The Lessons Appointed for Use on

Easter Day

Principal Service
Year C
BCP

Acts 10:34-43
or Isaiah 51:9-11
Colossians 3:1-4
or Acts 10:34-43
Luke 24:1-10
Psalm 118:14-29 or 118:14-17, 22-24

The Collect

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection 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 resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

or this

O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

or this

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.

The First Lesson

Acts 10:34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God 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."

or

Old Testament

Isaiah 51:9-11

Awake, awake, put on strength,
O arm of the LORD!
Awake, as in days of old,
the generations of long ago!
Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces,
who pierced the dragon?
Was it not you who dried up the sea,
the waters of the great deep;
who made the depths of the sea a way
for the redeemed to cross over?
So the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Psalm

Psalm 118:14-29 or 118:14-17, 22-24 Page 761, BCP

Confitemini Domino

14
The LORD is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.

15
There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:

16
"The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"

17
I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the LORD.

18
The LORD has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.

19
Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the LORD.

20
"This is the gate of the LORD; *
he who is righteous may enter."

21
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.

22
The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.

23
This is the LORD'S doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24
On this day the LORD has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25
Hosannah, LORD, hosannah! *
LORD, send us now success.

26
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
we bless you from the house of the LORD.

27
God is the LORD; he has shined upon us; *
form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

28
"You are my God, and I will thank you; *
you are my God, and I will exalt you."

29
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

 

The Epistle

Colossians 3:1-4

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

or

The Second Lesson

Acts 10:34-43

(See Above)

The Gospel

Luke 24:1-10

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women who had come with Jesus from Galilee came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.



Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.


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