Home » Religion Articles » St. David's Episcopal Church to Celebrate Great Easter Vigil
St. David's Episcopal Church to Celebrate Great Easter Vigil
Ancient spiritual ceremony one of the church highlights for Holy Week starting March 28
KENNEBUNK, ME, March 24, 2010 /Religion PR News/ -- St. David's Episcopal Church on Route 1 will offer a series of special services to commemorate and celebrate Holy Week and Easter starting on Palm Sunday, March 28. One of the week's highlights on Saturday will be an ancient spiritual service of the Great Vigil of Easter which is not commonly held in most churches, but one that historically ushers in Easter Day.
On Easter Eve, Saturday, April 3 at 8 p.m. the church will hold this unique candlelit spiritual procession to celebrate The Great Vigil of Easter. The service begins symbolically in total darkness. Candles are then lit to embody the "new fire" of the brightness, joy and rebirth of Easter. Ancient church people would observe this ritual and stay up all night to welcome in the first light of Easter Day.
"Of all the services and liturgies in Christianity, this is easily one of the oldest. Written in 210 A.D. by Bishop Hippolytus, this is the service where we gather to light the "new fire" of Easter," Rev. Daniel Riggall of St. David's said. "While we won't be up all night like the early Christians, this event will take people on a meaningful spiritual journey they don't often see, that embodies what this season on our religious calendar is all about, a movement from darkness to light, and one of death to rebirth."
St. David's Episcopal Church opens its doors routinely year-round to welcome people of all ages and denominations to come worship and find fellowship at this and other services that they hold. Also offered are a myriad of ongoing community and social activities at the church, including Sunday school, lectures and adult education. The following is a list of services offered for Holy Week and Easter:
• Palm Sunday, March 28. Services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: There will be distribution of palm fronds, a reading of the Passion Narrative and celebration of Holy Eucharist. The Adult Choir will be performing for the 10:30 service.
• Maundy Thursday, April 1. Service at 7:00 p.m.: Service will commemorate the Lord's Last Supper. This is a very community-oriented service which includes the ceremonial washing of feet for any who would like to participate. The Church and Altar are stripped of all ornamentation in preparation for Good Friday.
• Good Friday, April 2. Services at 7:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon: Service will observe the "Stations of the Cross." This service consists of processing around the church, stopping at each symbolic "station" for prayers and readings from the Scripture. This ancient custom, widely-practiced throughout Christianity from about the 4th century, recalls and re-enacts the path of Jesus from his trial to the cross.
• Good Friday, April 2. Service at 7:00 p.m.: This service will focus on the Liturgy of Good Friday, on this, the most solemn day of the Church Year. The passion story is told, and the congregation enters into a period of darkness, awaiting the coming of the Easter resurrection and new life.
• The Great Vigil of Easter, April 3. Service at 8 p.m.: Come witness and partake in the most ancient service in Christianity written by Bishop Hippolytus in 210 A.D. This service begins in total darkness, followed by the lighting of candles and ending with the brightness and joy of Easter. Ancient Christians were accustomed to staying up all night following this service to be awake for the dawn of Easter Day.
• Easter Day, Sunday, April 4. Services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.: Visitors are invited to join us for services at 8:00 a.m. for Holy Eucharist, Rite I with hymns and sermon, or at 10:30 a.m. for a Festive Celebration of Holy Eucharist, Rite II with choir music, hymns and sermon.
St. David's is an active welcoming parish. In addition to our church services we are involved in many outreach projects in the community, which complement our social activities such as our supper series, craft and book fairs, poetry readings, and dances. For more information on upcoming events please visit our calendar at: http://www.stdavidskennebunk.org/.
About St. David's Episcopal Church: Saint David's Episcopal Church is a year-round parish in an old New England community which was first settled in 1650. In addition to its full schedule of worship activities and observances, this dynamic congregation offers residents many educational and social outlets and is actively engaged in community outreach and service. The church consists of a lively proportion of young families, mixed with a healthy blend of middle-aged and retired communicants from the seacoast area. Since York County is among the fastest growing areas of Maine, many of our communicants are new residents "from away." This mix is augmented each summer by visitors to the area, many of whom consider us their vacation church home. In the warm and informal atmosphere of Saint David's, new friendships blossom and roots in the new home community are easily established. For more information, please visit: http://www.stdavidskennebunk.org/.
For St. David's Episcopal Church Inquiries:
Cathy Zub, Parish Administrator
St. David's Episcopal Church
138 York Street
Kennebunk, Maine 04043
207-985-3073
office@stdavidskennebunk.org
For Media Inquiries:
Mary Raitt Jordan
Drake's Island Media
207-985-3999
207-337-0050 mobile
mj@maine.rr.com
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