1. That Easter day with joy was bright, The sun shone out with fairer light, When, to their longing eyes restored, Th'apostles saw their risen Lord.
2. His risen flesh with radiance glowed, his wounded hands and feet he sowed; those scars their solemn witness gave that Christ was risen from the grave.
3. O Jesus, King of gentleness, Do all our inmost hearts possess That we may give thee all our days The willing tribute of our praise.
4 O Lord of all, with us abide In this our joyful Eastertide. From every weapon death can wield, Thine own redeemed forever shield.
Text: Aurora lucis rutilat (5th c); trans. John Mason Neale (1851), alt. Tune: PUER NOBIS,15th c., adapted by Michael Praetorius
1. Now to the throne of God in exultation, High heaven’s hosts, your proud hosannas sing! Sound in the height the trumpet of salvation, Waking the day to greet its Lord and King!
Refrain:
Rejoice, rejoice, Gone forever is the night! Rejoice, rejoice, Risen is the Lord of light!
2. Now let the earth be filled with songs of gladness! Christ is our Dawn, and banished is our night! Now let all tongues acclaim the King of ages, Rising as Lord of everlasting life!
3.Sing in your joy, O holy Church, our Mother: Darkest of nights becomes your day of days! Now, in the dawn of never ending glory, Bring to your Lord the homage of your praise!
4. Bless with your love this feast of light, O Father! Shine on the world, O world’s true Light, God’s Son! Touch with your fire, O God the Holy Spirit, Tongues to proclaim the triumph Christ has won!
In memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, 15 April 2013
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea, And I John saw the holy city, Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes And there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.
Text: Revelation 21:1-4 Music: Edgar Bainton (1880-1956)
1) This is a day of new beginnings, time to remember and move on, Time to believe what love is bringing, laying to rest the pain that's gone.
2) For by the life and death of Jesus, God's mighty spirit, now as then, Can make for us a world of difference, as faith and hope are born again.
3) Then let us, with the spirit's daring, step from the past and leave behind Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving, seeking new paths, and sure to find.
4) Christ is alive, and goes before us to show and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings, our God is making all things new.
5) In faith we'll gather 'round the table to taste and share what love can do. This is a day of new beginnings, our God is making all things new.
Text: Brian Wren, 1978, 1983 Tune: BEGINNINGS, by Carlton R. Young, 1987
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won; angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son, Endless is the vict'ry, thou o'er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom; let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing; for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting. (Refrain)
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life; life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love: bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. (Refrain)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! OR This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!
1. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his mercy endures for ever; Let the house of Israel say: “His mercy endures for ever.” (Refrain)
2. The hand of the LORD has struck with power, his right hand is exalted, I shall not die, but live anew, declaring the works of the LORD. (Refrain)
3. The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, the LORD of love and mercy has brought wonder to our eyes. (Refrain)
Christians praise the Paschal Victim Offer thankful sacrifice. Christ the Lamb has saved the sheep; Christ the Just One paid the price, Reconciling sinners to the Father.
Death and Life fought bitterly For this wondrous victory; The Lord of life who died Reigns glorified!
O Mary, come and say What you saw at break of day. "The empty tomb of my living Lord! I saw Christ Jesus risen, and adored!"
Bright angels testified, Shroud and grave-cloths side by side! "Yes, Christ my hope rose gloriously. He goes before you into Galilee."
Share the good news, sing joyfully: His death is victory! Lord Jesus, victor King, show us mercy. Amen. Alleluia!
I have fixed my eyes on your hills, Jerusalem, my Destiny! Though I cannot see the end for me, I cannot turn away. We have set our hearts for the way; this journey is our destiny. Let no one walk alone. The journey makes us one.
Other spirits, lesser gods, have courted me with lies. Here among you I have found a truth that bids me rise. (Refrain)
See, I leave the past behind; a new land calls to me. Here among you now I find a glimpse of what might be. (Refrain)
In my thirst, you let me drink the waters of your life, Here among you I have met, the Savior, Jesus Christ. (Refrain)
All the worlds I have not seen you open to my view. Here among you I have found a vision bright and new. (Refrain)
To the tombs I went to mourn the hope I thought was gone, Here among you I awoke to unexpected dawn. (Refrain)
Christ lag in Todesbanden, Für unsre Sünd' gegeben, Der ist wieder erstanden Und hat uns bracht das Leben. Des wir sollen fröhlich sein, Gott loben und dankbar sein Und singen: Halleluja! Halleluja!
Den Tod Niemand zwingen konnt' Bei allen Menschenkindern; Das macht alles unser' Sünd', Kein' Unschuld war zu sinden. Davon kam der Tod so bald Und nahm ueber uns Gewalt, Hielt uns in sei'm Reich gefangen. Halleluja!
Jesus Christus, Gottes Sohn, An unser Statt ist kommen, Und hat die Sünde abgethan, Damit dem Tod genommen All sein Recht und sein' Gewalt, Da bleibt nichts denn Tod's Gestalt, Den Stachel hat er verloren. Halleluja!
Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg, Da Tod und Leben rungen; Das Leben, das behielt den Sieg, Es hat den Tod verschlungen. Die Schrift hat verkündet das, Wie ein Tod den andern fraß, Ein Spott der Tod ist worden. Halleluja!
Hier ist das rechte Osterlamm, Davon Gott hat geboten, Das ist dort an des Kreuzes Stamm In heißer Lieb' gebraten; Des Blut zeichnet unsre Tür, Das hält der Glaub' dem Tod für, Der Würger kann nicht würgen. Halleluja!
