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;
Therefore let us joyful be,
and praise the Father thankfully
With songs of alleluia.
Alleluia.

How long and bitter was the strife
when life and death contended;
the victory remained with life,
the reign of death was ended;
stripped of power, no more it reigns,
an empty form alone remains;
death's sting is lost for ever!
Alleluia.

So let us keep this festival
To which our Lord invites us;
The Savior who is joy of all,
the sun that warms and lights us;
by his grace he shall impart
eternal sunshine to the heart;
the night of sin is ended.
Alleluia.

Words: Martin Luther , 1524;
trans. Richard Massie, 1854, adapted by Anthony G. Petti
Music: Christ lag in Todesbanden
Meter: 87 87 78 74

Psalm 110:1-5,7    
Dixit Dominus


The Lord's revelation to my Master:
"Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet."

The Lord will yield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.


A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.


The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
"You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedeck of old."


The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his wrath.


He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head.

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.


Antiphon 1: Mary Magdelene and the other Mary came to see the Lord's tomb, alleluia.


Antiphon 2: Come and see the place where the Lord was buried, alleluia.

Psalm 114    
In exitu Israel

When Israel came forth from Egypt,
Jacob's sons from an alien people

Judah became the Lord's temple,
Israel became his kingdom.

The sea fled at the sight:
the Jordan turned back on its course,

the mountains leapt like rams
and the hills like yearling sheep.

Why was it, sea, that you fled,
that you turned back, Jordan, on your course?

Mountains, that you leapt like rams;
hills, like yearling sheep?

Tremble, O earth, before the Lord,
in the presence of the God of Jacob,

who turns the rock into a pool
and flint into a spring of water.

Christ rose from the dead as the first fruits of those who sleep.
In our joy let us praise him, and say:
      Firstborn from the dead, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, remember your holy Church, built on the apostles and reaching to the ends of the earth,
 - and let your blessing rest on all who believe in you.

You are the healer of soul and body,
 - come to our aid, and save us in your love.

Raise up the sick and give them strength,
 - free them from their infirmities.

Help those in distress of mind or body,
 - and in your compassion lift up those in need.

Through your cross and resurrection you opened for all the way to immortality,
 - grant to our deceased brothers and sisters the joys of your kingdom.

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 that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
 but deliver us from evil.