Lectionary Readings
A minimum of three Old Testament readings should be chosen; Exodus 14 is always included.
Genesis 1:1—2:4a
The seven days of creation; God rests on the seventh day.
Psalm 136:1–9, 23–26
Give thanks to God, creator of all, whose love endures forever.
Genesis 7:1–5, 11–18; 8:6–18; 9:8–13
The story of the great flood and God’s covenant with Noah.
Psalm 46
Though the earth changes and the waters roar, God is our refuge.
Genesis 22:1–18
Obeying God, Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Psalm 16
The Lord protects and instructs me; God preserves my life.
Exodus 14:10–31, 15:20–21
Pursued by the Egyptians, the Israelites escape through the sea.
Exodus 15:1b–13, 17–18
Moses sings praise to the Lord, who has delivered the people.
Proverbs 8:1–8, 19–21; 9:4b–6
Wisdom calls out: come, eat and drink; walk in the way of insight.
Psalm 19
The heavens declare God’s glory; the law of the Lord is sweet.
Isaiah 55:1–11
Come to the waters; listen and live; God’s promise will not fail.
Isaiah 12:2–6
Surely God is my salvation; with joy, draw water from the well.
Isaiah 61:1–4, 9–11
The spirit of the Lord is upon me; God clothes me in righteousness.
Deuteronomy 32:1–4, 7, 36a, 43a
I will proclaim the name of the Lord; God will have compassion.
Ezekiel 36:24–28
God will cleanse the people, giving them a new heart and spirit.
Psalms 42 and 43
Like a deer, I thirst for the living God; God is my help and hope.
Ezekiel 37:1–14
In a valley of dry bones, Ezekiel has a vision of hope for Israel.
Psalm 143
My soul thirsts for you, God; answer me, or I will go to the grave.
Daniel 3:1–29
God saves Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the furnace.
Song of the Three 35–65
Jonah 1:1–2:1
Trying to avoid his call to Nineveh, Jonah is caught in a storm.
Jonah 2:2–3 (4–6), 7–9
From the belly of the fish, Jonah calls out to the Lord for help.
Zephaniah 3:14–20
Sing and rejoice, people of God; the Lord will bring you home.
Psalm 98
Let all creation make a joyful noise to the Lord, who is coming.
Romans 6:3–11
Through baptism, we share in Christ’s death and resurrection.
Psalm 114
The earth shakes and the sea retreats in the presence of the Lord.
Matthew 28:1–10
Women find Jesus’ tomb empty; he has been raised from the dead.
For other resources for the Easter Vigil, see the Book of Common Worship (WJKP, 2018), pp. 290–304.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Beloved of God, the hour has come.
Let us gather at the tomb, so that with the disciples
and believers of every time and place,
we might behold the great mystery
of the resurrection
and proclaim with one heart and voice:
Christ is risen! Christ is risen! Christ is risen!
Let every knee bow and every voice ring out
in awe and wonder, for death is no more.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Prayer of the Day
All-powerful God,
in whom darkness and light are one,
in the quiet of this day,
we are weary; we are still afraid.
Gather us into the fire of your divine heart
and warm us with your love,
that with renewed hope
we may bear witness to the light of the risen Christ
shining throughout the world.
Make us ready and make us yours.
We praise your holy name. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
God is truly our salvation.
We will trust and not be afraid.
No matter what sins or burdens we carry today,
we can call on the name of Christ
to heal us and make us whole.
God of the past, present, and future,
as we wait the dawn of your resurrection
we look back on who we have been as your people.
We have not always followed you.
We have disobeyed you,
doing the opposite of what you desire.
Now we seek your help
as we imagine who we could be moving forward.
Forgive us,
and guide us back to you,
as you have done time and time again.
Shower us with salvation
and set us free,
that we might live Christlike lives
and share the good news of your grace.
Lifting water from the font:
Beloved, know this:
just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
so we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his,
we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
We have died with Christ; therefore we will live with him.
Thanks be to God!
