07. Easter Season

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07. Easter Season

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VERSION: 4 April 2002

 

EASTER SEASON

 

 

CONTENTS

 

GENERAL

This document

What is Easter?

Musical setting for the service

Standing instead of kneeling

 

LITURGY

Opening hymn and procession

Sentence

Confession and absolution

Introduction to confession of sins

Affirmation of baptism

Sprinkling (asperges) ceremony

Lord, have mercy

Hymn of adoration

Alleluia verse

Gospel acclamation

Gospel procession

Easter responses

Nicene Creed

Prayer of the church

Seasonal preface

Eucharistic prayer

Acclamation after the words of institution

Communion invitation

Dismissal after communion

Prayer after communion

Seasonal blessing

 

HYMNS AND SONGS

Sources

Lord, have mercy

Glory to God in the highest

This is the feast

Sequence hymn

Alleluia verse

Gospel response

Offertory

Holy, holy, holy

Lamb of God

Post-communion canticle

'All Together' songs suitable for Easter

Together in Song hymns and songs

Taize songs for Easter

Iona Community songs for Easter

Canticles

 

MUSIC

 

VISUAL ARTS

General

Colours

Decoration

Flowers

Vestments

Baptism font

Paschal candle

A helpful hint for candles

An Easter garden (with tomb)

Lent-Easter tree

Symbols for Easter

Concordia Commentary 'icons'

 

DRAMA

 

CHILDREN

General

A baptism song

Further ideas

 

OTHER MATERIAL

Easter greeting

'Resurrection celebration'

Blessing the fields (rogation days)

EASTER SEASON

 

 

GENERAL

 

THIS DOCUMENT

Please see the general worship guidelines and ideas given in the document 'General notes and resources' in this folder. This Easter document supplements that document, containing additional suggestions for the season of Easter, also covering Ascension. For Pentecost and Holy Trinity, see the individual documents for these Sundays. Material specific to each Sunday and festival day is given in the documents for those days.

 

WHAT IS EASTER?

Easter is the culmination, the high point, and the central feast of the church year. We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, and his victory over sin, death and Satan. The mood is one of joy and festivity. Because Christ has risen, we now have new life with him which goes on forever.

 

The season begins with Easter Day (or after sunset on the evening before, with the Easter vigil) and ends 50 days later with Pentecost, the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The date of Easter varies from year to year; in the Western church it is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or next after 21 March. There are seven Sundays of Easter, and included in the Easter period is Ascension Day. Because Jesus rose on the first day of the week, every Sunday commemorates Easter.

 

MUSICAL SETTING FOR THE SERVICE

Try using a different musical setting during the Easter season from the one used on the Sundays in Lent. For instance, if the Service with Communion (LHS page 6) has been used in Lent, use the Service - Alternative Form (LHS page 58) or one of the Sing the Feast settings in Easter; or change from one of the Sing the Feast settings to another.

 

STANDING INSTEAD OF KNEELING

If the congregation has been kneeling during Lent and Holy Week for parts of the liturgy, they may now stand for these parts of the service, following an ancient practice that during Easter the congregation rises as Christ rose from the dead.

 

 

LITURGY

 

OPENING HYMN AND PROCESSION

Begin the service with an opening hymn and procession. The congregation stands to sing a well-known Easter hymn, such as 'Jesus Christ is risen today' LH 88, TIS 362 or 'The strife is o'er' LH 97 ('The strife is past' TIS 367). The processional cross is carried at the beginning of the procession, perhaps followed by children carrying two candles (the candles from the altar may be used). Then the choir or children, assistants in the service, and the minister enter and take their places. Use extra musical instruments such as trumpets and drums if available.

 

If the service begins in this way, it may be more appropriate to shift the confession and absolution to just before the preface at the beginning of the communion liturgy. In this way, the beginning of the service would go as follows:

*

Processional song

*

Opening verse(s)

*

Lord, have mercy

*

Glory to God in the highest / This is the feast

*

Greeting

*

Prayer of the day (collect)

 

SENTENCE

A Sentence may be said or sung entirely by the minister, or it may be said or sung as a responsive verse. See the document 'General notes and resources' (under 'Sentence') in this folder for suggested general Sentences and for some suggested places in the service for using a Sentence.

