Accompanied by the soft melody of "The True Light at Siloam," clergy members in black vestments made their way into the church hall, each holding a candle.
On April 19, a theological seminary in central China hosted its Easter Vigil Service of 2025. The evening began with a solemn procession into the church, leading up to the lighting of the Easter Candle. In the dimly lit church hall, the celebrant lit the candle and read a passage from John 8:12: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
The congregation then sang the hymn "Jesus, Remember Me" as the Easter candles were lit one by one.
In the next part, known as the Liturgy of the Word, a hymn was sung and relevant scriptures were read. The celebrant then declared that through baptism, we have been buried with Christ and raised into a new life with Him.
During the sermon, the pastor talked about how the lamb being sacrificed during Passover was like a preview of Jesus, whose crucifixion saved us. From the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday to Easter morning, we can see the whole Passover story in Jesus. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and the end is the joyous resurrection.
The pastor emphasized that from the Sabbath to the night before the resurrection, Jesus truly experienced death and transcended it. "As Christians in the present day, we hold onto the promise of tomorrow and eagerly anticipate the arrival of Easter. However, 2,000 years ago, the disciples did not have the same assurance of the future. On the night before Easter, they likely experienced fear and uncertainty, unable to find peace. Are we, too, still struggling to find peace and comfort in the present as we await the arrival of Easter?"
The pastor guided the congregation in a moment of reflection, prompting us to consider whether our focus on tomorrow has caused us to lose sight of the present. He reminded us that having true hope does not mean ignoring our current circumstances or the people in our lives, but rather living in the moment while eagerly anticipating the resurrection of our savior. He emphasized that true faith, hope, and love can empower us to live more meaningfully in the present, bearing witness to a life that glorifies Christ.
In the third part of the service, the celebrant led the congregation in a renewal of vows and also to reaffirm baptismal vows.
As the service drew to a close, the celebrant read Psalm 136:1-26, with the congregation responding in unison, "for His mercy endures forever."
(Originally published by the Gospel Times, the article has been edited under permission and the author is a believer at a church in Shanxi Province. )
- Translated by Joyce Leung
