The Easter Liturgy

The Service of Light, the Vigil, the Liturgy of

Initiation & the First Eucharist of Easter
Easter Day, Sunday 31st March 2013 at 5.30 am
 Welcome to Coventry Cathedral
We are delighted that you have come to worship with us to celebrate the
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This Easter Liturgy is a modern form of ceremonies which date from the
very beginning of the life of the Church. Today’s service is in four
sections:
The Service of Light takes place in the Ruins. The Easter Candle is lit,
symbolising the Light of Christ which even death was not able to put out.
A version of the traditional Exsultet is sung: an ancient Easter song of
praise to the risen Christ.
The Vigil continues in the new Cathedral. In ancient times Christians kept
watch through the night, nourished and encouraged by passages of
scripture which spoke of God’s saving acts. Our readings today follow a
baptismal theme.
The Liturgy of Initiation recalls the early centuries of the Church’s life, when
new converts came for baptism at Easter. We welcome candidates for
confirmation from the entire diocese, and also renew our own baptism
vows, recalling Paul’s teaching that, as in baptism we died with Christ to
sin, so we will rise with him to new life. (Romans 6.3-5).
The Eucharist is always a celebration that the Lord is risen, and none more
so than the Eucharist of Easter. The risen Lord Jesus comes among us,
and we receive his life in order to live for him in the world.
Please pray for the candidates for baptism and confirmation, who come
from:

Arley, St Wilfred & Ansley, St Lawrence

Cathedral Church of St Michael
Whitnash, St Margaret & Warwick Gates Community Church

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The Service of Light
Before the service, the people gather in the Ruins facing the Daïs. As far as possible, you
are invited to wait in SILENCE. At 5.25 the clergy and ministers enter the Ruins,
escorting Bishop Christopher, who offers an informal greeting to the people, before saying

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

on this most holy night,
when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life,
the Church invites her children throughout the world
to come together in vigil and prayer.
This is the Passover of the Lord.
We remember his death and resurrection
by hearing his word and celebrating his mysteries,
confident that we shall share his victory over death
and live with him for ever in God.

The Bishop then prays

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.
Amen.

The Easter Candle is presented to the Bishop, who traces on it a cross, the Greek letters
Alpha Α and Omega Ω, and the numbers of the current year

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.
Amen.
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 The Easter Candle
The Bishop then inserts five grains of incense into the Easter Candle

By his holy (1)

and glorious wounds (2)
may Christ our Lord (3)
guard (4)
and keep us (5)

The Easter Candle is lit and the Bishop says

May the light of Christ, rising in glory,

banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.

The deacon, bearing the Easter Candle, leads the procession IN SILENCE to the
Sanctuary in the Ruins

This response is then repeated several times, rising in volume each time

The light of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

The deacon holds the Easter Candle. The other ministers light their candles from it and
then share the light with the congregation

The Exsultet
The deacon sings
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
O Universe, dance around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the victorious trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in glory, revealing the splendour of your creation,
radiant in the brightness of your triumphant King!
Christ has conquered! Now his life and glory fill you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
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 Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Saviour, our Lord of life, shines upon you!
Let all God’s people sing and shout for joy.

The deacon continues, and everyone replies

It is indeed 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.

For this is the Passover feast,

when Christ the true Lamb of God is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all the faithful.
Glory to you for ever.
This is the night when you first saved our ancestors,
freeing Israel from her slavery,
and leading her safely through the sea.
Glory to you for ever.

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This is the night when Jesus Christ vanquished hell,
broke the chains of death,
and rose triumphant from the grave.
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.
Glory to you for ever.
This is the night which gave us back what we had lost;
beyond our deepest dreams
you made even our sin a happy fault.
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.
Glory to you for ever.
Night truly blessed, when hatred is cast out,
peace and justice find a home, heaven is joined to earth
and all creation is reconciled to you.
Glory to you for ever.
Therefore, heavenly Father, in this our Easter joy
accept our sacrifice of praise, your Church’s solemn offering;
and 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!

