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Mary Magdalene the Apostle Catholic Community 15th Anniversary Year - 2005-2020

“Jesus is not here. He has been raised, as was foretold.”

Easter Vigil – April 12, 2020 Announcements & Welcome Prelude The Beginning of the Solemn Vigil Blessing of the New Fire & Lighting of the Paschal Candle Dear friends in Christ, let us begin our solemn Vigil. Throughout the forty days of Lent, we have journeyed in the wilderness with our God. Through light and word, through water, bread and wine, let us celebrate the new life that Christ shares with us. On this most holy night, When Jesus passed from death to life, We come together as his disciples in vigil and prayer God, Creator of Darkness and Light, We share in the light of Your glory through Jesus. Make this fire holy And inflame us with Your spirit of new hope. Christ, yesterday and today, The beginning and the end, The Alpha and the Omega. All time belongs to You and all ages. O Christ, may Your rising in glory, enlighten our hearts and minds, and illuminate our ways. Amen.

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We have blessed the fire and lit the Paschal candle as a reminder of Christ’s light. I invite you now to light your own candle, bringing the light of Christ into your homes on this most holy night.

Christ Be Our Light (Vigil version) Farrell Now will the fire, kindled in darkness Burn to dispel the fear of night. Star of the morning, Jesus Messiah Giving the world new light. Christ be our light, shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness, Christ be our light, shine in your church, gathered today. This is the night, of new beginnings This is the night when heaven meets Earth This is the night filled with God’s glory Promise of our new birth. R. This is the night, Christ liberator, Rose from the grave triumphant and free, Leaving the tomb of evil and chaos, Empty for all to see. R. Sing of the hope, deeper than dying, Sing of the pow’r, stronger than death Sing of the love, endless as heaven, Dawning throughout the earth. R. Into this world, morning is breaking, All of God’s people, lift up your voice, Cry out with joy, tell out the story, All of the earth rejoice. R. Liturgy of the Word Invitation: Dear ones in Christ, we have begun our solemn vigil. Let us now listen attentively to the Word of God, proclaimed and lived throughout history and in a special way through Jesus. Through our Easter celebration, may God’s creating, freeing, loving work in us be brought to completion, we pray. Amen.

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READING 1: A Reading from the poem “Stardust” by Ernesto Cardenal: What’s in a star? We are. All the elements of our body and of the planet were once in the belly of a star. We are stardust. 15,000,000,000 years ago we were a mass of hydrogen floating in space, turning slowly, dancing. And the gas condensed more and more gaining increasingly more mass and mass became star and began to shine. As they condensed they grew hot and bright. Gravitation produced thermal energy: light and heat. That is to say love. Stars were born, grew, and died. And the galaxy was taking the shape of a flower the way it looks now on a starry night. Our flesh and our bones come from other stars and perhaps even from other galaxies, we are universal, and after death we will help to form other stars and other galaxies. We come from the stars, and to them we shall return. Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God. Psalm Let all praise the name of our God! Let all praise the name of our God! READING 2: A Reading from the Book of Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-17a, 18 After these things, God tested Abraham, saying, "Abraham!", who responded, "Here I am." God said, "Take your child, Isaac, the one whose mother is Sarah, the one whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you." When Abraham with his company of travelers came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar and laid some wood under it in order to fulfill the command. He bound his child, Isaac, whom he laid upon the altar, on top of the wood. Then

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Abraham reached out a hand and took the knife to kill his own child; but the angel of God called from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" Abraham replied, "Here I am." God intervened and said, "Do not lay your hand on the child or do anything to your love. I know now that you trust God, since you have not withheld your child, your only child by Sarah, from me." Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his child. The angel of God called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself I have sworn," says God: "Because you have done this, and have not withheld your child, your beloved, I will indeed bless you. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore. In your descendants, all the peoples of the earth will find blessing, because you have honored my voice." Midrash: “A Modern Midrash on Genesis 22” by Karen Soria ...Sarah struggled to stop the dream, to snatch away her son. But the dream slipped out of her grasp as she felt the universe spinning around her and images whirling about her: altar, wood, firestone, Isaac; wood, firestone, Isaac, Abraham; altar, Isaac, Abraham, knife; firestone, Isaac, Abraham; altar, Isaac, Abraham, knife; firestone, Isaac, Abraham, knife; Isaac, Abraham, ram. The images flashed too quickly for her to separate them. But a ram—she had seen a ram. Abraham, lift your eyes and see! He lifted the knife. Blinded by a fear and light greater than any she had ever known, Sarah screamed, "Abraham! Abraham!" And Abraham heard the angel of [God] calling him. Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God. Psalm

Let all praise the name of our God! Let all praise the name of our God!

