Americans tend to treat Christmas as the most important holiday
of the year. The lavish seasonal displays in the stores, the
countdowns of remaining shopping days and the amount of money spent
on gifts are all evidence of this.
Americans tend to treat Christmas as the most important holiday of the year. The lavish seasonal displays in the stores, the countdowns of remaining shopping days and the amount of money spent on gifts are all evidence of this.
But for the earliest followers of Jesus of Nazareth, Easter – “the central and most ancient feast of the church year, celebrating Christ’s resurrection from the dead” – held that position. Many different religious traditions have developed for celebrating this important holiday.
Perhaps the earliest is the Great Vigil of Easter, still observed by Roman Catholic and many Episcopal and Lutheran churches. Although there are variations in practice, the liturgy generally follows this pattern: Service of the Light, Service of the Word, Service of the Water and Service of the Cup.
Jewish holidays always began at sundown, and early Christians continued this practice. The vigil generally begins outside the church building where a “New Fire” is kindled and used to light a large Paschal (Easter) candle that is brought into the church accompanied by a procession. Christians may interpret this as bringing the Light of Christ into the world.
Then follows a number of Bible readings that provide dramatic instances of God’s great deeds in bringing salvation to humans, such as the Creation, Noah’s Ark and Abraham’s test of faith over the life of Isaac.
The third part of the vigil is the celebration of rites of initiation. In the ancient church, all baptisms were performed at the Easter vigil, and this is still a preferred time for the sacrament. Sometimes new members are also received at this time through confirmation or transfer from another denomination.
The vigil concludes with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (the “First Mass of Easter”). Light from candles banished darkness inside the church at the beginning of the service; now the congregation symbolically receives the risen Christ into their lives through receiving Communion.
Several South Valley Churches are offering the Easter vigil on Sunday:
– 8:30 a.m. at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 11 First St., Gilroy
– 8 a.m. at St. Benedict Roman Catholic Church, 1200 Fairview Road, Hollister
– 7 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 431 Seventh St., Hollister
– 8:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Roman Catholic Church, 17400 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill
– 8 a.m. at Advent Lutheran Church, 16870 Murphy Ave., Morgan Hill
– 6 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 17740 Peak Ave., Morgan Hill
Another popular Easter observance is the sunrise service. The Gospel accounts report that several women came early Sunday morning to the tomb where Jesus’ body had been left to prepare it for burial, but his body was gone. Instead, two angels informed them that Jesus was alive.
Commemorating this event, many Christians hold a simple outdoor service at daybreak on Easter morning. At 6:30 a.m., the Morgan Hill United Methodist Church will hold a service in a clearing on a hill overlooking the downtown church followed by a pancake breakfast in the fellowship hall. For more information, call (408) 779-4044.
Probably the most popular Easter services are held later in the morning in churches bursting with worshippers who may not be seen again until the end of the year at Christmas. This is a traditional occasion for worshippers to wear their finest clothing, for choirs and extra musicians to perform impressive music and for mountains of Easter lilies to decorate the buildings, all emphasizing the importance of the commemoration of the resurrection. Often elaborate worship is followed by Easter egg hunts for the children or a festive brunch.
Also at this time of year, some churches invite the public to special musical performances separate from worship services. Morgan Hill’s Shadow Mountain Baptist Church invites residents to “Shadow of the Cross,” an Easter musical that illustrates why “Peoples’ lives were changed forever that day.” Free performances are offered at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (408) 782-7806 for details.
