Setting the Ambiance for Easter Services
Guest
By Kissy Blanchat, All Saints Dallas
After the waving of palm branches on Palm Sunday, the foot washing of Maundy Thursday and the black shrouded cross of Good Friday, the front porch is set up for Holy Saturday with a small kettle of fire waiting to light the Paschal candle. Baskets are filled with unlit congregational candles and service booklets for all to anticipate the walk through the darkened narthex to the sanctuary. All follow the priest, who carries the lit Paschal candle as he proclaims the light of Christ, and thus the Easter Vigil begins.
He shares the candle light with the congregation as everyone takes their seat. The sanctuary is arranged with various hurricane-style vases filled with water and floating candles placed at the ends of many of the pews and near the edge of the altar rail.
The floating candles are lit two by two as each Scripture reading takes place. With every reading, the sanctuary starts to get lighter and lighter until the Gospel reading, when the Lord’s Table candles are lit and the overhead house lights come on! The previously lone and empty floral shelf is fully seen and abloom with a large arrangement of spring flowers.
The Lord’s Table is set with extra care, the Eucharist is celebrated and a baptism is rejoiced over. The Alleluia has begun.
As the Easter Vigil ends, the congregation walks back through the awake and lit narthex filled with Easter lilies and the slight beginnings of the flowerings of the standing cross awaiting tomorrow.
On Easter Sunday morning the Narthex is even more full of lilies and colorful hydrangeas. The large greeter’s table is lined with a great collection of bud vases filled with delicate flowers large and small.
The sanctuary lights are low until the priest walks in first and joyously lights the Paschal candle, proclaiming “He is Risen.” In the back of the sanctuary, a varied collection of cut flowers are nestled in low vases near the back pews as mothers, grandmothers and friends help the multitude of children carefully receive colorful flowers. At the sound of “Welcome Happy Morning,” each child will carry their beautiful flower to fill the frame of the standing cross at the center of the nave to decorate it and celebrate the joy of Jesus. The standing cross fills so gloriously that joyful parents plan for a post-service family photo.
Again, the Word and good news of resurrection is proclaimed, the Eucharist is celebrated, received and rejoiced. The closing “Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Thanks be to God” rings throughout the church with glee and cheer. “He is Risen indeed! Amen.”
