1. 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

2. Holy Thursday Morning Prayer

3. Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper

4. Good Friday Morning Prayer

5. Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

6. Good Friday Lamentations

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

8. Rehearsal for the Easter Vigil

9. 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

10. Service of Light

11. Liturgy of the Word

12. Reception or Initiation of Elect and Candidates: Baptism and Confirmation

13. Liturgy of the Eucharist

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

15. 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. . .

16. 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. . .”

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.