You Are the Stars of the Biggest Drama of the Year: The Easter Triduum Initiation 2016 You Are the Stars of the Biggest Drama of the Year: The Easter Triduum

Holy Thursday Morning Prayer

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday Morning Prayer

Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

Good Friday Lamentations

Holy Saturday Morning Prayer and Preparation Rites for the Elect and Candidates

Rehearsal for the Easter Vigil

Easter Vigil - Has Four Parts I. Service of Light II. Liturgy of the Word III. Initiation of Elect and Candidates – Baptism and Confirmation IV. Liturgy of the Eucharist – Celebration of First Holy Communion

Service of Light

Liturgy of the Word

Reception or Initiation of Elect and Candidates: Baptism and Confirmation

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Liturgy of the Word Again – Let’s “break open” the Scriptures in Preparation

Reading # 1: GENESIS 1:1-22; 2 Story of Creation In the beginning. . . God said, “Let there be. . . “ And God saw how good it was. . .

Reading # 2: Genesis 22: 1-18 Abraham and Isaac God put Abraham to the test. . . Isaac: “Here are the fire and the wood, bu where is the sheep for the holocaust?” Abraham: “Here I am!” Messenger: “Do not lay your hand on the boy. . .” God: “I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore. . .”

Reading # 3: Exodus 14, 15:1 Moses Leads Israelites out of Egypt Lord said to Moses: “Lift up your staff and, with hands outstretched over the sea, split the sea in two, that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land. . .” Israelites marched through the opening in the sea All Pharaoh’s horses and charioteers went after them right into the midst of the sea. . . Moses stretched out his hands again and the sea returned; not a single one of them escaped. . . Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the power of the Egyptians

Reading # 4: Isaiah 54: 5-14 The Lord Calls You Back and Never Leaves You For a brief moment I abandoned you but with great tenderness I take you back I hid my face from you; but with enduring love I take pity on you Like the days of Noah, I will never be angry again My love will never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken In justice shall you be established, far from the fear of oppression, where destruction cannot come near you

Reading # 5: Isaiah 55: 1-11 All Who Are Thirsty or Hungry – Come to Me Come to the water Receive, eat, drink You shall delight in rich faire Listen that you may have life I will renew with you the everlasting covenant Seek the Lord where he may be found, call him while he is near My thoughts are not your thoughts; my ways are not your ways My word shall remain forever

Reading VI: Baruch 3:9-15; 32 The Holy Spirit Is the Fountain of Wisdom Hear the commandments of life; listen, know prudence Do not forsake the Fountain of Wisdom (The Holy One – God) Walk in the way of the Lord and know enduring peace The Holy One knows all things, has created all things, and knows Wisdom; has given a whole new way of understanding to us Wisdom (Holy Spirit) has appeared on Earth and moved among people Wisdom is the book of the law that endures forever Turn toward Wisdom and walk by her light toward splendor

Reading # VII: Ezekiel 36: 16-28 God Always Brings Us Back From Exile Israel defiled the name of Yaweh (God) many times and was exiled, scattered to many different lands Yet, Yaweh always forgave them and promised to bring them back, give them another chance For the sake of his holy name. . . The nations shall know “I am the Lord.” I will take you away, gather you, bring you back I will sprinkle clean water upon you I will give you a new heart I will put my spirit within you You shall be my people, and I will be your God

Epistle: Romans 6:3-11 Of Baptism, Death and Resurrection Baptized into Christ means baptized into his death Buried with him, raised from the dead by glory of the Father To live in the newness of life Union in death means union in resurrection Christ raised from the dead dies no more – death no longer has power over him He died to sin once and for all – lives for God now Think of yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus

Gospel: Luke 24: 1-12 Women at the Empty Tomb Women found the stone rolled away and no body of Jesus ‘Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you. . . “ They remembered and announced the good news to the apostles They thought it was “nonsense.” Peter went to the tomb, saw for himself, and then believed.