Lectionary Readings
Acts 10:34–43
Peter testifies to Jesus’ death and resurrection; Jesus is Lord of all.
or Jeremiah 31:1–6
The prophet proclaims God’s everlasting love and faithfulness.
Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24
I will not die, I will live; this is the day that the Lord has made.
Colossians 3:1–4
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.
or Acts 10:34–43
Peter testifies to Jesus’ death and resurrection; Jesus is Lord of all.
John 20:1–18
At the empty tomb, the risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene.
or Matthew 28:1–10
Women find Jesus’ tomb empty; he has been raised from the dead.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Through God’s miracle of grace,
we have come through the night
and arrived at this glorious dawn.
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
All doors are open, all creation sings,
all that was broken is made whole,
and we have new life.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Let all that has life and breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Prayer of the Day
Risen Lord,
we turn from the night’s vigil
toward the first rays of your new dawn
warming all creation.
We praise you that you are alive here with us
and that no power can stop your love.
Teach us what it means
for Death to relinquish its hold on us,
that with renewed hearts
we might know resurrection hope in our bodies
and cry, Alleluia! Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the new life you raise up in us
through the mystery of our baptism—
the sorrow of the heavy cross,
the surprise of the empty tomb,
the love that death could not destroy.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
fill us with the joy of resurrection,
so that we may be a living sign
of your new heaven and new earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
This is a day of celebration,
and nothing should prevent us
from lifting our voices in praise to God.
We must not hide the things we have done or failed to do,
the things that do not imitate the perfect love of Christ.
We must not let them fester and stifle our joy.
Therefore, let us bring them before God in confession.
there is nothing we can do
to deserve the grace you give us.
There is no way we can earn your love,
there is no way we can be worthy
of your forgiveness.
And yet you shower these mercies on us.
You, who have taken away the sting of death,
meet us where we are,
in our doubt and fear,
in our regrets and shame,
in our delight and awe.
Meet us here in this place,
and call us once again to trust in you.
God says to us,
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Christ says to us, Do not be afraid.
We need not fear; we are forgiven,
we are loved, we are redeemed!
Alleluia!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Living God, with joy we celebrate
the presence of your risen Word.
Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit
so that we may proclaim the good news
of eternal and abundant life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4
After the readings:
This is the good news which we have received,
in which we stand, and by which we are saved.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 15:1–2
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
All authority and power and dominion
to the name that is above all names—
Jesus Christ our Lord—
now and in the age to come. Amen.
Ephesians 1:21
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Life in Christ is life eternal.
The resurrection of Jesus is the sign
that God will consummate the work
of creation and reconciliation beyond death
and bring to fulfillment
the new life begun in Christ.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.26
Prayers of Intercession
We offer our prayers through Christ,
who lives and reigns forever,
and prays for us in heaven.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the church . . .
Let us be people of joy, living witnesses
to the power of the resurrection
and the good news of your grace and peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the earth . . .
From the dust of the damaged earth,
raise up your new creation,
full of beauty, wonder, and glory.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for all nations . . .
Let the message of your saving power
spread throughout the world:
that the dominion of death is no more.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for this community . . .
Let the doors of this church be open wide
as we go forth in love and service
and others come in to find a home.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for loved ones . . .
Give hope to those who wait for good news.
Turn their mourning into dancing,
and their sorrow into joy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all power and glory, receive these prayers,
and continue your mighty work among us,
through Jesus Christ, our living Lord. Amen.
Ephesians 1:15–23
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods
yet refuses to help a sister or brother in need?
Remembering God’s great love for the world,
let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 John 3:16–17
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
Great God, to you we give our thanks;
your steadfast love endures forever.
With gratitude we bring our gifts to you.
Bless us and our gifts,
that our lives and our resources
may be a source of healing and hope,
of joy and justice in our world. Amen.
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:
Your love is everlasting; your faithfulness will never die.
You have extended the promise of salvation to all
through Christ Jesus, who is risen from the dead.
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:
Early on the first day of the week, Jesus’ disciples
went to his tomb, only to find it empty.