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The Vigil
Everyone follows the Bishop and other ministers into the new Cathedral to the seating
arranged at the West End. The candidates for baptism and confirmation come to the
front rows. The Easter Candle is placed at the Chi-Rho

The Bishop says

As we await the risen Christ, let us hear the record of God’s saving
deeds in history, recalling how he saved his people in ages past and
in the fullness of time sent his Son to be our Redeemer; and let us
pray that through this Easter celebration God may bring to
perfection in each of us the saving work he has begun.

The First Reading: The Creation

Everyone SITS as verses from Genesis 1 and 2 are read by John Lloyd, Cathedral
Reader

Everyone then STANDS to sing as Jimmy Lawrence leads

He is the Lord, and he reigns on high: he is the Lord.

Spoke into the darkness, created the light: he is the Lord.
Who is like unto him, never ending in days?
he is the Lord.
And he comes in power when we call on his name:
he is the Lord.

Show your power, O Lord our God,

show your power, O Lord our God, our God.
Kevin Prosch
Copyright © 1991 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing

Then the Bishop says

Christ is the image of the unseen God;

through him all things were made.
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He then prays

Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth
and made us in your own image:
teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and your likeness in all your children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
Amen.

The Second Reading: The Fall

Everyone SITS as Genesis 3.1-10 is read by Canon David Porter, Director for
Reconciliation Ministry

Everyone then STANDS to sing

You laid aside your majesty,

gave up everything for me,
suffered at the hands of those you had created.
You took all my guilt and shame,
when you died and rose again;
now today you reign,
in heaven and earth exalted.
I really want to worship you, my Lord,
you have won my heart
and I am yours for ever and ever;
I will love you.
You are the only one who died for me,
gave your life to set me free,
so I lift my voice to you in adoration.
Noel Richards
Copyright © 1985 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

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Then the Bishop says

As in Adam all die,

so in Christ shall all be made alive.

He then prays

Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son was revealed
to destroy the works of the devil
and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:
grant that we, having this hope,
may purify ourselves even as he is pure;
that when he shall appear in power and great glory
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
where he is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Third Reading: Crossing the Red Sea

Everyone SITS as Exodus 14.5-25 is read by the Very Reverend John Witcombe,
Dean of Coventry

Everyone then STANDS to sing

The splendour of the King, clothed in majesty,

let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.
He wraps himself in light and darkness tries to hide
and trembles at his voice, and trembles at his voice.

How great is our God! Sing with me

how great is our God! And all will see
how great, how great is our God!

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 And age to age he stands, and time is in his hands,
Beginning and the End, Beginning and the End.
The Godhead, three in one, Father, Spirit, Son,
The Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb.

Name above all names, worthy of all praise,

my heart will sing how great is our God!
Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves & Ed Cash
SF 2065 Copyright © 2004 worshiptogether.com

Then the Bishop says

The Lord is my strength and my might.

He has become my salvation.

He then prays

Lord God our redeemer,

who heard the cry of your people
and sent your servant Moses to lead them out of slavery:
free us from the tyranny of sin and death
and, by the leading of your Spirit,
bring us to our promised land;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Easter Acclamation

After a period of silence, the Bishop exclaims

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Everyone responds, with increasing volume

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 He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
At this point, the organist plays a paean of praise, the Peace Bell is rung continually,
and the Cathedral is flooded with light. After extinguishing their candles, members of
the congregation are invited to clap, cheer, dance, sing and let off party poppers – please
do these things without restraint!

When the organist has concluded, and the Bell ceases to be rung, the Bishop prays

The Collect
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Everyone sings as the Gospel procession moves to the Chi-Rho

Alleluia
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once, upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

The Gospel
The deacon says

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

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Everyone responds

Alleluia! Glory to you, O Lord!

