Easter Week has come and gone. At 3:30 on Easter morning I left my house and drove to the 4:30 Easter Vigil at the SSJE monastery in Cambridge. This time I was prepared for the three hour service, both its length and depth. Last year I had envisioned something akin to half- hour sunrise services previously held in my back yard.
The service started with the brothers lighting a 'bonfire' in a side chapel and then processing in and lighting the first of two long candles give to each of us upon entering, candles that we held for nearly two hours before the sun rose. With the glow of our candles we heard Hebrew Bible scripture, sang psalms, and renewed our baptism. Finally we blew out our candles, shook our little bells and shouted 'hallelujah. After the long, joyful ringing of hallelujahs we were ready to hear an Easter sermon and celebrate communion. I made it home with an hour to spare before another Easter celebration at my home church.
The service started with the brothers lighting a 'bonfire' in a side chapel and then processing in and lighting the first of two long candles give to each of us upon entering, candles that we held for nearly two hours before the sun rose. With the glow of our candles we heard Hebrew Bible scripture, sang psalms, and renewed our baptism. Finally we blew out our candles, shook our little bells and shouted 'hallelujah. After the long, joyful ringing of hallelujahs we were ready to hear an Easter sermon and celebrate communion. I made it home with an hour to spare before another Easter celebration at my home church.
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