Easter Sunday Liturgy
April 12, 2020

Prelude & Hymn

Chorale in E (1890), FWV 38
Christian M. Clough, organ, recorded on the 1962 Austin organ in the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, CT
Music: César Franck (1822-1890)

The Hymnal 1982 #207 “Jesus Christ is risen today”
Choir: Compilation of online recordings of members of several parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
Organ: Richard Barrick Hoskins, Director of Music, Organist & Carillonneur, St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church, Chicago
Words: Latin, 14th cent.; tr. Lyra Davidica, 1708, alt. St. 4, Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music: Easter Hymn, 77. 77 with Alleluias, from Lyra Davidica, 1708; adapt. The Complete Psalmodist, 1749, alt.

Opening Sentences

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

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. Alleluia.

Invitatory

The Hymnal 1982, Service Music #46 “Christ our Passover (Pascha Nostrum)”

Antiphon:
Alleluia. The Lord is risen indeed: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

Alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *
therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.

Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.

Christ has been raised from the dead, *
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, *
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, *
so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.

Glory 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.
Antiphon

Christian M. Clough, voice
Words: 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Music: Plainsong, Tone I, Introit Form; adapt. Norman Mealy (1923-1987), alt; acc. David Hurd (b. 1950)
Melody © 1979, The Church Pension Fund. Accompaniment © 1984, David Hurd.
Notes: The arranger of today's plainsong setting of Christ Our Passover, the Invitatory Canticle, suggested singing it while an ostinato pattern of handbells plays in the background, but under the current conditions, that's not really practical. Instead, Christian sings it while playing a recording of a peal of the bells of Nôtre Dame de Paris, badly damaged by fire last year on Palm Sunday. Bells are the only instruments blessed and named, like angels, by the church. May we all be blessed this Easter!

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

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

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever.
Let Israel now proclaim, “His mercy endures for ever.”

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.
There is a sound of exultation and victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! the right hand of the Lord is exalted! the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
The Lord has punished me sorely, but he did not hand me over to death.
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord.
“This is the gate of the Lord; he who is righteous may enter.”
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me and have become my salvation.
The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Bridget Skaggs, voice
Music: Plainsong, Tone VIII.1

Old Testament: Jeremiah 31:1-6

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah.

At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
Thanks be to God.

Canticle 18

The Hymnal 1982, Service Music #266 Canticle 18: “A Song to the Lamb (Dignus es)”

Splendor and honor and kingly power are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, and by your will they were created and have their being;

And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, for with your blood you have redeemed for God,
From every family, language, people, and nation, a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

And so, to him who sits upon the throne, and to Christ the Lamb,
Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, for ever and for evermore.

Christian M. Clough, voice
Words: Revelation 4:11, 5:9-10, 13
Music: Calvin Hampton (1938-1984). © 1984 M. Panbrun.

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God..

Vocal Solo: Great is thy faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not,
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Refrain
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided,
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain

Bridget Skaggs, voice
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960) Music: Faithfulness (Runyan), William M. Runyan (1870-1957)

Sermon

The Rev. Catherine Healy, Rector

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.

I invite you to reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ as we affirm our common faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

I invite you to answer each question with the words: “I will, with God’s help.”

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Suffrages

V.    Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R.    Govern and uphold them, now and always.
V.    Day by day we bless you;
R.    We praise your name for ever.
V.    Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R.    Have mercy upon us, Lord, have mercy.
V.    Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R.    For we put our trust in you.
V.    In you, Lord, is our hope;
R.    And we shall never hope in vain.

The Prayers of the People

Creator God, we pray for your holy Catholic Church; that we all may be one.

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you; that your Name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons; that they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; that there may be justice and peace on the earth.

We give thanks for Simon, Amanda, Allison, Connor, Susan, Sem, Monica, and Theodore, as they begin another year, and for Christian & Christopher and John & Phoebe, as they celebrate their anniversaries. Give them grace to do your will in all that they undertake, that their works may find favor in your sight.

We pray for Helen, Darnell, George, Audrey, Isaiah, James, Marian, Melanie, Josef, Ricky, Christine, Mary, Willie, Sally and her family, Eli, Rock, William, Cheryl, Henry, Sophie, Naomi, George, Sean, Tim, William, Jewel, Leatrice, Katherine, Bronwen, Chris, and Barbara, as well as their caregivers. Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble; that they may be delivered from their distress.

Give to the departed eternal rest. We remember especially Akesh, Jeanne, Alexander, and Ruth. Let light perpetual shine upon them.

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy; may we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

The People may add their own petitions.

Collect

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Vocal Solo: Great day!

Great day!
Great day, the righteous marchin’
Great day!
God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls

Chariot rode on the mountain top
God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls
My God spoke an’ de chariot stop
God's gonna build up Zion’s walls

This is the day of jubilee
God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls
De Lord has set His people free
God’s gonna build up Zion’s walls

Luther Lewis, III, voice
Words: Traditional 
Music: Negro spiritual

Closing Prayer

God of Life,
who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection
have delivered us from the power of our enemy:
grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Source

Dismissal & Grace

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Postlude

Fugue in C, BWV 564
Christian M. Clough, organ, recorded on the Austin organ in the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Hartford, CT
Music: from Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Easter Sunday LiturgyApril 12, 2020