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
By your wisdom, you created the world and everything in it.
By your power, you have delivered us from evil in every age.
By your mercy, you have promised never to forsake us.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Before the rising of the sun on the first day of the week,
Jesus rose from the dead! With the first believers,
we bear witness to this good news of great joy.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
As we have been buried with Christ by baptism into death,
raise us up, by the power of your Spirit, to walk in new life.
Let us be dead to sin and alive to you in Christ Jesus.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
“Sealing of Christ’s Tomb”
Russian Icon, ca. 1850–1900
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING / SERVICE OF LIGHT
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Rejoice, Heavenly Powers! THE EXSULTET PSA 196, 197
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Sing Glory to the Name of God LASST UNS ERFREUEN GTG 10
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Let All Things Now Living ASH GROVE GTG 37
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Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain ST. KEVIN GTG 234
SERVICE OF READINGS
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See Psalm settings in response to each reading.
SERVICE OF BAPTISM
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We Know That Christ Is Raised ENGELBERG GTG 485
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Out of Deep, Unordered Water RUSTINGTON GTG 484
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Crashing Waters at Creation CRASHING WATERS GTG 476
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Baptized in Water BUNESSAN GTG 482
EUCHARIST
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Joyful Is the Dark LINDNER GTG 230
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Be Not Afraid BE NOT AFRAID GTG 243
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Come, Behold! the Feast of Heaven LLANFAIR GTG 511
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This Is the Feast of Victory FESTIVAL CANTICLE GTG 513
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Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen SURGE ECCLESIA GTG 536
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Come, Risen Lord SURSUM CORDA PH 503
SENDING
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The Day of Resurrection! LANCASHIRE GTG 233
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The Strife is O’er VICTORY GTG 236
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This Joyful Eastertide VREUCHTEN GTG 244
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O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing O FILII ET FILIAE GTG 235
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Alleluia! Christ is Arisen / ¡Aleluya! Cristo resucitó SANTO DOMINGO GTG 253
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 136:1–9, 23–26
Metrical
- We Give Thanks unto You [WE GIVE THANKS UNTO YOU]; GTG 75, PAS 136C, LUYH 52
- Let Us with a Gladsome Mind [MONKLAND, GENEVAN 136]; GTG 31, PAS 136A, B
Responsorial
- Give Thanks unto the Lord [KIHAYA]; PAS 136G
- All Creation Join to Say [EASTER HYMN]; PAS 136D
Psalm 46
Metrical
- God Is Our Refuge and Our Strength [WINCHESTER OLD]; GTG 329
- Dios es nuestro amparo / God Will Be Our Refuge [AMPARO]; PAS 46B
- God, Our Help and Constant Refuge [MICHAEL]; PAS 46C
Responsorial
- God Is Our Help, Refuge, and Strength [GOD IS OUR HELP]; GTG 380
- The Lord of Hosts Is with Us; PAS 46D
Psalm 16
Metrical
- When in the Night I Meditate [ST. FLAVIAN, MAITLAND, MORNING SONG]; GTG 810, PAS 16A, PP 28 (with refrain)
- Protect Me, God [MEPHIBOSHETH]; PAS 16C, LUYH 411
Responsorial
- My Heart Is Glad; PAS 16D (alt. refrain)
- Harbor of My Heart; PAS 16B
Exodus 15:1b–13, 17–18
Responsorial
- I Will Sing to the Lord; PSA 174
Psalm 19
Metrical
- God’s Glory Fills the Heavens [ST. PATRICK]; GTG 690, PAS 19B, LUYH 719
- The Stars Declare His Glory [DEERFIELD]; PAS 19A
- Silent Voices [SILENT VOICES]; PAS 19F
Responsorial
- Lord, You Have the Words; PP 32
Isaiah 55:1–11
Metrical
