Holy Saturday (Morning): The Liturgy of the Day
Artwork by Mike Van
Collect of the Day
O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
First Lesson: Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24
Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16
Second Lesson: I Peter 4:1-8
The Gospel: John 19:38-42
The Homily
Click here to read Fr. Dorsch’s prerecorded homily for Holy Saturday.
Anthem: In the Midst of Life (BCP p. 492)
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.
A Prayer in the time of Pestilence
At end of day, the sun hemorrhages into darkness.
Night closes in, and dread comes forth to feed.
O Lord of all, Creator of all that is,
be our light, our strength, our help.
You who made the herbivores and the carnivores and called them “good,”
even the microbes! Free to procreate.
Help us to preserve our awe, and quiet our fears,
for in creation, only you are good.
We know we are sojourners here, whose days are numbered.
Give us gratitude for what has been, contentment in what is, hope in what will be,
and constant faith in your abiding presence.
Protect those we love and expand their number.
Give respite to the suffering and blessed relief to the dying.
Comfort to the grieving and peace to those bereft,
new strength to the recovering, and joy to those who are spared.
See us through to the coming dawn. Grant us quiet rest this night,
and awake us to rejoice in the morning.
Amen.
(Written by the Rev. Canon Donald Vinson, Diocese of West Virginia)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
The Grace
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and evermore
NOTE: The email for tonight’s Easter Vigil will go out at 4:00 pm today.