READING 3: A Reading from the Book of Exodus 14:11-12, 21-22; 19:4; 15:20 The Hebrew people escaping from Egypt came to an impasse at the Red Sea. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you’ve taken us away to die in the desert? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? It would have been better for us to live as slaves than to die upon this desert shore." Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. God drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night. By sun break, the sea had turned into dry land and the waters were

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divided. The waters formed a wall for them, on the right and on the left; and the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground. God then said, "See how I liberated you from Egypt, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself?" Then the prophet Miriam took a tambourine in her hand. All the women went out after her with tambourines, dancing and singing. “The Song of Miriam” by Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn (1981) I, Miriam, stand at the sea and turn to face the desert stretching endless and still. My eyes are dazzled The sky brilliant blue Sunburnt sands unyielding white. My hands turn to dove wings. My arms reach for the sky and I want to sing the song rising inside me. My mouth open I stop. Where are the words? Where the melody? In a moment of panic My eyes go blind. Can I take a step Without knowing a Destination? Will I falter Will I fall Will the ground sink away

from under me? The song still unformed– How can I sing? To take the first step– To sing a new song– Is to close one’s eyes

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and dive into unknown waters. For a moment knowing nothing risking all– But then to discover The waters are friendly The ground is firm. And the song– the song rises again. Out of my mouth come words lifting the wind. And I hear for the first the song that has been in my heart silent unknown even to me. Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God Gloria Haas Glory to God in the highest, Sing glory to God! Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. O God, heavenly God, Divine One, and Creator. We worship You, we give You thanks. We praise You for Your glory. R O Jesus Christ, you are Child of our God, Holy One, the Messiah. You lift us to the fullness of life. You make us one body. You are bread for the world, you are bread for the world. R For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are Messiah, the Chosen, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God Creator. R EPISTLE: A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans 6:3-9 Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him, through baptism, into death, so that just as the Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, we too might live in newness of life.

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For if we have grown into union with the Christ through a similar death, we shall also be united with the Christ in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with Jesus, our immortal bodies unable to contain our truest selves. Now we are no longer slaves to human failing. For a dead person has been absolved of wrongdoing. If, then, we have died with the Christ, we believe that we shall also live with the Christ. We know that the Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has power over the Christ, death no longer has the last word. Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God Gospel Acclamation - Roll Away the Stone Roll away the stone, Al-le-lu-ia, roll away the stone. Roll away the stone, Al-le-lu-ia, roll away the stone. Gospel – Matthew 28:1-10 Our God is with you. And also with you. A Reading from the Gospel attributed to Matthew

Glory to You, O God. After the Sabbath, as the first light of day was breaking, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake. An angel of God, descending from the skies, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel had an appearance like lightning, with clothing white as snow. In fear, the guards shook and looked dead. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has been raised, as was foretold. Come, see the place where he lay. Then, go quickly and tell the disciples, 'Christ has been raised from the dead, and is indeed going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see the Christ again.’ This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy. They ran to tell the disciples. Unexpectedly, Jesus himself met the women and said, "Greetings!" They came and took hold of his feet in praise. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go. Tell the others to go to Galilee. There they also will see me." The Gospel of the Resurrection. Thanks be to God.