 

Here are some suggested seasonal Sentences. Other Sentences are suggested in the notes for each Sunday or festival. Note that during Easter, 'Alleluia' may be added to the end of each line of the sentence.

 

Christ is risen! [Alleluia!]

He is risen indeed! [Alleluia!]

 

OR

Christ has trampled down death by his death. [Alleluia!]

And to us he has given eternal life. [Alleluia!]

 

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Many congregations will want to begin the service on Easter Sunday with a fanfare and joyful singing. If this is done, the confession and absolution can seem a bit out of place at the beginning of the service. An alternative is to put the confession and absolution at the beginning of the communion part of the service, before the preface. A briefer form of confession could be used and the 'Do you' questions could be omitted.

 

If the congregation has been kneeling during Lent and Holy Week for the confession and absolution, they may now stand for this part of the service, following an ancient practice that during Easter the congregation rises as Christ rose from the dead.

 

INTRODUCTION TO CONFESSION OF SINS

Various forms of confession and absolution are included in the Appendix material of the disk (and print-out) of Approved Worship Services. Note that it is often beneficial to leave a time of silence between the call to confession and the prayer of confession. If there is a silence, the minister can lead with the words of confession after it.

 

During the Easter season, one of the following introductions could be used:

 

EITHER

Precede the regular invitation to confession with these words:

God the Father gave Jesus to die for our sins

and raised him to life in order to put us right with himself.

Then continue with the regular invitation and prayer of confession.

 

OR

Friends in Christ:

Let us confess our sins to God our Father,

and ask him to forgive us

for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gave Christ to die for our sins,

and he raised him to life in order to put us right with himself. (Rom 4:25)

The minister then leads with the words of the regular confession.

 

OR

Friends in Christ:

Our Lord Jesus Christ died

and victoriously rose again for us,

to overcome sin, death, and Satan.

So, as people who share his new life,

let's confess our sins to God our Father

and ask him to forgive us through Jesus.

The minister then leads with the words of the regular confession.

 

OR

Friends in Christ:

Let us confess our sins to God our Father

and ask him in the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ

to forgive us . . . etc.

 

OR, for Ascension and the Seventh Sunday of Easter:

Friends in Christ:

Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven,

where he sits at the right-hand side of the Father

and rules forever.

So let's confess our sins to God our Father,

and ask him to forgive us through Jesus.

The minister then leads with the words of the regular confession.

 

OR

Friends in Christ:

Let us confess our sins to God our Father

and ask him in the name of our risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ

to forgive us . . . etc.

 

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM

In the place of the confession and absolution, or in the place of the creed, the congregation may be invited to affirm their baptism by using the form found in the Easter Vigil service in Church Rites, pp 301,302. This is reproduced here:

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ:

Do you renounce the devil

and all his works

and all his ways?

Yes, I do.

 

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth.

 

Do you believe in God the Son?

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

      who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

      born of the Virgin Mary,

      suffered under Pontius Pilate,

      was crucified, dead, and buried.

      He descended into hell.

      The third day he rose again from the dead.

      He ascended into heaven,

      and sits at the right hand of God,

      the Father almighty,

      from thence he will come to judge

      the living and the dead.

 

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

* or: Christian; 'catholic' here means 'universal'

 

Do you intend to remain firm in this faith and reflect it in love to God and your neighbour?

Yes, I do.

 

(May) God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you new birth by water and the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with his Spirit +, so that you receive eternal life.

 

With due pastoral care and explanation, this affirmation may be enhanced by using the sprinkling (asperges) ceremony outlined below.

 

SPRINKLING (ASPERGES) CEREMONY

The ceremony known as the 'asperges' or 'sprinkling' may be particularly useful during Easter-Pentecost to highlight the connection of confession and absolution with the forgiveness received in baptism through the Holy Spirit. Due pastoral preparation must be taken so that notions of holy water are not encouraged, but if used sensitively and with care, it can offer another form of sensory communication in worship.

