While Easter Vigil has been one of my favorite services of the year as long as I've been a Christian, there's always been something about it that feels like cheating. At the end of the service it's still dark, and the calendar still says it's Saturday. For all the service's mystery (beginning in darkness with the new fire, and recounting the history of human creation and salvation) and majesty (the sudden illumination of the altar, the masses of flowers, the dramatic organ fanfare and return of the Gloria), it also seems like it may be elaborate cover to get to the end of Lent a few hours early.
Last night, after the Maundy Thursday service, people signed up to keep watch in the Michael Chapel with the reserved sacrament, as a way of trying to connect to the experience of the disciples praying with Jesus in the garden before his betrayal. I signed up for the 4am slot.
I don't see 4am very often, so I was surprised that sitting in the chapel that the two sounds I noticed most were the FedEx jets flying overhead and the twittering birds. We all know that birds rouse themselves before dawn, but three hours before? I guess I knew that intellectually, but hadn't experienced it for a while.
So birds twitter in the dark, sure of the coming of the sun. And our celebration of Easter vigil is similar. We tweet in the dark, sure of the resurrection of the Lord, rejoicing while most others sleep.
The Great Vigil of Easter is this Saturday night at 9pm. The service lasts about two hours. A festive reception will follow in the back of the church. I hope you'll join us.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Please Mark Your Calendars
Wednesday Masses in Lent
8 AM and 6 PM
THE SUNDAY OF THE PASSION: PALM SUNDAY
April 17, 10 AM
FORUM: SEARCH COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENT
April 17, 11:30 AM
MAUNDY THURSDAY
April 21, 6:30 PM
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
April 22, Noon
GOOD FRIDAY
April 22, 6:30 PM
LITURGY OF HOLY SATURDAY
April 23, 10 AM
GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER
April 23, 9 PM
EASTER DAY
April 24, 10 AM
Monday, April 4, 2011
Nancy Thompson Visitation and Service Times
Nancy Thompson
1932 - 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Visitation, 4 - 7 PM
All Saints Church
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Visitation, 9 AM
Requiem Mass, 10 AM
All Saints Church
All Saints Church
1559 Central Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Memorials
All Saints Building Fund
American Cancer Society
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Team Extreme Strikes a Pose
Acolytes serve the church by maintaining an atmosphere of reverent worship, but our acolyte teams form long-term bonds of friendship and fun through their monthly service on the altar.
Acolyte team D has renamed itself Team Extreme. In this photo Olivia Ross and Frank Smith demonstrate the team's (heretofore) secret X sign.
We're always looking for new acolytes. If you're interested in joining a team, contact Mark Gastineau.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Michael Chapel Doors are In
Late last week, the restored doors in the Michael Chapel were finally installed. These old oak doors were re-hardened and restained, missing pieces were replaced, and new door hardware was fashioned. This was the latest project of the Cornerstone Capital campaign, preparing our physical property to provide spiritual sustenance for the next 100 years.
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