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But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the
tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the
stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did
not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly
two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5The women were
terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to
them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not
here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you, while he was still
in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners,
and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ 8Then they
remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all
this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene,
Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with
them who told this to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to
them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter got up
and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen
cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had
happened.
Luke 24.1-12
This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Everyone responds

Alleluia! Praise to you, O Christ!

Everyone then sings

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!

unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
who endured the Cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

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 The Homily
Everyone SITS after the Bishop has prayed

The Liturgy of Initiation

The Bishop 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.

The Presentation of the Candidates

The Bishop invites those who are candidates for baptism to gather round him. He then
asks them

Do you wish to be baptized?

I do.

The Bishop invites the candidates for confirmation who have been baptized also to
gather round him. He then asks them

Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit?
I have.

Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart
to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?
I am.

The Bishop addresses the whole congregation

Faith is the gift of God to his people.

In baptism the Lord is adding to our number
those whom he is calling.
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 People of God, will you welcome these candidates
and uphold them in their new life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.

The Decision
The Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Everyone STANDS. The Bishop says to the candidates

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

To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with
him. Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us

from God and our neighbour?
I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.

Signing with the Cross

The Bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each candidate for baptism

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 Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.

Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ

against sin, the world and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.

May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,

restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
Amen.

Everyone moves to gather round the Font

Prayer over the Water

As the deacon pours water into the font, the Bishop says

Praise God who made heaven and earth;

who keeps his promise for ever.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

The Bishop stretches his hands over the water and says

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ

was baptized in the river Jordan:
we thank you for the gift of water to cleanse and revive us.
Saving God, give us life!

We thank you that through the waters of the Red Sea

you led your people out of slavery
to freedom in the promised land.
Saving God, give us life!

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 We thank you that through the deep waters of death
you brought your Son, and raised him to life in triumph.
Saving God, give us life!

Let this water remind us that in our baptism

we have been made one with Christ
in his death and in his resurrection,
and have been cleansed and delivered from all sin.
Saving God, give us life!

Grant that we who have been brought to new birth

by water and the Spirit
may be raised with Christ to full and eternal life;
for all might, majesty, authority and power are yours,
now and for ever.
Saving God, give us life!
Alleluia! Amen!

Profession of Faith
The Bishop says to everyone

And now, brothers and sisters,

I ask you to profess the faith of the Church:

Do you believe and trust in God the Father,

who created all things?
I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ,

who redeemed the world?
I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit,

who gives life to the people of God?
I believe and trust in him.

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 This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Baptism
The Bishop pours water on the candidates for baptism, saying

N, I baptize you in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.

The candidates for confirmation who have previously been baptized come to the Font,
dip their hands in the water and make the sign of the cross on themselves. Then the
Bishop and deacon sprinkle the whole congregation with water as a reminder of the
sacrament of baptism in which all Christians share

Everyone then says

Almighty God,
we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith
with all who have been baptized into your name.
Keep us faithful to our baptism,
and so make us ready for that day
when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

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 Confirmation
The candidates for confirmation stand in front of the Bishop, and are joined by those
presenting them. Everyone else SITS

The Bishop says

Our help is in the name of the Lord

who has made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

now and for ever. Amen.

The Bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed and prays

Almighty and ever-living God,

you have given these your servants new birth
in baptism by water and the Spirit,
and have forgiven them all their sins.
Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them:
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;
the Spirit of counsel and inward strength;
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness;
and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord.
Amen.

Music is played, and members of the congregation are encouraged to join in quiet prayer
for all the candidates

Those presenting the candidates come forward

The Bishop anoints each candidate with holy oil, saying

N, God has called you by name and made you his own.

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He then lays hands on each candidate and continues

Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Bishop then leads the congregation in this prayer

Defend, O Lord, these your servants

with your heavenly grace,
that they may continue yours for ever,
and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more,
until they come to your everlasting kingdom.
Amen.

Welcome
The Bishop says

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:

by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.
We welcome you into the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

Everyone STANDS

The Peace
The Bishop introduces the Peace

God has made us one in the risen Christ.

