8 Churches to Participate in Easter Vigil with Bishop Knisely at St. John's Newport

This year, Bishop Knisely will be presiding at a joint Easter Vigil in Newport. Every Episcopal congregation in the Aquidneck Deanery, along with the chapel of St. George’s School, has been invited to participate in the service which will be held at The Zabriskie Memorial Church of St. John the Evangelist on the Point in Newport, Rhode Island on Saturday, April 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. The Bishop’s Vicar, The Reverend Nathan J.A. Humphrey, will give the homily at the first Mass of Easter that evening. St. John’s is located at 61 Washington Street in Newport.

The Great Vigil of Easter is the single most important service of the Christian Year, and amongst the most ancient liturgies of the Church, documented as far back as the year 215 A.D., and believed to be apostolic in origins, that is, dating back to the communities founded by the twelve apostles of Jesus.

The Easter Vigil consists of four parts: The Service of Light, at which the Paschal Candle is lit from a great fire kindled in the rear of the church; The Service of Lessons, during which Biblical accounts of central events in salvation history are recounted in the darkened church; Christian Initiation, held in candlelight, which may include baptisms, confirmations, and the renewal of baptismal vows; and the Holy Eucharist, with the administration of Easter Communion in the context of a bright and joyful Mass. The Great Vigil of Easter is preceded in Holy Week by Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and the three services are known collectively as the Triduum Sacrum, the “Three Holy Days.”

The clergy and people of each participating congregation will take an active role in the celebration of this most solemn and joyful service. The service is free and open to the public. It is recommended that attendees arrive early in order to secure a seat. All participants are invited to bring hand bells, securely wrapped, which will be rung with great joy and fanfare at the proclamation of Easter. Parking is available on the street in the historic Point neighborhood, as well as in the garage at the Newport Visitors Center, 23 America’s Cup Avenue, Newport, RI 02840, conveniently located a short walk from St. John’s at 61 Washington Street, Newport.

 In addition to St. George’s School Chapel and the hosting congregation, St. John’s, the participating congregations will be: Trinity, Newport; Emmanuel, Newport; St. Columba’s, Middletown; Holy Cross, Middletown; St. Mary’s, Portsmouth; St. Paul’s, Portsmouth; and St. Andrew’s-by-the-Sea, Little Compton. Holy Trinity, Tiverton will be unable to participate due to a prior ecumenical commitment with the churches of Tiverton that evening.