Homily

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Remembering our Baptism Blessing of Water God of all names, of all time, of all goodness, At the dawn of your creative love, You breathed on the waters that bring birth, death, and new birth. From your womb, water flows and life begins again. In our frail, yet hope filled history, You led us through the waters of the Red Sea, You revealed life sustaining love as Moses struck the rock and water flowed, You presented Jesus as the Christ In the waters of his baptism. You embraced him in tragic love and united him with us As water and blood flowed from the cross. In your Holy Spirit Now breathe upon and bless this water that will: Flow, Nurture, Wash, And send us forth a new creation to be the Body of Christ in your world. Affirmation of Faith As we remember our faith that calls us to new life in hope and love, let us respond “We do.” Do you believe in God, who created all things, whose creative love brought all things into being so that all would be in love? All: We do. Do you believe in Jesus the Christ, whose life and teaching, death and resurrection, brought the promise of love, justice and truth to all creation? All: We do. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, The Spirit in which we live as the Body of Christ The Spirit who raises us up in courage, compassion and peace, The Spirit who unbinds us and sets us free? All: We do. Do you believe in one Church, One Body whose life you are, The church where all are welcome? All: We do.

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This is our life and our faith. We are proud to profess it through Jesus the Christ. All: Amen. We now come to the blessing of the assembly and the litany of the saints. As our water has been blessed, so has your water been blessed. I invite you to now bless yourselves and any who are with you with that holy water as we join with the communion of saints across time who have called upon God. Litany of the Saints

The Litany of Saints is believed to date from the sixth century and features in various Christian traditions.

It is usually sung on Easter Vigil, All Saints' Day, and during the conferring of Holy Orders. The version we sing today was sung at Kori’s ordination to the priesthood on February 1,

2020. Mary and Joseph, Pray for us. Michael and all angels, Pray for us... Anna, Joachim, Elizabeth... Elijah, Moses, and Miriam... Isaac, Sara, Abraham... Jacob, Joseph, Rachel... Ruth, David, and Solomon... Isaiah, Jeremiah... All you holy people, pray for us. Peter, Paul, Andrew… Pray for us... James, John, and all apostles... Mary Magdalene, Veronica... Perpetua, Felicity.... Stephen, Phillip, and Lydia... Prisca and Aquila... Timothy and Chloe... Lucy, Agnes, and Clement... All you holy people, pray for us. Benedict and Scholastica… Pray for us... Patrick and Brigid... Ambrose, Monica, Augustine... Macrina and Gregory.... Clare, Francis, and Dominic... Francis Xavier, Ignatius... Julian and Catherine...

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Therese and Joan of Arc... All you holy people, pray for us. Martin and Coretta… Pray for us... Cesar Chavez, Oscar Romero... Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin... Corita Kent and Rosa Parks... John the Twenty-third and John Paul II... The Berrigan Brothers, Thomas Merton... Dorothy Kazel and Jeanne Donovan... Maura Clarke and Ita Ford… All you holy people, pray for us. Pauli Murray and Mollie Rogers… Pray for us... Maximilian Kolbe and Edith Stein… Kateri, Thecla, Pelagia… Mychal Judge and Vida Scudder… Albin, Konstancja, Rozalia… Staszek, Janek, and Kasia… Andrzej, Kasper and Ania… Jadwiga, Teresa, Jean-Marie… All you holy people, pray for us. God, give new life… Hear our prayer. To these chosen... By the grace of Baptism... O Jesus born of the living God... Send your Spirit... In its fullness... On all people… Who believe and profess you... O Christ, hear us, Jesus, hear our prayer. Liturgy of the Eucharist Offertory Song - We Come to Your Feast Joncas We place upon your table, a festive cloth tonight, the weaving of our stories, the fabric of our lives; the dreams of those before us, the ancient hopeful cries, the promise of our future: our needing and our nurture lie here before our eyes. We come to your feast, we come to your feast: the young and the old, the frightened, the bold,

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the greatest and the least. We come to your feast, we come to your feast with the fruit of our lands and the work of our hands, we come to your feast. We place upon your table a humble loaf of bread: the gift of field and hillside, the grain by which we're fed; we come to taste the presence of him on whom we feed, to strengthen and connect us, to challenge and correct us, to love in word and deed. We come to your feast, we come to your feast: the young and the old, the frightened, the bold, the greatest and the least. We come to your feast, we come to your feast with the fruit of our lands and the work of our hands, we come to your feast. Preparation of the Bread and Wine Blessed are You, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God forever. Blessed are You, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.