He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come,
has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

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The deacon says

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Everyone shares the Peace joyfully

During the following song the ministers and the newly-confirmed gather around the
Nave Altar and the congregation moves to the seating at the front of the Nave. Please
follow the directions of the wardens and stewards
Song
In Christ alone my hope is found,
he is my light, my strength, my song;
this corner-stone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all;
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground his body lay,

light of the world by darkness slain;
then bursting forth in glorious day
up from the grave he rose again!
And as he stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
for I am his, and he is mine,
bought with the precious blood of Christ.
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 No guilt in life; no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from his hand:
Till he returns or calls me home
here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Copyright © Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

At the end of the song everyone remains STANDING

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Bishop says, and everyone replies

The Lord is here.

His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

We give you thanks and praise

for the Gospel we have received.
Christ died for our sins. Alleluia!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Death comes to all through Adam,

and sin reigns for a time.
New life without end comes through Christ,
and he reigns for ever. Alleluia!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
Death is swallowed up in victory,
the victory you give us in Christ. Alleluia!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

We have been crucified with Christ, and live his risen life,
to praise you for ever with angels and archangels:

Everyone sings

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

The Bishop continues

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;

grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
and according to your holy will,
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
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.

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.

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The deacon sings

and all respond

The Bishop continues

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,

his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world;
rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming in glory,
we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.

As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,

we bring before you this bread and this cup
and we thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people

and gather into one in your kingdom
all who share this one bread and one cup,
so that we, in the company of all the saints,
may praise and glorify you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord:

Everyone sings

All glory to the Father be,

All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
While endless ages run.
Alleluia! Amen!
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The congregation SITS or KNEELS, and SILENCE is kept

The Lord’s Prayer

The Bishop says

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,

as our Saviour taught us, so we pray

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.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Bishop breaks the consecrated bread

Lord, we died with you on the cross.

Now we are raised to new life.

We were buried in your tomb.

Now we share in your resurrection.

Lord, our hearts hunger for you;

give us this bread always.

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 The Invitation to Communion
The Bishop says

Alleluia! Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

The Giving of Communion

The ministers give Communion to the people: please wait in your seat to be directed by a
churchwarden or steward. Communicant members of all churches are invited to receive
Communion if they wish to do so
Those who do not intend to receive Communion, but wish to receive a blessing, are asked
to carry this booklet as an indication to the ministers
During the distribution of Communion a number of songs are sung. Please feel free to
listen or to join in

The Prayer after Communion

The Bishop introduces the following prayer

God of Life,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection
have delivered us from the power of our enemy:
grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him
in the joy of his risen life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Everyone STANDS to sing

Hymn
During the hymn new candles are distributed to those who have been confirmed

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 Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;

lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting;

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;

life is nought without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above:
E.L. Budry (1854-1932), tr. R.B. Hoyle (1875-1939)
Tune CP 160 Maccabaeus G.F. Handel (1685-1759)

The Dismissal
The Blessing
The Bishop exclaims

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Everyone responds, with increasing volume

He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

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The Bishop says

God the Father,

by whose love Christ was raised from the dead,
open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life.
Alleluia! Amen!

God the Son,

who in bursting from the grave has won a glorious victory,
give you joy as you share the Easter faith.
Alleluia! Amen!

God the Holy Spirit,

whom the risen Lord breathed into his disciples,
empower you and fill you with Christ’s peace.
Alleluia! Amen!

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Alleluia! Amen!

The deacon says

With the risen life of Christ within you,

go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Organ Voluntary

‘La rejouissance’ George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
(Music for the Royal Fireworks IV)

The Bishop moves to the West Screen with those who have been confirmed, followed by
the procession of clergy and other ministers

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Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England and Common Worship: Times
and Seasons, material from which is included in this special service booklet, is copyright © The Archbishops’
Council of the Church of England 2000/6.

Other texts are reproduced under CCL 17597

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