So feiern wir dies hohe Fest Mit Herzens Freud' und Wonne, Das uns der Herre scheinen läßt; Er ist selber die Sonne, Der durch seiner Gnaden Glanz Erleucht't unsre Herzen ganz, Der Sünd' Nacht ist vergangen. Halleluja!
Wir essen nun und leben wohl In rechten Osterfladen; Der alte Sauerteig nicht soll Sein bei dem Wort der Gnaden. Christus will die Koste sein Und speisen die Seel' allein; Der Glaub' kein's andern lebet. Halleluja!
Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels! Exult, all creation around God's throne! Jesus Christ, our King, is risen! Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your King! Christ has conquered! Glory fills you! Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory! The risen Savior shines upon you! Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all God's people!
My dearest friends, standing with me in this holy light, join me in asking God for mercy,
that he may give his unworthy minister grace to sing his Easter praises.
V: The Lord be with you. R: And also with you.
V: Lift up your hearts. R: We lift them up to the Lord.
V: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. R: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father, and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
For Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price of Adam's sin to our eternal Father!
This is our passover feast, when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.
This is the night when first you saved our fathers: you freed the people of Israel from their slavery and led them dry-shod through the sea.
This is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin!
This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.
This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.
What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer? Father, how wonderful your care for us! How boundless your merciful love! To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.
O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam, which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all nights, chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!
Of this night scripture says: "The night will be as clear as day: it will become my light, my joy."
The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride.
Night truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth and man is reconciled with God!
Therefore, heavenly Father, in the joy of this night, receive our evening sacrifice of praise, your Church's solemn offering.
Accept this Easter candle, a flame divided but undimmed, a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God.
(For it is fed by the melting wax, which the mother bee brought forth to make this precious candle.)
Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning to dispel the darkness of this night!
May the Morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning: Christ, that Morning Star, who came back from the dead, and shed his peaceful light on all mankind, your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Exsúltet iam angélica turba cælórum: exsúltent divína mystéria: et pro tanti Regis victória tuba ínsonet salutáris.
Gáudeat et tellus, tantis irradiáta fulgóribus: et ætérni Regis splendóre illustráta, tótius orbis se séntiat amisísse calíginem.
Lætétur et mater Ecclésia, tanti lúminis adornáta fulgóribus: et magnis populórum vócibus hæc aula resúltet.
Quaprópter astántes vos, fratres caríssimi, ad tam miram huius sancti lúminis claritátem, una mecum, quæso, Dei omnipoténtis misericórdiam invocáte. Ut, qui me non meis méritis intra Levitárum númerum dignátus est aggregáre, lúminis sui claritátem infúndens, cérei huius laudem implére perfíciat.
V: Dóminus vobíscum. R: Et cum spíritu tuo.
V: Sursum corda. R: Habémus ad Dóminum.
V: Grátias agámus Dómino Deo nostro. R: Dignum et iustum est.
Vere dignum et iustum est, invisíbilem Deum Patrem omnipoténtem Filiúmque eius unigénitum, Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, toto cordis ac mentis afféctu et vocis ministério personáre.
Qui pro nobis ætérno Patri Adæ débitum solvit, et véteris piáculi cautiónem pio cruóre detérsit.
Hæc sunt enim festa paschália, in quibus verus ille Agnus occíditur, cuius sánguine postes fidélium consecrántur.
Hæc nox est, in qua primum patres nostros, fílios Israel edúctos de Ægypto, Mare Rubrum sicco vestígio transíre fecísti.
Hæc ígitur nox est, quæ peccatórum ténebras colúmnæ illuminatióne purgávit.
Hæc nox est, quæ hódie per univérsum mundum in Christo credéntes, a vítiis sæculi et calígine peccatórum segregátos, reddit grátiæ, sóciat sanctitáti.
Hæc nox est, in qua, destrúctis vínculis mortis, Christus ab ínferis victor ascéndit.
Nihil enim nobis nasci prófuit, nisi rédimi profuísset. O mira circa nos tuæ pietátis dignátio! O inæstimábilis diléctio caritátis: ut servum redímeres, Fílium tradidísti!
O certe necessárium Adæ peccátum, quod Christi morte delétum est! O felix culpa, quæ talem ac tantum méruit habére Redemptórem!
O vere beáta nox, quæ sola méruit scire tempus et horam, in qua Christus ab ínferis resurréxit!
Hæc nox est, de qua scriptum est: Et nox sicut dies illuminábitur: et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis.
Huius ígitur sanctificátio noctis fugat scélera, culpas lavat: et reddit innocéntiam lapsis et mæstis lætítiam. Fugat ódia, concórdiam parat et curvat impéria.
O vere beáta nox, in qua terrénis cæléstia, humánis divína iungúntur!¹
In huius ígitur noctis grátia, súscipe, sancte Pater, laudis huius sacrifícium vespertínum, quod tibi in hac cérei oblatióne solémni, per ministrórum manus de opéribus apum, sacrosáncta reddit Ecclésia.
Sed iam colúmnæ huius præcónia nóvimus, quam in honórem Dei rútilans ignis accéndit. Qui, lícet sit divísus in partes, mutuáti tamen lúminis detrimenta non novit.
Alitur enim liquántibus ceris, quas in substántiam pretiósæ huius lámpadis apis mater edúxit.²
Orámus ergo te, Dómine, ut céreus iste in honórem tui nóminis consecrátus, ad noctis huius calíginem destruéndam, indefíciens persevéret. Et in odórem suavitátis accéptus, supérnis lumináribus misceátur.
Flammas eius lúcifer matutínus invéniat: ille, inquam, Lúcifer, qui nescit occásum. Christus Fílius tuus, qui, regréssus ab ínferis, humáno géneri serénus illúxit, et vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.
