Isaiah 65:17-25

I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;

the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;

for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.

I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;

no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.

No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;

for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.

They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;

for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;

for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord–
and their descendants as well.

Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent– its food shall be dust!

They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.

 

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

 

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.

15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:

16 “The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”

17 I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.

20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter.”

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

1 Corinthians 15:19-26

If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

 

Luke 24:1-12

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

 

HYMNS

 

JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY

 

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!

Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!

Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!

 

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!

Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!

Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!

Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

 

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!

Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!

Now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia!

Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!

 

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!

Praise eternal as his love, Alleluia!

Praise him all ye heavenly host, Alleluia!

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!

 

 

WELCOME HAPPY MORNING

 

“Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say;

Hell today is vanquished, heaven is won today!

Lo! the dead is living, God for evermore!

Him their true Creator, all his works adore!

“Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say.

 

Earth her joy confesses, clothing her for spring,

All fresh gifts return with her returning King;

Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough,

Speak his sorrow ended, hail his triumph now.

“Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say.

 

Months in due succession, days of lengthening light,

Hours and passing moments praise thee in their flight.

Brightness of the morning, sky and fields and sea,

Vanquisher of darkness, bring their praise to thee.

“Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say.

 

Thou of life the author, death didst undergo,

Tread the path of darkness, saving strength to show;

Come then, true and faithful, now fulfill thy word,

‘Tis thine own third morning! Rise, O buried Lord!

“Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say.

 

 

COME, YE FAITHFUL, RAISE THE STRAIN

 

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness!

God hath brought his Israel into joy from sadness;

Loosed from Pharoah’s bitter yoke, Jacob’s sons and daughters,

Led them with unmoistened foot through the red sea waters.

 

‘Tis the spring of souls today; Christ hath burst his prison,

And from three days sleep in death as a sun hath risen;

All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying

From his light, to whom we give, laud and praise undying.

 

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;

Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection

Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.

 

Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,

Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold thee as a mortal;

But today amidst thine own thou didst stand, bestowing

That thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.

 

 

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

 

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.