Order of service – St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Riga

The Service of Light with Baptism

Easter Vigil 2025

Congregation gathers outside the church

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

on this most holy night,

when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life,

the Church invites her children throughout the world

to come together in vigil and prayer.

This is the Passover of the Lord.

We remember his death and resurrection

by hearing his word and celebrating his mysteries,

confident that we shall share his victory over death

and live with him for ever in God.

The new fire may be kindled.

Eternal God, who made this most holy night

to shine with the brightness of your one true light:

set us aflame with the fire of your love,

and bring us to the radiance of your heavenly glory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. All Amen.

The Easter Candle may be marked and lit here.

The candle is carried in the church followed by the congregation

The light of Christ.

All Thanks be to God.

The procession continues to the centre of the building, and the candles of those around are lit.

The Exsultet

Hymn 188 (tune Woodlands)

Sing choirs of heaven. Let saints and angels sing.

Around God’s throne exult in harmony!

Now Jesus Christ is risen from the grave.

Salute your king in glorious symphony.

Sing choir of earth. Behold your light has come.

The glory of the Lord shines radiantly.

Lift up your hearts, for Christ has conquered death.

The night is past, the day of life is here.

Sing church of God. Exult with joy outpoured.

The gospel trumpets tell of victory won!

Your Saviour lives, he’s with you evermore.

Let all God’s people shout the long Amen.

The minister continues

The Lord be with you

All and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is right and good that with hearts and minds and voices

we should praise you, Father almighty, the unseen God,

through your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

who has saved us by his death, paid the price of Adam’s sin,

and reconciled us once again to you….

….. For Christ the morning star has risen in glory;

Christ is risen from the dead and his flame of love still burns within us!

Christ sheds his peaceful light on all the world!

Christ lives and reigns for ever and ever!

All Amen.

The Vigil

Music is played.

As we await the risen Christ, we remember God’s saving deeds in history, recalling how he saved his people in ages past and in the fullness of time sent his Son to be our Redeemer; and let us pray that through this Easter celebration God may bring to perfection in each of us the saving work he has begun.

Old Testament Reading

Exodus 14.10-end; 15.1a

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

The Easter Acclamation

The president says

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

All He is risen indeed. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gloria in Excelsis

All the candles in the church are lit from the Easter Candle, the lights are switched on and the people’s candles extinguished.

All Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect

Let us pray that we may reign with the risen Christ in glory.

God of glory, by the raising of your Son you have broken the chains of death and hell: fill your Church with faith and hope; for a new day has dawned and the way to life stands open in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

All Amen.

New Testament Reading

Romans 6.3-11

At the end the reader may say

This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 24.1-12

All Glory to you, O Lord.

At the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All Praise to you, O Christ.

Hymn 847

The Liturgy of Initiation

As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died and been buried with him in baptism.

Presentation of the Candidates

Do you wish to be baptized?

I do.

Faith is the gift of God to his people.

In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling.

People of God, will you welcome these candidates

and uphold them in their new life in Christ?

All With the help of God, we will.

The Decision

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

All I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

All I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?

All I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

All I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

All I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

All I come to Christ.

Signing with the Cross

Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of his cross.

Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.

All Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ

against sin, the world and the devil,

and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.

May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,

restore in you the image of his glory,

and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.

All Amen.

Prayer over the Water

Praise God who made heaven and earth,

All who keeps his promise for ever.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give thanks and praise.

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ

was baptized in the river Jordan,

we thank you for the gift of water

to cleanse us and revive us.

We thank you that through the waters of the Red Sea

you led your people out of slavery

to freedom in the Promised Land.

We thank you that through the deep waters of death

you brought your Son,

and raised him to life in triumph.

Bless this water, that your servants who are washed in it

may be made one with Christ in his death and in his resurrection,

to be cleansed and delivered from all sin.

Send your Holy Spirit upon them,

bring them to new birth in the household of faith

and raise them with Christ to full and eternal life;

for all might, majesty, authority and power are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.

Profession of Faith

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess with this candidates the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

All I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

All I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Baptism

Reina / Laima, is this your faith?

This is my faith.

Reina / Laima I baptize you

in the name of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit. All Amen.

May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,

pour upon you the riches of his grace,

that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people

you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,

and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory. All Amen.

Each member of the congregation may be invited to renew their commitment to Christ by going to the water and making the sign of the cross with it on their forehead.

Almighty God,

we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith

with all who have been baptized in your name.

Keep us faithful to our baptism,

and so make us ready for that day

when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. All Amen.

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith,

that you may be rooted and grounded in love

and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. All Amen.