Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/yc2wmpsx
The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth;
by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. Psalm 33
You have shown your glory, O God,
in raising Jesus from the dead.
Raise us to new life in him,
and empower us to serve you.
May your words be in our mouths,
your strength in our arms,
and your love in our hearts,
that we may be worthy disciples
of Jesus Christ the living Lord. Amen. BCW2018
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: Christopher Wordsworth
Tune: Lux eoi https://tinyurl.com/2p9n7tkj
1 Alleluia, alleluia!
Hearts to heav’n and voices raise:
sing to God a hymn of gladness,
sing to God a hymn of praise.
He, who on the cross a victim
for the world’s salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of glory,
now is risen from the dead.
2 Now the iron bars are broken,
Christ from death to life is born,
glorious life, and life immortal,
on the holy Easter morn.
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer
by His mighty enterprise;
we with Him to life eternal
by His resurrection rise.
3 Christ is risen, Christ, the first-fruits
of the holy harvest field,
which will all its full abundance
at His second coming yield.
Then the golden ears of harvest
will their heads before Him wave,
ripened by His glorious sunshine
from the furrows of the grave.
4 Christ is risen, we are risen!
Shed upon us heav’nly grace,
rain and dew and gleams of glory
from the brightness of Thy face,
that we, with our hearts in heaven,
here on earth may fruitful be,
and by angel hands be gathered,
and be ever, Lord, with Thee.
5 Alleluia, alleluia!
Glory be to God on high!
Alleluia! to the Savior
who has gained the victory!
Alleluia! to the Spirit,
fount of love and sanctity!
Alleluia, alleluia
to the Triune Majesty!
PSALMS
Psalm 27 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/tlahhq6)
1 The Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom then shall I fear *
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies, and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh *
they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host of men were laid against me,
yet shall not my heart be afraid *
and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require *
even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle *
yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me,
and set me up upon a rock of stone.
6 And now shall he lift up mine head *
above mine enemies round about me.
7 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness *
I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord.
8 Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee *
have mercy upon me, and hear me.
9 My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face *
Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
10 O hide not thou thy face from me *
nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.
11 Thou hast been my succour *
leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
12 When my father and my mother forsake me *
the Lord taketh me up.
13 Teach me thy way, O Lord *
and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies.
14 Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries *
for there are false witnesses risen up against me,
and such as speak wrong.
15 I should utterly have fainted *
but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
16 O tarry thou the Lord’s leisure *
be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the Lord.
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 28 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/uxqzzoa)
1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my strength *
think no scorn of me; lest, if thou make as though thou hearest not,
I become like them that go down into the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my humble petitions, when I cry unto thee *
when I hold up my hands towards the mercy-seat of thy holy temple.
3 O pluck me not away, neither destroy me
with the ungodly and wicked doers *
which speak friendly to their neighbours,
but imagine mischief in their hearts.
4 Reward them according to their deeds *
and according to the wickedness of their own inventions.
5 Recompense them after the work of their hands *
pay them that they have deserved.
6 For they regard not in their mind the works of the Lord,
nor the operation of his hands *
therefore shall he break them down, and not build them up.
7 Praised be the Lord *
for he hath heard the voice of my humble petitions.
8 The Lord is my strength, and my shield;
my heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped *
therefore my heart danceth for joy, and in my song will I praise him.
9 The Lord is my strength *
and he is the wholesome defence of his Anointed.
10 O save thy people, and give thy blessing unto thine inheritance *
feed them, and set them up 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 29 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/rxm2ar6)
1 Bring unto the Lord, O ye mighty,
bring young rams unto the Lord *
ascribe unto the Lord worship and strength.
2 Give the Lord the honour due unto his Name *
worship the Lord with holy worship.
3 It is the Lord, that commandeth the waters *
it is the glorious God, that maketh the thunder.
4 It is the Lord, that ruleth the sea;
the voice of the Lord is mighty in operation *
the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedar-trees *
yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Libanus.
6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf *
Libanus also, and Sirion, like a young unicorn.
7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire;
the voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness *
yea, the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Cades.