Blessed be God forever. Friends, pray that sharing this bread and wine will deepen our commitment to live the Gospel.

With the Risen Christ we commit ourselves to live the Gospel. Prayer Over the Gifts Generous and surprising God, when we thought that death had claimed your Chosen One, Jesus, you amazed us with the resurrection. Amaze us again with your ability to turn this bread and wine into gifts that will transform the world through our witness to your love. Set our hearts on fire with your love, O God, that we may proclaim the Good News of the Resurrection. We pray… Amen. Eucharistic Prayer God dwells in you. And also in you. Come to the table with thankful hearts. We open our hearts to God and to one another.

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God of all Creation, with your breath, all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses and this fragile earth, our island home. You are unceasingly at work, bringing order from chaos and filling emptiness with life. Your love restores our broken world. Your Chosen One, Jesus the Christ, raised from the dead, proclaims the dawn of new life. And so we join with all of creation, on earth and throughout the cosmos, and with all those in every generation who have looked to You in hope, singing our unending song of praise: Sanctus Booth

Holy, Holy, Holy, O God, our God, Spirit and Life Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed are all who come in the name of our God. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest. In the first light of Easter, glory broke from the tomb and changed Mary Magdalene’s sorrow into joy. From the Garden the mystery shone clear that life in You transcends death. May we follow Jesus’ example and love our neighbors and our enemies as ourselves and give Your Spirit freedom to act in us to transform ourselves and our world.

[Please extend your hand, palm up, toward the bread and wine.] Making himself known in the breaking of the bread, Jesus renewed the promise of his presence. On the night before he died, he gathered with his friends to share a final meal. We open ourselves to Your Spirit who sanctifies and transforms these gifts to become You in us, the body and blood of Christ. We remember that… All: …on the night before Jesus died, while at supper with his friends, he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them saying: “Take this, all of you and eat. This is my body. Do this in memory of me.”

[Pause]

In the same way, Jesus took the cup filled with wine. He said the blessing, gave the cup to his friends, and said, “Take this all of you and drink. This is my life-blood, the covenant of new and everlasting life. Do this in memory of me.” Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: [Sung] Booth When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Jesus, until you come again.

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Let Your Spirit also come upon all leaders, secular and religious. Catch all of them by surprise. Fill their hearts with a longing for equality and justice. Imbue them with the joy of divine diversity. Bestow on them the wealth of humble service to others. Make them faithful servants of the body of Christ. Be with those who are sick and those who suffer, especially in this time of pandemic. Be with all who are caregivers, nurses, doctors, and technicians. Be with all those who are essential workers – in stores, in government, delivery drivers and all those to risk their health for our sake. Be with those who are at risk from this virus and who do not have the means to protect themselves. Be with all who have died and gone before us into the fullness of union with You. Be with us in our struggling attempts live out your example of love. With the help of Jesus, strengthen us to live lives that bring You honor and glory: Great Amen [Recited] In the name of God, Source of Life, In the name of Jesus, Source of Transformation, In the name of the Spirit, Source of Freedom, We offer our prayer of praise, this day and forever. [Sung] Booth Amen, Amen, amen. Amen, amen, amen. The Prayer of Jesus Throughout the centuries, the prayer of Jesus, often known as the “Our Father,” has been translated and rendered in many different ways. At this time, we invite you to join us in praying in the language and words most comfortable to you. (We offer these words as a contemporary rendering from Enfleshed.com.) Loving Creator of us all, who dwells within and beyond, Sacred is your name. May your holy vision for collective flourishing come to fruition among us. May your dreams of justice, love, compassion, and connection be enfleshed on earth. Provide us today with what we need to be nourished in body, soul, and heart. Forgive us for the harm we cause as we seek to forgive those who have harmed us. Lead us away from everything that destroys and liberate us from the hands of evil. For you are the ultimate source of hope. Your power-with exceeds all power-over. Your presence incites eternal wonder. All praise to you, our comfort and strength. Amen.