- You Thirsty Ones, Come [HEAVEN’S RAIN]; GTG 78
- All Who Are Thirsty [MALATE]; LUYH 807
Responsorial
- Table of Plenty [TABLE OF PLENTY]; LUYH 808
Isaiah 12:2–6
Responsorial
- Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me [FIRST SONG]; GTG 71
Psalm 42/43
Metrical
- As Pants the Deer for Living Streams [SEACHRIST]; GTG 778
- As a Deer in Want of Water [FREU DICH SEHR/GENEVAN 42]; PAS 42E, LUYH 616
Responsorial
- My Soul Thirsts for the Living God; PAS 42F
- O Why Are You Cast Down [GO DOWN MOSES]; PP 80
Psalm 143
Metrical
- Hear My Prayer, O God [HYMN CHANT]; GTG 782, PAS 143A, LUYH 895
- When Morning Lights the Eastern Skies [ST. STEPHEN]; PH 250, PP 282
Responsorial
- What Wondrous Love [WONDROUS LOVE]; PAS 143B
- Christ Has Been Raised; PSA 146
Song of the Three
Metrical
- All Creatures of Our God and King [LASST UNS ERFREUEN]; GTG 15, LUYH 551
Responsorial
- Let the Whole Creation Bless the Lord; PSA 180
- To God Be Highest Glory and Praise Forever; PSA 181
Psalm 98 (See also Christmas Day)
Metrical
- Joy to the World [ANTIOCH]; GTG 134
- New Songs of Celebration Render [RENDEZ À DIEU]; GTG 371
- Sing, Sing a New Song to the Lord God; PAS 98C, LUYH 547
Responsorial
- All the Ends of the Earth Have Seen the Victory; PAS 98B
- Sing to the Lord a New Song; PAS 98A
Psalm 114
Metrical
- When Israel Was Going Forth [PISGAH]; GTG 58
- When Israel Fled from Egypt Land [O HEILAND REISS, ANDRE]; PAS 114B, A; LUYH 41
Organ Music
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“As the Deer Runs to the River,” JULION, Augsburg Organ Library: Lent II, Christopher Uehlein, AF (M)
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“At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing,” Eight Chorale Preludes for Manuals Only, Vol. 2, AF (M)
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“Fantasy on O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing,” The Lord Is Risen: Easter and Pentecost Music for Organ or Piano, Marilyn Biery, MSM (ME)
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“Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing,” Organ Works of Healey Willan, Healey Willan, CON (M)
Piano Music
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“Impromptu No. 5 in B Minor,” 6 Impromptus, Op. 5, Jean Sibelius, BKH (MA)
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“Im Anfange ruhiges, im Verlauf bewegtes Tempo, Op. 133, No. 5,” Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133, Robert Schumann, HEN (A)
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“Memory Mist,” Florence Price, GSH (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Psalm 98,” Jane Marshall, CGA, uni, pno (E)
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“Go Down, Moses,” Vicki Tucker Courtney, BRI, 2 pt, pno (E)
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“Go Down, Moses,” Anne Heider, GIA, SAB, pno (ME)
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“Song of Miriam,” Elaine Hagenberg, Elaine Hagenberg Music, SSA, pno (M)
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“All Ye Works of the Lord, Bless the Lord,” Kenneth Jennings, AF, SATB, org (MA)
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“O Taste and See,” Bruce Neswick, AF, SATB, sop solo, org (MA)
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“Like as the Hart,” Herbert Howells, OUP, SATB, org (A)
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“Since by Man Came Death,” Messiah, George Frideric Handel, NOV, SATB, orch (A)
Art
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Late Night Reflections, Alma Woodsey Thomas, 1972 (WA)
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The Water of Life, mosaic, Italian, 19th century (PD) (NAT)
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Dream of the Virgin, Simone dei Crocefissi, 1365–80 (PD) (NAT)
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Sealing of Christ’s Tomb, Russian icon (VDL)
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Three Marys at the Tomb; Descent into Hell, Duccio, de Buoninsegna, 1319 (VDL)
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Lamentation, stained glass, Chartres (VDL)
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Hand of Love, Dante Gabriel Rossetti (VDL)