8 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to bring forth young,
and discovereth the thick bushes *
in his temple doth every man speak of his honour.
9 The Lord sitteth above the water-flood *
and the Lord remaineth a King for ever.
10 The Lord shall give strength unto his people *
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
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 27 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-27.mp3)
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? *
the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me, *
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
4 And though war should rise up against me, *
yet will I put my trust in him.
5 One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;
6 To behold the fair beauty of the LORD *
and to seek him in his temple.
7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; *
he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling
and set me high upon a rock.
8 Even now he lifts up my head *
above my enemies round about me.
9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation
with sounds of great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
10 Hearken to my voice, O LORD, when I call; *
have mercy on me and answer me.
11 You speak in my heart and say, “Seek my face.” *
Your face, LORD, will I seek.
12 Hide not your face from me, *
nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; *
do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.
14 Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the LORD will sustain me.
15 Show me your way, O LORD; *
lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.
16 Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and also those who speak malice.
17 What if I had not believed
that I should see the goodness of the LORD *
in the land of the living!
18 O tarry and await the LORD’S pleasure;
be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 28 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-28.mp3)
1 O LORD, I call to you;
my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; *
lest, if you do not hear me,
I become like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, *
when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
3 Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers, *
who speak peaceably with their neighbors,
while strife is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to their deeds, *
and according to the wickedness of their actions.
5 According to the work of their hands repay them, *
and give them their just deserts.
6 They have no understanding of the LORD’S doings,
nor of the works of his hands; *
therefore he will break them down and not build them up.
7 Blessed is the LORD! *
for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
8 The LORD is my strength and my shield; *
my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped;
9 Therefore my heart dances for joy, *
and in my song will I praise him.
10 The LORD is the strength of his people, *
a safe refuge for his anointed.
11 Save your people and bless your inheritance; *
shepherd them and carry them for ever.
Psalm 29 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-29.mp3)
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendor.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *
the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *
the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.
9 And in the temple of the LORD *
all are crying, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *
the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.
11 The LORD shall give strength to his people; *
the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.
PRAYER
God of mystery and power,
open our eyes to the fire of your love,
and open our ears to the thunder of your justice,
that we may receive your gifts of blessing and peace,
to the glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: Song of Songs 1:1-2:7
The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine;
your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is perfume poured out;
therefore the maidens love you.
Draw me after you; let us make haste.
The king has brought me into his chambers.
We will exult and rejoice in you;
we will extol your love more than wine;
rightly do they love you.
I am black and beautiful,
O daughters of Jerusalem,
like the tents of Kedar,
like the curtains of Solomon.
Do not gaze at me because I am dark,
because the sun has gazed on me.
My mother’s sons were angry with me;
they made me keeper of the vineyards,
but my own vineyard I have not kept!
Tell me, you whom my soul loves,
where you pasture your flock,
where you make it lie down at noon,
for why should I be like one who is veiled
beside the flocks of your companions?
If you do not know,
O fairest among women,
follow the tracks of the flock
and pasture your kids
beside the shepherds’ tents.
I compare you, my love,
to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
Your cheeks are comely with ornaments,
your neck with strings of jewels.
We will make you ornaments of gold,
studded with silver.
While the king was on his couch,
my nard gave forth its fragrance.
My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh
that lies between my breasts.
My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms
in the vineyards of En-gedi.
Ah, you are beautiful, my love;
ah, you are beautiful;
your eyes are doves.
Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved,
truly lovely.
Our couch is green;
the beams of our house are cedar;
our rafters are pine.
I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.
As a lily among brambles,
so is my love among maidens.
As an apple tree among the trees of the wood,
so is my beloved among young men.
With great delight I sat in his shadow,
and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his intention toward me was love.
Sustain me with raisins,
refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.
O that his left hand were under my head
and that his right hand embraced me!
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
by the gazelles or the wild does:
do not stir up or awaken love
until it is ready!
HYMN: Stuart Townend and Keith Getty ©
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/y2npm8tj
1 See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
as the angels announce, “Christ is risen!”