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The Sign of Peace: May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you. And also with you. Let us offer one another – and the whole world – God’s peace. Lamb of God [Sung] Booth Lamb of God, you call us to the gospel of Hope. O Lamb of God. Lamb of God, you call us to the gospel of Love. O Lamb of God. Lamb of God, you call us to the gospel of Peace. O Lamb of God. Grant us peace. This is the Bread of the Resurrection, the Wine of New Life. We are blessed to share in the Mystery of Life. When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we are raised up into new life. This is Jesus’ table. He made no restrictions and neither do we. We believe that Christ is present with us by the Holy Spirit, whenever and wherever we the church share this sacrament together. So, the table you are using right now is no longer your table alone. It is part of Christ’s table, and you are part of Christ’s church. May all who share with us in this spiritual communion be united with us in the Body of Christ that knows no bounds. Amen. I invite you now to share in the meal with us. Communion Songs – Alleluia! Love is Alive! People of God, see the morning is new; rise from your sleeping and run to the tomb. Come and see! Come and see! God is alive! A grave that is empty, a promise fulfilled. God who was with us is here with us still. God is here! God is here! God is alive! Refrain: Alleluia! Love is alive; conquered the grave and defeated the night.

Alleluia! Love is alive! The Christ has arisen for all. Your people sing alleluia!

People of God, let your fear fall away. Your chais have been broken; abandon your shame. Loft your hearts! Lift your hearts! God is alive! Here now is healing embracing your soul; here the fulfillment that once was foretold. It is true! It is true! God is alive! Refrain.

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People of God, now rejoicing in Christ, carry your joy through the shadows of night. Tell the world! Tell the world! God is alive! Here the good news of his glorious day, every heart singing as heaven proclaims: God is here! God is here! God is alive! Refrain. Communion Meditation Christine Haider-Winnett

“In case we forget” By Christine Haider-Winnett

She awoke before dawn that day

and breathed easy for one blessed moment

Before remembering: What the knot in her stomach was Why her eyes were dry from crying

That all had been lost She arose, cloaked in dread

And went out into that black morning Carrying her somber duty with both hands

And when she ran back, shouting, Fresh dawn on wet cheeks

They pulled their drapes down Tightened the lock

and held their breath until she’d passed

It was only in hindsight That they realized they’d been saved.

Prayer after Communion (adapted from “Joy” by Joyce Rupp) Let Easter Joy come forth in us like the Risen One, easily slipping from the darkened tomb. Let Easter Joy come with Easter gladness and robust power, easily rolling away the stones that keep us and our church entombed. Let Easter Joy come dance in us like the Risen One, showing up unexpectedly, stirring deadened grief, startling sad eyes into hopeful ones, and lifting the heavy curtains of despair. Let us emblazon our Eastering on everyone. Let Easter joy go with us like the Risen One into everyday places, gladdening hearts that have given up, catapulting the lonely into communities of kinship and lifting the downcast into summersaults of hope. Amen. Alleluia!

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Normally, at this point, I would invite all of you to join us for our traditional Easter reception in the garden room. Tonight, however, after our closing song, you are welcome to stay and chat with one another as you wish. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you and yours a joyous Easter, whereas you may be. Blessing & Sending Forth We part from one another as God’s chosen witnesses, to testify that Christ has been raised and that we are raised with him. Do not look for him among the dead, but be glad and rejoice in his resurrection. And may God raise you from all that would entomb you; May Christ Jesus call you by name and go ahead of you; And may the Holy Spirit empower you for all that is good. Amen. Alleluia Christ is Risen. The sacred mysteries are made manifest. Let our service continue with rejoicing, Alleluia. Alleluia! Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia! Closing Song – Hallelujah is our Song Hart What hope we have, even in the longest night, For the dawn will overcome. We will not fear, for we know the sun will rise. Hallelujah is our song. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen over all! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah is our song! What peace we have, even in this wounded world Where the battle rages on. We will not fear, for we know who heals our souls. Hallelujah is our song. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen over all! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah is our song! What hope, even in the longest night, For the dawn will overcome. And we shall live; Humans, we will rise to saints. Hallelujah is our song. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Christ is risen over all! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah is our song!

Music used with permission LicenSing #L8969 & OneLicense #A-71188