The Saturday Vigil
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At 5pm on a Saturday a few of us gather for what, for me, is one particularly special part of my week – the Vigil Service. For about 20 minutes or so we sit together in the chancel and take time to reflect on the readings for the next day. It is a time of quiet, of candles, incense, singing, prayers – a moment to pause in the busyness of the weekend and be close to God. Above all it is the best preparation for Sunday - we rarely have time to just let the words of scripture dwell with us without the pressure of moving on – to the next part of the service, to the next job, to the next sermon or whatever. At the Vigil it is a chance to hear the Sunday readings with space to engage with them and then listen to a short homily or meditation. We also sing some of the most wonderful hymns to plainsong melodies - the rising and falling cadences in the candlelight evokes a monastic feel – it is easier to join in than you might think and no-one minds if any of us doesn’t get it quite right! The Vigil starts with The Blessing of Light including singing ‘Hail Gladdening Light’ and continues with readings, psalms and canticles finishing with prayers for the church, the world, ourselves and our Sunday worship to come and final blessing as we celebrate and anticipate sharing in the blessed sacrament of the Eucharist. For me there is peace, and a chance to be spiritually nourished and refreshed. In many ways it is evocative of the feeling of Maundy Thursday at the watch, and yet liturgically it has more in keeping with the Easter Vigil of Holy Saturday in the joyous knowledge that Christ is risen and all will be well. Michelle |
The Saturday Vigil