Oremus for Sunday, April 9, 2023

The Day of Resurrection: Easter Sunday

Antiphon

Ant. Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed, alleluia;
therefore, let us keep the feast
by sharing the unleavened bread of uprightness and truth,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say, *
“His mercy endures forever.” 1 Cor. 5; Ps. 118

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires, known,
and from whom no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Music: https://tinyurl.com/mb6h9xfa

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Alleluia, alleluia!

HYMN: St John of Damascus; trans. John Mason Neale
Tune: Ellacombe https://tinyurl.com/5ynzmsaw

1 The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad;
the Passover of gladness,
the Passover of God;
from death to life eternal,
from earth unto the sky,
our God hath brought us over
with hymns of victory.

2 Our hearts be pure from evil,
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection-light;
and, listening to his accents,
may hear so calm and plain
his own ‘All hail’, and, hearing,
may raise the victor strain.

3 Now let the heavens be joyful,
and earth her song begin,
the round world keep high triumph,
and all that is therein;
let all things seen and unseen
their notes of gladness blend,
for Christ the Lord is risen,
our joy that hath no end.

PSALMS

Psalm 2 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ya85zg8v)

1  Why do the heathen so furiously rage together *
 and why do the people imagine a vain thing?
2  The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together *
 against the Lord, and against his Anointed.
3  Let us break their bonds asunder *
 and cast away their cords from us.
4  He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn *
 the Lord shall have them in derision.
5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath *
 and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6  Yet have I set my King *
 upon my holy hill of Sion.
7  I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me *
 Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8  Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance *
 and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9  Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron *
 and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings *
 be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.
11  Serve the Lord in fear *
 and rejoice unto him with reverence.
12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way *
 if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,)
blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 57 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yb9ln9xn)

1  Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me,
for my soul trusteth in thee *
 and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge,
until this tyranny be over-past.
2  I will call unto the most high God *
 even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.
3  He shall send from heaven *
 and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.
4  God shall send forth his mercy and truth *
 my soul is among lions.
5  And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire *
 whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
6  Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens *
 and thy glory above all the earth.
7  They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul *
 they have digged a pit before me,
and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.
8  My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed *
 I will sing, and give praise.
9  Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp *
 I myself will awake right early.
10  I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people *
 and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
11  For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens *
 and thy truth unto the clouds.
12  Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens *
 and thy glory above all the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 111 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vddmean)

1  I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart *
 secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.
2  The works of the Lord are great *
 sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3  His work is worthy to be praised, and had in honour *
 and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4  The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works *
 that they ought to be had in remembrance.
5  He hath given meat unto them that fear him *
 he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
6  He hath shewed his people the power of his works *
 that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7  The works of his hands are verity and judgement *
 all his commandments are true.
8  They stand fast for ever and ever *
 and are done in truth and equity.
9  He sent redemption unto his people *
 he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.
10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom *
 a good understanding have all they that do thereafter;
the praise of it endureth for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 2 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-2.mp3)

1 Why are the nations in an uproar? *
Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?
2 Why do the kings of the earth rise up in revolt,
and the princes plot together, *
against the LORD and against his Anointed?
3 “Let us break their yoke,” they say; *
“let us cast off their bonds from us.”
4 He whose throne is in heaven is laughing; *
the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he speaks to them in his wrath, *
and his rage fills them with terror.
6 “I myself have set my king *
upon my holy hill of Zion.”
7 Let me announce the decree of the LORD: *
he said to me, “You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance *
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
9 You shall crush them with an iron rod *
and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”
10 And now, you kings, be wise; *
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Submit to the LORD with fear, *
and with trembling bow before him;
12 Lest he be angry and you perish; *
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
13 Happy are they all *
who take refuge in him!

Psalm 57 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-57-MH.mp3)

2 Have mercy on me, God, have mercy
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge
till the storms of destruction pass by.
3 I call to you God the Most High,
to you who have always been my help.
4 May you send from heaven and save me
and shame those who assail me.
O God, send your truth and your love.
5 My soul lies down among lions,
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharpened sword.
6 O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth!
7 They laid a snare for my steps; my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path
but fell in it themselves.
8 My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise.
9 Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp,
I will awake the dawn.
10 I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you
11 for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies.
12 O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.

Psalm 111 (LSB Tone A: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-111-LSB.mp3)

1 Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD! *
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, *
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; *
the LORD is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him; *
he remembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works *
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; *
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever, *
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant for ever; *
holy and awesome is his Name!
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; *
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures for ever!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

PRAYER

God of glory,
fill your church with the power
that flows from Christ’s resurrection,
that, in the midst of the sinful world,
it may signal the beginning of a renewed humanity,
risen to new life with Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Exodus 12:1-14

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month will be the first month; it will be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole Israelite community: On the tenth day of this month they must take a lamb for each household, a lamb per house. If a household is too small for a lamb, it should share one with a neighbor nearby. You should divide the lamb in proportion to the number of people who will be eating it. Your lamb should be a flawless year-old male. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You should keep close watch over it until the fourteenth day of this month. At twilight on that day, the whole assembled Israelite community should slaughter their lambs. They should take some of the blood and smear it on the two doorposts and on the beam over the door of the houses in which they are eating. That same night they should eat the meat roasted over the fire. They should eat it along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Don’t eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over fire with its head, legs, and internal organs. Don’t let any of it remain until morning, and burn any of it left over in the morning. This is how you should eat it. You should be dressed, with your sandals on your feet and your walking stick in your hand. You should eat the meal in a hurry. It is the Passover of the Lord. I’ll pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I’ll strike down every oldest child in the land of Egypt, both humans and animals. I’ll impose judgments on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be your sign on the houses where you live. Whenever I see the blood, I’ll pass over you. No plague will destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

“This day will be a day of remembering for you. You will observe it as a festival to the Lord. You will observe it in every generation as a regulation for all time.

