he gave up himself for us all

he took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
All Amen. Lord, we believe.
In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
All Amen. Lord, we believe.
Therefore we proclaim the death that he suffered on the cross,
we celebrate his resurrection, his bursting from the tomb,
we rejoice that he reigns at your right hand on high
and we long for his coming in glory.
All Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
As we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our redemption,
Father, by your Holy Spirit let these gifts of your creation
be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
form us into the likeness of Christ
and make us a perfect offering in your sight.
All Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Look with favour on your people
and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts.
Bless the earth,
heal the sick,
let the oppressed go free
and fill your Church with power from on high.
All Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Gather your people from the ends of the earth
to feast with St James and all your saints
at the table in your kingdom,
where the new creation is brought to perfection
in Jesus Christ our Lord;

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

by whom, and with whom, and in whom,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
All Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
as our Saviour taught us, so we pray
All Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The president breaks the consecrated bread.

We break this bread

to share in the body of Christ.
All Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Jesus, Lamb of God,
All have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
All have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
All grant us peace.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

Giving of Communion
The president says the invitation to communion

Draw near with faith.

Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink
in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.
The president and people receive communion.

Prayer after Communion

All Almighty God,

we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory.
Amen.

¶ The Dismissal

Hymn
The candles of the congregation are re-lit.
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light.
You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your life.
All Shine as a light in the world
to the glory of God the Father.

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 Easter Sunday - Dawn Service of Light

Blessing
God, who through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
has given us the victory,
give you joy and peace in your faith;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.

The Dismissal
A minister says
With the risen life of Christ within you,
go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
The ministers and people depart.

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):

Agnus Dei © The Archbishops' Council 2002

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