Easter Sunday
9:00 am Easter Breakfast
Join us in the undercroft (basement) for good food and good company as we break our Lenten fasts.
We promise to wrap up in time for the 10 am Easter Celebration upstairs.
10:00 am Easter Celebration
The big event begins at 10. See the sections below for more detail.
- Lighting of the Paschal Candle
- Renewal of Baptismal Vows
- Proclamation of the Risen Christ
- Festival Holy Eucharist
11:30 am Easter Egg Hunt
Bring the kids! They will be hunting for two golden eggs (one for the younger kids, another for the older ones) amid the other colorful eggs hidden around St. Elizabeth's.
A festive Coffee Hour will include goodies of various kinds in addition to coffee and other beverages.
The New Fire of the Risen Christ
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Lighting the Paschal candle / renewal of baptismal vows
Our 10:00 am Easter morning celebration begins by borrowing from the Great Vigil of Easter. The "new fire" is lit, and from it the Paschal Candle, which will burn "continuously" for the 50 Days of Easter, concluding on the Feast of Pentecost.
Early Church custom was for Holy Baptism to be preceded by three years of Catechesis, during which the Catechists were given thorough instruction in the Faith. Baptism would occur at the Great Vigil of Easter, after which they received their first Holy Communion. It is our custom, with or without actual Baptisms, for the people to Renew their Baptismal Vows at this time.
Easter Flower Cross, 2016
Easter Lilies, 2016
alleluia! christ is risen!
Once the lighted Paschal Candle has has taken its place and the people have renewed their Baptismal vows, it is time to proclaim the Risen Christ. The lights come up, the music plays, the people make joyful noises with bells and voices.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The Festival Holy Eucharist begins in earnest (with many Alleluias, which have been absent throughout Lent).
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!