HYMN: Michael Weiss; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Württemberg https://tinyurl.com/5n77cs26

1 Christ the Lord is risen again;
Christ has broken death’s strong chain.
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
singing evermore on high:
Hallelujah!

2 He who gave for us his life,
who for us endured the strife,
is our Paschal Lamb today.
We too sing for joy and say:
Hallelujah!

3 He who bore all pain and loss
comfortless upon the cross
lives in glory now on high,
pleads for us, and hears our cry:
Hallelujah!

4 He whose path no records tell
has descended into hell;
he the strong man armed has bound
and in highest heav’n is crowned.
Hallelujah!

5 He who slumbered in the grave
is exalted now to save;
now through Christendom it rings
that the Lamb is King of kings.
Hallelujah!

6 Now he bids us tell abroad
how the lost may be restored,
how the penitent forgiv’n,
how we too may enter heav’n,
Hallelujah!

Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen, not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

HYMN: Georg Vettter; trans. Martin H Franzmann ©
Tune: Mit Freuden zart https://tinyurl.com/2p983hu3

1 With high delight let us unite
in songs of great jubilation.
You pure in heart, each take your part,
sing Jesus Christ, our salvation.
To set us free forever, he
is ris’n and sends to all earth’s ends
good news to save ev’ry nation.

2 True God, he first from death has burst
forth into life, all subduing.
His enemy shall vanquished be;
his death has been death’s undoing.
“And yours shall be like victory
o’er death and grave,” said he, who gave
his life for us, life renewing.

3 Let praises ring; give thanks, and bring
to Christ our Lord adoration.
His honor speed by word and deed
to ev’ry land, ev’ry nation.
So shall his love give us above,
from misery and death set free,
all joy and full consolation.

Reading: John 20:1-18

Early in the morning of the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. She ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.” Peter and the other disciple left to go to the tomb. They were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and was the first to arrive at the tomb. Bending down to take a look, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he didn’t go in. Following him, Simon Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. He also saw the face cloth that had been on Jesus’ head. It wasn’t with the other clothes but was folded up in its own place. Then the other disciple, the one who arrived at the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. They didn’t yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her. 

CANTICLE Revelation 5:12-14 (LBW)
(Richard Hillert setting: https://tinyurl.com/25ev5pcd)

Refrain:
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
1 Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God. [Refrain]
2 Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
and honor, blessing, and glory are his. [Refrain]
3 Sing with all the people of God,
and join in the hymn of all creation. [Refrain]
4 Blessing, honor, glory, and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. [Refrain]
5 For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. [Refrain]

THE PRAYERS ^{Joe Milner}

For the Church: that we may radiate the light of Christ each day and confidently live as daughters and sons of God

For all the newly baptized: that they may faithfully follow Jesus and keep the light of Christ burning in their lives

For all children: that they may live and grow in peace, celebrating God’s love each day of their life

For all the baptized: that Christ will pour out the Spirit upon us and enable us to continue the mission of bringing hope, meaning, and love to all in our society

For all who find themselves walking in darkness or doubting their faith: that they may encounter the Risen Lord who brings light to their journey and peace to their hearts

For healing of hearts and relationships: that the Risen Lord will open the path to reconciliation and healing for families, communities, and co-workers

For all who struggle for peace and justice: that God will provide a new springtime in their efforts that will yield an abundant harvest for the human family

For all who are in need: that the Risen Lord will encounter and bring hope, healing, and strength to the poor, the sick, refugees, and run-away children

For peace throughout the world: that the Risen Lord will guide the human family away from violence, particularly in Ukraine, and toward new efforts of cooperation and human development

For all who work in healthcare, public safety, and other essential services: that God will protect them and their families as they serve the greater good

For all who are confined to their home and for those who cannot be with family: that God will protect them, renew their spirits, and give them strength this day

For all who are grieving: that God will give them peace and hope as they hear the Good News of Christ’s resurrection

For inspiration: that the Holy Spirit will give insight and courage to legislators and government leaders as they develop policies to address gun violence and school safety

For our common home: that God will lead us to be good stewards of creation and guide our actions to restore the damages done to the air, water, and land

For all who are seeking a new beginning: that the resurrection of Christ will bring light into their lives and open new opportunities for them to end old behaviors and walk in a new direction

(Traditional chant: https://tinyurl.com/ydzx5jdp)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.]

Living Lord,
whose love displaced
the gravity of stone;
you entrusted women,
who loved beyond death,
with news of resurrection:
we praise you for the open gospel
which ends where Easter faith begins;
accept our fear, our disbelief
and take us into this new world
led by the risen Son;
through Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead. Amen. ^PIC

https://tinyurl.com/rkxkpmc
Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:
Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church,
and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.    Ephesians 3:20,21

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

^PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church. Steven Shakespeare © 2008 Canterbury Press.

The intercessions are by Joe Milner, http://liturgy.slu.edu

The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979), The Grail Psalter, and the Lutheran Service Book. The modern chants are performed by Ryland Angel, the manualhopper YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA7dFvm3xGcnay-IeuplWww/videos), the Chant at Home YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6z7AdmqSGQ), respectively.

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2023 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.