I know I’ve said before that I love the church and I love being part of what God is doing in and through the church. If I am honest though, there are some things I love about church more than others. One of my really favorite things about church is this night–the eve of our celebration of the resurrection.
One of the names for this night is “Holy Saturday” and on this night many Christians gather to keep vigil for the resurrection of Jesus.
I realize how odd it sounds to talk about keeping vigil for the resurrection because we as Christians already know the “rest of the story.” I go to church three nights in a row: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Each service lets me dwell on some part of the story so I can contemplate its significance. Yes, we know how the story ends, but it is important to keep telling/hearing the story.
This night, this Holy Saturday, I will be at my church’s vigil. It is my favorite church service of the entire year. I love the vigil more than Easter Sunday.
Another blogger that I follow, Jessica, over at Bohemian Bowmans, wrote her perspective on why she doesn’t like Easter. She mentions her generation (she’s a Millennial, I’m at the tail end of Generation X) and their distrust of things that feel contrived. She writes,
I would MUCH rather stay home for Easter Sunday to meditate and reflect on the “reason for the season”.
Honestly, if I stayed home I would probably just sleep and not do anything very meditative at all. Still, her point about meditating and reflecting on what it is all about it gets at why I like the vigil even more than Easter Sunday itself.
At the vigil we light candles and slow down for a while. We hear the Old Testament stories of how God has been at work throughout all of human history. We get to see the broad strokes of our salvation history. We get to make connections between the Old Testament stories and the Jesus story.
Then, at the culmination of the vigil, we get to hear the resurrection story, having been reminded of its full context. When the Good News of the resurrection is announced I feel like we at the vigil are the first ones to the empty tomb. Our subdued and somber voices break out with the first proclamation of “He is Risen!”
I know not every church has a vigil, and I recognize that this may still feel too contrived for some. But for me, this is the night!
What about you? Do you attend a vigil? What is your favorite Old Testament story and how does it connect with the Jesus story? What has been your favorite church service? Is Easter Sunday a challenge or a joy for you? What helps you connect with the spiritual realities of Jesus’ death & resurrection?
Jennifer Clark Tinker 
Posted by Nancy Walter on March 30, 2013 at 3:13 pm
Jen, will be at the Chapel of the Resurrection tonight! Easter Vigil is also my favorite service of the Church Year.
Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker on March 30, 2013 at 6:33 pm
I’ve never been to the one there. You’ll have to let me know how it goes!
Posted by Ramona on March 30, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Moses — I’ve always connected a lot with his struggles and faith, etc. And of course, the whole Passover feast with all the symbolism in it. Our previous church held a shortened Passover Seder one time and it was awesome!
Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker on March 30, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Good stuff! I like the baptismal analogies with crossing the Red Sea.
Posted by Angela on April 1, 2013 at 9:22 am
Abraham when he goes to sacrifice the one whom God calls his “only son” Issac. The pointing ahead to what Gods plan was in sacrificing His only son for us are amazing!
Posted by Jennifer Clark Tinker on April 1, 2013 at 9:27 am
Good story! Since becoming a parent, that one hits me harder.
Posted by The Biggest Night of the Year – the Vigil of Easter | Martin Luther Lutheran Church on April 19, 2014 at 9:11 am
[…] Here is a perspective on this day from Deaconess Jennifer Clark Tinker, who is a member at Martin Luther Lutheran Church: click this link for Jen’s Reflection. […]