See God’s salvation plan,
wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
fulfilled in Christ, the man, for he lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!
2 See Mary weeping, “Where is he laid?”
as in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb.
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
it’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
will sound till he appears, for he lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!
3 One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
thro’ the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
to the King crowned with pow’r and authority!
And we are raised with him;
death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered.
And we shall reign with him, for he lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!
READING: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Now I want you to understand, brothers and sisters, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you believed.
HYMN: Martin Luther; trans. Richard Massie
Tune: Christ lag in Todesbanden https://tinyurl.com/ys43sz3y
1 Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands,
And brings us life from heaven;
Wherefore let us joyful be,
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of Alleluia!
Alleluia!
2 For Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,
To our low state descended,
The cause of death He has undone,
Its pow’r forever ended,
Ruined all its right and claim
And left it nothing but the name,
Its sting is lost forever.
Alleluia!
3 It was a strange and dreadful strife
When Life and Death contended.
The victory remained with life,
The reign of death was ended;
Holy Scripture plainly saith
That death is swallowed up by death,
In vain it rages o’er us.
Alleluia!
5 So let us keep the festival
Whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The Sun that warms and lights us;
Now His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended!
Alleluia!
READING: Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
CANTICLE Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18
I will sing to the Lord, for he is lofty and uplifted; *
the horse and its rider has he hurled into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my refuge; *
the Lord has become my Savior.
This is my God and I will praise him, *
the God of my people and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a mighty warrior; *
The Lord is his Name.
The chariots of Pharaoh and his army has he hurled into the sea; *
the finest of those who bear armor
have been drowned in the Red Sea.
The fathomless deep has overwhelmed them; *
they sank into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in might; *
your right hand, O Lord, has overthrown the enemy.
Who can be compared with you, O Lord, among the gods? *
Who is like you, glorious in holiness,
awesome in renown, and worker of wonders?
You stretched forth your right hand; *
the earth swallowed them up.
With your constant love you led the people you redeemed; *
you brought them in safety to your holy dwelling.
You will bring them in and plant them *
on the mount of your possession,
The resting-place you have made for yourself, O Lord, *
the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hand has established.
The Lord shall reign *
for ever and for ever.
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.
THE PRAYERS 1 CWC
The Lord for whom we have waited has come;
he is risen and in our midst.
Let us then bring our intercessions, saying,
Lord, hear our prayer:
Your steadfast love endures forever.
For your church around the world,
around this country,
in this community,
and this congregation . . .
Make us ever more faithful,
our eyes always on Jesus.
Lord, hear our prayer:
Your steadfast love endures forever.
For your world and its rulers,
our government and our local leaders . . .
Give them your wisdom,
establish your justice,
and imbue us with peace.
Lord, hear our prayer:
Your steadfast love endures forever.
For this earth that lives and breathes with us,
the waters that flow and all that grows,
for every living creature . . .
Enable us to flourish,
and teach us to live as one.
Lord, hear our prayer:
Your steadfast love endures forever.
For those who are ill,
those facing death,
and those who care for them . . .
Grant your healing mercies
and bestow your peace.
Lord, hear our prayer:
Your steadfast love endures forever.
For those without hope,
those who mourn,
those who seek to know you . . .
Bathe us in light,
and fill us with your grace.
Lord, hear our prayer:
Your steadfast love endures forever.
All this we pray through our Savior and friend,
Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Plainsong Mode 2: https://tinyurl.com/yctqq8cf)DL
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the bread of life;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Infinite God,
your light breaks forth like the dawn,
scattering the darkness
and renewing our hope.
You are our joy and our life,
the wellspring of our praise,
the font of all our alleluias.
All glory and honor to you, O God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. CWC
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.
BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018
CWC Connections Worship Companion, ed. David Gambrell © Westminster John Knox Press
DL © Daniel Lawson; used with permission.
The main scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The traditional version of the psalms is from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern versions are from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. The canticle is from Book of Common Prayer (2019) as recorded for the St Bernard Breviary https://www.bernardbreviary.com/chant-helps
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 © 2026 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.
Oremus 