 

After the confession and absolution, the minister may say the following or similar words.

 

In baptism, God forgave our sin,

delivered us from death and the devil,

and gave everlasting salvation to all who believe what he promised.

It is not water that does these things,

but God's word with the water and our trust in this word.

Water by itself is only water,

but with the word of God it is a life-giving water,

which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit.

 

Friends,

this water will be used to remind us of our baptism.

As we receive the sprinkling of this water,

let us remember that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires,

should be drowned through daily repentance;

and that day after day a new self should arise

to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

 

The minister then takes a bowl of water, and a sprig from an evergreen tree, and sprinkles the water over the whole congregation. While this is done, a suitable song/hymn may be sung (eg LHS 831, 869; AT 126, 359), or one of the following responses may said:

 

I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple. Alleluia!

It brought God's life and his salvation,

and the people sang in joyful praise. Alleluia!

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple. Alleluia, alleluia!

 

OR

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Alleluia!

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,:

will have streams of living water flowing from within.  Alleluia! Alleluia!

As a deer longs for flowing streams:

so my soul longs for you, O God.

My soul thirsts for God:

for the living God.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Alleluia!

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said,:

will have streams of living water flowing from within. Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

LORD, HAVE MERCY

For guidelines and variations of the 'Lord, have mercy', see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Liturgy', 'Lord, have mercy', in this folder.

 

Here is an Easter season introduction to the 'Lord, have mercy'.

 

Let us call on Jesus our risen Lord* and ask him to help us.

[silence]

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

(or one of the other regular forms of the 'Lord, have mercy' may be used after the silence.)

      * or our Lord who was raised for us

 

An introduction for Ascension and the Seventh Suday of Easter is:

 

Let us call on Jesus our (risen and) ascended Lord and ask him to help us.

 

The following 'Lord, have mercy' may be used during Easter.

 

Risen Lord Jesus, hear our prayer and save us.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

Risen Lord Jesus, hear our prayer and help us.

Christ, have mercy. OR Christe, eleison.

Risen Lord Jesus, hear our prayer and give us peace.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

 

The following 'Lord, have mercy' may be used for Ascension and the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

 

Jesus Christ, risen and ascended Lord, hear our prayer and save us.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

Jesus Christ, seated at God's right hand, hear our prayer and help us.

Christ, have mercy. OR Christe, eleison.

Jesus Christ, coming again in glory, hear our prayer and give us peace.

Lord, have mercy. OR Kyrie, eleison.

 

For other variations to the 'Lord, have mercy', see the documents for each Sunday.

 

HYMN OF ADORATION

The canticle 'This is the feast' is most appropriate as the hymn of praise during the time of Easter. See the following for settings:

 

*

Supplement to Lutheran Hymnal, music edition, pages 93-95

*

Sing the Feast, setting one, by Tim Arnold-Moore

*

Sing the Feast, setting three, by Grace Simpson

 

Another excellent setting for this song may be found in Holy Communion: Musical Setting by John Ylvisaker, available from Openbook.

 

Alternatively, a version of the Te Deum may be used at this point. For various settings, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in this folder.

 

ALLELUIA VERSE

The following alleluia verse may be used throughout Easter. Alternatively, this sentence may be used before the verse given for the particular Sunday of Easter.

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;

death no longer has any power over him.

Alleluia!

 

Note that for Easter, as many extra alleluias as musically desirable may be added to the alleluia verse. For instance, three alleluias in each response, or an extra alleluia half way between the verse, may be used.

 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The acclamation may be modified as follows. If this is used, it might be a good idea to use it at every service throughout the Easter season, so that the congregation get used to saying or singing it.

 

Glory to you, O Lord, raised to live forever.

 

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ, raised to live forever.

 

If these are usually sung, as in the Service with Communion (Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement, page 6), it is a simple change to the tune to drop the tone on the 'for-' of 'forever' rather than on the 'O'.

