While music is played underneath, participants place objects up at the front of the sanctuary in succession.
THE FRAGRANT OIL
A jar of perfume is placed it on the communion table with these words:
Reader 1:
We place these objects up here to serve as symbols, symbols that tell the story of what happened that morning.That morning some women brought fragrances to the tomb. With these fragrances they hoped to anoint a corpse and cover the smell of death.
THE STONE:
A stone is placed on, or in front of, the table with these words:
Reader 2:
The powers-that-be rolled a stone much bigger than this one in front of the tomb to keep those outside from getting in. But it was rolled aside like it was much smaller. They did not know that it was not a matter of keeping those on the outside from getting in. It was a matter of keeping the one on the inside from getting out.
THE SHROUD:
A loosely folded white cloth is placed on the communion table with these words:
Reader 3:
Friday they had wrapped the body in linens. Sunday morning, when they came to the tomb, they found the linens but not the body.
THE BREAD:
A large round whole meal loaf is placed on the table with these words:
Reader 4:
That evening two men met up with a stranger. After some great conversation, they ended up inviting this stranger to dinner.
He was a stranger, that is, until he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
THE WINE:
The chalice and communion trays are placed on the table with these words:
Reader 5:
The night before his death, Jesus raised the cup and said he would not drink wine again until “I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
THE CANDLE:
A ‘Christ candle’ is placed on the table or candleholder stand with these words:
Reader 6:
On Friday, the life of Jesus was snuffed out like a candle. This morning we celebrate what happened on Sunday.
We celebrate the reason those fragrances went unused, the stone was rolled back, and the linens lay empty.
We celebrate the stranger made known in the breaking of the bread.
We celebrate the one who made good on his promise about a kingdom and a celebration.
The fire returned.
The light came back into the world.
The candle is lit. Lights come up. Readers pull the veils from the windows.
– adapted from material in Stages on the Way by John Bell (Wild Goose)
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