There they discovered that he had risen indeed.
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.
Teach us to set our minds on the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at your right hand.
Make us ready to meet him when he is revealed in glory.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
Thank you, O God, for giving us communion
with our risen and glorious Lord.
Now send us out to be a sign
of the new life that has come into the world;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the love of the holy triune God—
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
abide with you forever. Alleluia!
1 John 4:13–16
Now go forth in Jesus’ name,
remembering his new commandment
to love one another, just as he has loved us. Amen.
1 John 3:23
“Disciples John and Peter on Their Way to the Tomb on Easter Morning”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (AEG) EASTER HYMN GTG 232
- Earth, Earth, Awake! (AEG) STUEMPFLE ACS 937
- Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing! (AG) GELOBT SEI GOTT GTG 239
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! (AEG) LLANFAIR GTG 245
WORD
- In the Darkness of the Morning (G) KAS DZIEDAJA GTG 229
- O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing (G) O FILII ET FILIAE GTG 235
- The Strife Is O’er (AEG) VICTORY GTG 236
- Thine Is the Glory (G) JUDAS MACCABEUS GTG 238
- Woman, Weeping in the Garden (G) KINGDOM GTG 241
- Because You Live, O Christ (G) VRUECHTEN GTG 249
EUCHARIST
- Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain (A) ST. KEVIN GTG 234
- Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks (E) ALLELUIA NO. 1 GTG 240
- Be Not Afraid (G) BE NOT AFRAID GTG 243
- Now the Green Blade Rises (G) NOËL NOUVELET GTG 247
SENDING
- The Day of Resurrection! LANCASHIRE GTG 233
- Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands (A) CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN GTG 237
- Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded (G) IN DIR IST FREUDE GTG 242
- Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (G) HYMN TO JOY GTG 248
- Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (G) MFURAHINI, HALELUYA GTG 251
- Hail Thee, Festival Day! (G) SALVE FESTA DIES GTG 277
- Arise, Arise, O People of God (AEG) REJOICE, REJOICE Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA, 13
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24
Metrical
- This Is the Day [ESTE ES LA DÍA]; GTG 391
- This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made [NUN DANKET ALL’ UND BRINGET EHR’]; GTG 681
Responsorial
- This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made; LP 841
Organ Music
- “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing! / Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” LASST UNS ERFREUEN, Augsburg Organ Library: Easter II, Aaron Show, AF (M)
- “Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! / Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” HYMN TO JOY, Augsburg Organ Library: Easter II, Kristina Langlois, AF (MA)
- “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today,” Organ Works of Healey Willan, Healey Willan, CON (ME)
- “This Joyful Eastertide,” Light on Your Feet, Vol. 5, Wayne L. Wold, AF (E)
Piano Music
- “April-England, Op. 48, No. 1,” John Foulds, Repertoire Explorer (A)
- “Etude in A-flat Major, Op. 25, No. 1,” Etudes, Frédéric Chopin, HEN (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright,” Hal Hopson, MSM, SATB, org, opt brass (ME)
- “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!” John Ferguson, AF, SATB, org, opt perc, piccolo (ME)
- “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” Craig Courtney, BP, SATB, pno (M)
- “On Easter Morn,” Alice Parker, GSH, SATB, acap (MA)
- “Easter Anthem,” William Billings, GSH, SATB, acap (MA)
- “Hallelujah,” Messiah, George Frideric Handel, NOV, SATB, orch (A)
- “Hallelujah,” Christ on the Mount of Olives, Ludwig van Beethoven, IMSLP.org, SATB, orch (A)
Art
- Mary Magdalene in the Garden with Jesus, Rowan and Irene LeCompte (VDL)
- Seed Gathering Napangati Women, Makinti Napanangka, 1996 (WA)
- Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings, Nancy Holt, 1977–78 (WA)
- Disciples John and Peter on Their Way to the Tomb on Easter Morning, Eugene Burnand (VDL)
- Woman, Why Weepest Thou? Fritz von Uhde, 19th century (VDL)
- The Robe of Christ, Silviu Oravitzan, 1996 (WA)