 

GOSPEL PROCESSION

The gospel procession may be used every Sunday, but it is particularly suitable on festival days. At Easter it emphasises that Christ is alive and lives among his people. For suggestions on how to do a gospel procession, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Gospel procession', in this folder.

 

EASTER RESPONSES

These responses may be used as opening sentences or after one of the readings as a response (this is especially appropriate in Matins or Vespers) or as a gradual (in the service with holy communion). The first and third sets of responses are from the Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement, page 78. If the responses are used as opening sentences, the 'Glory to the Father . . .' may be replaced by 'In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.'

 

Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;

death no longer has any power over him.

The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!

Because of our sins, he was handed over to die;

and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God.

The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

The life he lives, he lives to God. Alleluia!

 

OR

I will sing to the Lord,

because he has won a glorious victory.

The Lord is my strong defender;

he is the one who has saved me.

His right hand is awesome in power;

it breaks the enemy in pieces.

Faithful to his promise, he led the people he had rescued;

by his strength he guided them to his sacred land.

He brings them in and plants them on his mountain,

the place that he has chosen for his home,

the temple that he himself has built.

The Lord will be king forever and ever.       (Exod 15:1,2,6,13,17,18)

 

OR, for Ascension and the Seventh Sunday of Easter:

Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Alleluia!

Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved. Alleluia!

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved. Alleluia!

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved. Alleluia!

 

NICENE CREED

Highlight the Nicene Creed phrase 'On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures' in some way. For example, have bells or trumpet or drum roll before it, perhaps repeat it, or have it said antiphonally by two parts of the congregation (eg men/women; left side/right side) one after the other, as an echo and emphasis.

 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

For general guidelines and ideas, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Liturgy', 'Prayer of the church', in this folder.

 

It is generally preferable to use a well-known response such as 'Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer' to the intercessions, so that congregations can respond readily without having to look at the printed order of service or bulletin, which can be disrupting. However, if a seasonal variation is preferred, the following may be used as a response throughout Easter:

 

Father, hear our prayer,

for the sake of our risen* Lord Jesus.

 

* 'and ascended' could be added for Ascension and 7 Easter

 

Reference could be made in the prayer to symbolism of the weather or geography etc of the local region, eg a bright sunny day for Easter symbolising the light and joy of Christ, or welcome rain at Easter bringing new life and growth.

 

SEASONAL PREFACE

*

The seasonal preface for Easter is used from the First Sunday of Easter until and including the Sixth Sunday of Easter.

*

The seasonal preface for Ascension is used for the Ascension of our Lord and the Seventh Sunday of Easter.

*

The seasonal preface for Pentecost is used for the Festival of Pentecost.

*

The seasonal preface for Holy Trinity is used on the First Sunday after Pentecost.

 

The seasonal preface given in the documents for each Sunday and festival is a modernised text recommended for use by the Department of Liturgics with all forms of the liturgy (originally released with the Approved Worship Services disk, in the Service - Alternative Form and the Sing the Feast settings). However, at this stage, these modernised prefaces have not been set to music for singing by the presiding minister.

 

The modernised texts are:

 

EASTER

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But most of all we praise you

for the glorious resurrection of your Son,

the true Passover Lamb,

who has taken away the sin of the world.

By his death he has destroyed death,

and by his rising again he has restored life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter

and all the other witnesses of the resurrection,

with earth and sea and all their creatures,

and with angels and archangels,

cherubim and seraphim,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

 

ASCENSION

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

After his resurrection he appeared openly to his disciples,

and before their very eyes was taken up into heaven,

so that by your grace we may share in his divine nature.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

 

PENTECOST

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When he had ascended above the heavens

and was enthroned at your right hand,

he poured out the promised Holy Spirit

on his chosen people.

