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.

As Christ lay in the darkness of the earth he saw the light of a new glory. Let us cry out to him in joy:
- King of glory, hear us.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons: that they may be zealous in their ministry,
  -   and prepare for you a people devoted to every good work. (R.)
We pray for all who teach in the service of your Church –
  -  that they may seek your truth with a sincere heart.(R.)
We pray for you faithful people, that they may be victorious in the contest of faith.
  -  and win the prize of victory in your kingdom.(R.)
You cancelled our condemnation by nailing it to the cross,
  -  free us from our chains and lead us out of darkness.(R.)
You went down among the dead and opened for them the gates to life,
  -  welcome our dead brothers and sisters into your kingdom.(R.)

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.

Father,
by this Easter mystery you touch our lives
with the healing power of your love.
You have given us the freedom of the children of God.
May we who now celebrate your gift
find joy in it for ever in heaven.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.