Christ is Risen! – Jan Enwright
On the Wednesday before Easter, during Conversations at Palm Beach, we were invited by Mary-Anne to share our stories of memorable past Easters.
My memorable Easter stories were about the Easter Eve service, which was known then as the Easter Vigil. Traditionally this service was held at midnight but latterly ours were held earlier in the evening, just as it was getting dark.
I first discovered the Easter Vigil a few years ago. Not knowing what to expect, I found it a wonderful, meaningful experience and it has since become my favourite service in the church’s calendar. This beautiful celebratory service is very special and full of symbolic significance which includes the lighting of the Paschal (Easter) candle, the presentation to the parish of the three Holy Oils and the renewal of Baptismal vows.
The services I attended began with the clergy and congregation gathering outside the church round a small fire from which the Easter candle was lit, representing the Light of Christ. Once the Easter candle was alight the priest led the people into the unlit church. As the procession moved inside everyone was given a small candle to hold, these in turn were lit from the Easter candle. The candles were held throughout the service until it concluded with a wonderful, celebration commemorating the Resurrection. The lights were turned on and all the bells in the church were rung to announce that ‘Christ is Risen’.
At my parish church in Wales, we used a small charcoal BBQ to contain the fire. It was always a challenge to keep the fire alight in the wind and rain. The weather very often was wet and windy!
One memorable Easter Eve our parish joined with All Saints, which is another church in our local ministry area. In preparation for the service, it was decided to use a small bonfire for the ceremony of lighting the Easter candle. The church is in the heart of the village and the large grassy grounds are surrounded by houses. The flames of the bonfire got so big that we thought someone from a neighbouring house might call the Fire Brigade! Fortunately, by the time the service began the flames had subsided and the fire was a manageable size.
Another rather memorable Easter Eve service was held at St Peter’s, my then parish church. At this service I was part of the serving team and one of my duties was to strike the large metal sanctuary gong at the appropriate time. Because it is such a wonderful celebration, Fr George had told us to ring the bells loudly, and ‘go for it’; so, I did. While striking the gong as enthusiastically as I could, the striker’s wooden stick broke in half and went flying across the sanctuary floor! I never lived it down.
Fr George our vicar always said that unless we had ‘walked’ with Christ during Holy Week we could not fully appreciate the joy of Easter. The Holy Week services are truly significant in that they allow us to enter spiritually into the last days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, His Passion and Death on the Cross and then for the first time on Easter Eve to celebrate the joy of His Resurrection.
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
On reflection the broken stick shows me that Easter is a time of spiritual renewal and a time to break with old self-centred ways and to start a new life in Christ. May you all experience the joy and hope of Easter for ‘We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.’
Grace and peace, Jan