Holy Saturday
Today is Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday Liturgy for Home Use
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Why is this Holy Saturday different than all other Holy Saturdays?
On Holy Saturday we spend the day in stillness, solemnly waiting for what the disciples did not know but what in hindsight we have come to understand as the Christ risen promise of new light and life given for the whole world. In the past when night's dark shield settled to shelter our sorrow the Church "invited her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer," to light the New Fire, carry the renewed Light of Christ into the sanctuaries of our hearts while singing the words of the Exsultet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Ytyy2apLg
click her or scroll to the bottom
"Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King."
Having displaced the darkness with the light of our candles lit from the New Fire, we would carry them into the sanctuary and hear the presider introduce the stories of our salvation history, "Let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, how God saved the people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption."
Carefully we would consider our God who wonderfully
restores the dignity of human nature,
promises never to destroy all of humanity giving
the rainbow as a sign of the promise,
delivers us from slavery under unjust rulers,
appears to us and wipes away the tears from our eyes,
gives water to the thirsty,
plants within us a new heart and new spirit,
brings us out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life....
After what seems to be an endless time in exile, isolation and quarantine,
God gathers us together and
"Lets the whole world know that things that were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection."
Years past we would then renew our Baptismal Vows and the priest proclaimed
Alleluia. Christ is risen!
And everyone shouted
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
This Holy Saturday is different than all other Holy Saturdays.
This Holy Saturday we are quiet. The darkness that covers us will not be displaced by new light. It is not yet time to shout our alleluias. We remain in the cave waiting on the Lord because we are in exile from one another. We are barred from gathering to light the New Fire. Our sanctuaries are locked and we are not allowed to carry the New Light of Christ into their hollow midst. We are still waiting for what is cast down to be raised up, what has grown old to be made new. We are still waiting for Covid-19 to retreat.
Along with birthday parties, weddings, memorial celebrations, graduations, sports events and the countless ways we gather to rejoice in our lives together, Easter is postponed. Holy Saturday extends through this night and into Sunday morning.
This Holy Saturday is different than all other Holy Saturdays.
What then shall we do?
When the sun has set, take time to be still. You may want to listen to the Tallis Scholars singing Palestrina
"Lamentations for Holy Saturday"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UL5-Mk_H_Q
click here or scroll to bottom
or perhaps you prefer to remain quiet. When your body is relaxed and your mind peaceful, lift up your voice as an offering to God either reading aloud or chanting the anthem "In the midst of life...."
In the midst of life we are in death;
from whom can we seek help?
From you alone, O Lord,
who by our sins are justly angered.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts;
shut not your ears to our prayers,
but spare us, O Lord.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
O worthy and eternal Judge,
do not let the pains of death
turn us away from you at our last hour.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Spend some time considering your losses, losses in any aspect of your life, losses to people you love, losses to your community, your church, your world.
You may want to listen to Henry Purcell"s
"Funeral Sentence" by scrolling to the bottom or remain quiet.
When you are ready to end your Holy Saturday Home Service conclude with this prayer.
Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with everyone effected by Covid19. Assuage our fear and relieve our grief. Infuse all of us with your love, that we may not be overwhelmed by our physical, social and economic losses, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus the Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please join us tomorrow for our 9:30 am
Sunday Morning Zoom Worship Service at Apostles
https://zoom.us/j/710342756
Meeting ID 710 342 756
May the God of our Salvation keep you in confidence as you wait.
Why is this Holy Saturday different than all other Holy Saturdays?
On Holy Saturday we spend the day in stillness, solemnly waiting for what the disciples did not know but what in hindsight we have come to understand as the Christ risen promise of new light and life given for the whole world. In the past when night's dark shield settled to shelter our sorrow the Church "invited her members, dispersed throughout the world, to gather in vigil and prayer," to light the New Fire, carry the renewed Light of Christ into the sanctuaries of our hearts while singing the words of the Exsultet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Ytyy2apLg
click her or scroll to the bottom
"Rejoice now, heavenly hosts and choirs of angels, and let your trumpets shout Salvation for the victory of our mighty King."
Having displaced the darkness with the light of our candles lit from the New Fire, we would carry them into the sanctuary and hear the presider introduce the stories of our salvation history, "Let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, how God saved the people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption."
Carefully we would consider our God who wonderfully
restores the dignity of human nature,
promises never to destroy all of humanity giving
the rainbow as a sign of the promise,
delivers us from slavery under unjust rulers,
appears to us and wipes away the tears from our eyes,
gives water to the thirsty,
plants within us a new heart and new spirit,
brings us out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life....
After what seems to be an endless time in exile, isolation and quarantine,
God gathers us together and
"Lets the whole world know that things that were being cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection."
Years past we would then renew our Baptismal Vows and the priest proclaimed
Alleluia. Christ is risen!
And everyone shouted
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
This Holy Saturday is different than all other Holy Saturdays.
This Holy Saturday we are quiet. The darkness that covers us will not be displaced by new light. It is not yet time to shout our alleluias. We remain in the cave waiting on the Lord because we are in exile from one another. We are barred from gathering to light the New Fire. Our sanctuaries are locked and we are not allowed to carry the New Light of Christ into their hollow midst. We are still waiting for what is cast down to be raised up, what has grown old to be made new. We are still waiting for Covid-19 to retreat.
Along with birthday parties, weddings, memorial celebrations, graduations, sports events and the countless ways we gather to rejoice in our lives together, Easter is postponed. Holy Saturday extends through this night and into Sunday morning.
This Holy Saturday is different than all other Holy Saturdays.
What then shall we do?
When the sun has set, take time to be still. You may want to listen to the Tallis Scholars singing Palestrina
"Lamentations for Holy Saturday"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UL5-Mk_H_Q
click here or scroll to bottom
or perhaps you prefer to remain quiet. When your body is relaxed and your mind peaceful, lift up your voice as an offering to God either reading aloud or chanting the anthem "In the midst of life...."
In the midst of life we are in death;
from whom can we seek help?
From you alone, O Lord,
who by our sins are justly angered.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Lord, you know the secrets of our hearts;
shut not your ears to our prayers,
but spare us, O Lord.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
O worthy and eternal Judge,
do not let the pains of death
turn us away from you at our last hour.
Holy God, Holy and Mighty,
Holy and merciful Savior,
deliver us not into the bitterness of eternal death.
Spend some time considering your losses, losses in any aspect of your life, losses to people you love, losses to your community, your church, your world.
You may want to listen to Henry Purcell"s
"Funeral Sentence" by scrolling to the bottom or remain quiet.
When you are ready to end your Holy Saturday Home Service conclude with this prayer.
Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: Deal graciously with everyone effected by Covid19. Assuage our fear and relieve our grief. Infuse all of us with your love, that we may not be overwhelmed by our physical, social and economic losses, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus the Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please join us tomorrow for our 9:30 am
Sunday Morning Zoom Worship Service at Apostles
https://zoom.us/j/710342756
Meeting ID 710 342 756
May the God of our Salvation keep you in confidence as you wait.