At precisely 7:27 P.M.—sunset—on Saturday, April 4, members from four Lutheran congregations in the Madison, Wis., area, joined around a bonfire to commence a joint Easter Vigil. It’s an ancient tradition revived in 2019 by the area congregations, both WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), as they sought an opportunity to worship and fellowship jointly.

The churches rotate the privilege of hosting. This year, Faith (ELS), Oregon, Wis., held the service, led by its pastor, Jeffrey Hendrix. Participating congregations were Faith; Resurrection (WELS), Verona, Wis.; Risen Savior (WELS), McFarland; and Western Koshkonong Lutheran (ELS), Cottage Grove, Wis. Children from Faith’s Sursum Corda Classical School sang for the service.

Michael Kampman, who has served as pastor at Risen Savior for six months, joined several members for his first Easter Vigil. Prior to the vigil, Kampman said, “I’m looking forward to the service itself, which showcases the means of grace in a way unlike any other, all tied so beautifully to the resurrection. I’m also looking forward to worshiping with WELS and ELS congregants together in one place, and the rich biblical imagery that this service offers for those gathered together.”

Hendrix explains more about the service: “The vigil is very multi-sensory and has an ancient, even primal, quality to it. Fire and water are both seen and heard about in the lessons. We are reminded of our Lord’s act of creation and re-creation in Baptism, in which we are joined to Jesus’ resurrection.”

He continues, “Imagine taking the most interactive traditions from other parts of the year—the candles and the darkness on Christmas Eve, the smell of the flowers at Easter, the blessing of witnessing baptisms, even the excitement of an outdoor service—and you have all of that in a traditional Easter Vigil.”

The service begins at sunset, a nod to the ancient way of counting days when a new day starts at sundown—Easter morning, from the ancient perspective. After beginning worship around a bonfire, worshipers follow the Paschal Candle into the darkened sanctuary, reminiscent of the pillar of fire the Israelites followed through the Red Sea. “We are reminded of our baptisms and how in Baptism, we were brought ‘through the sea’ from death to life, from slavery to freedom,” says Hendrix. This year, Faith celebrated the baptisms of five new members into the family of Christ at the service.

After the Service of Baptism, the Gloria (omitted during Lent) is sung, the altar candles and other candles in the church are lit from the Paschal Candle, the church bell is rung, the Zimbelstern¹ is used, the lights of the sanctuary are fully lit, and the minister proclaims, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” The service culminates with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

¹A Zimbelstern (or Cymbelstern) means “cymbal star” in German. According to Merriam-Webster, it’s “a circular arrangement of small untuned bells usually attached to an organ that when activated ring continuously as they are struck by rotating strikers.”