At this the whole earth greatly rejoices,

praising your name with many tongues.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

 

TRINITY

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Who with you and the Holy Spirit is one God, one Lord,

whom we confess as the only true God

and worship as the eternal Trinity,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

 

Until music is made available for these modernised texts, those who sing the prefaces may either attempt to adapt the relevant chant to the new words, or use the original texts on pages 20 to 23 of the music edition of the Supplement to the Lutheran Hymnal (for the Service with Communion) or pages 101 to 103 (for the Service - Alternative Form). For convenience, the texts for the sung form of the seasonal prefaces for Easter, Ascension, Pentecost and Holy Trinity are given below.

 

EASTER

For the Service with Communion:

It is truly fitting and right,

and for our lasting good,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

but chiefly are we bound to praise you

for the glorious resurrection of your Son;

for he is our true Passover Lamb who was sacrificed,

and has taken away the sin of the world;

who by his death has destroyed death,

and by his rising has restored life.

Therefore with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and magnify your glorious name,

evermore praising you and saying:

 

OR, for the Service - Alternative Form:

It is indeed right and salutary

that we should at all times and in all places

offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and everliving God.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you

for the glorious resurrection of our Lord;

for he is the true Passover Lamb

who gave himself to take away our sin,

who by his death has destroyed death,

and by his rising has brought us to eternal life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter

and all the witnesses of the resurrection,

with earth and sea and all their creatures,

and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

OR, if the Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today) is used:

Who died upon the cross

to save us all from sin,

and rose from death again

to bring eternal life.

 

ASCENSION

For the Service with Communion:

It is truly fitting and right,

and for our lasting good,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

who, after his resurrection,

appeared openly to all his disciples,

and in their sight was taken up into heaven,

that he might make us partakers of his divine nature.

Therefore with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and magnify your glorious name,

evermore praising you and saying:

 

OR, for the Service - Alternative Form:

It is indeed right and salutary

that we should at all times and in all places

offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father,

through Christ our Lord;

who, after his resurrection,

appeared openly to his disciples

and, in their sight, was taken up into heaven,

that he might make us partakers of his divine nature.

And so, with the church on earth

and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

OR, if the Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today) is used:

Who showed himself alive

to Peter and the twelve,

and rose up into heaven

to make us one with you.

 

PENTECOST

For the Service with Communion:

It is truly fitting and right,

and for our lasting good,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

who, ascending above the heavens

and sitting at your right hand,

poured out, this day, the Holy Spirit, as he had promised,

on his chosen people;

in which the whole world greatly rejoices,

praising your name with many tongues.

Therefore with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and magnify your glorious name,

evermore praising you and saying:

 

OR, for the Service - Alternative Form:

It is indeed right and salutary

that we should at all times and in all places

offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father,

through Christ our Lord;

who rose beyond the bounds of death

and [on this day,] as he had promised,

poured out your Spirit of life and power upon the chosen disciples.

At this the whole earth exults in boundless joy.

And so, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

OR, if the Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today) is used:

Who sent, as he had said,

the Holy Spirit down,

to guide and comfort us,

and fill us with your joy.

 

TRINITY

For the Service with Communion:

It is truly fitting and right,

and for our lasting good,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

who with you and the Holy Spirit

is one God, one Lord;

and in the confession of the only true God

we worship you, the incomprehensible Trinity,

the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Therefore with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and magnify your glorious name,

evermore praising you and saying:

 

OR, for the Service - Alternative Form:

It is indeed right and salutary

that we should at all times and in all places

offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father,

almighty and everliving God.

You have revealed your glory as the glory also of your Son

and of the Holy Spirit:

three persons, equal in majesty, undivided in splendour,

yet one Lord, one God, ever to be adored in your everlasting glory.

And so, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

OR, if the Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today) is used:

For he is one with you,

and with the Spirit one

eternal Trinity,

the true and only God.

 

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

If the eucharistic (thanksgiving) prayer from the Service - Alternative Form or Sing the Feast is used, consider using a seasonal modification of the last part of the prayer before the words of institution:

 

Above all we thank and praise you

for keeping your promise to the people of old

and sending your Son Jesus Christ.

We remember his life and death,

and, especially on this day, his resurrection,

for our salvation,

as he comes to us in this holy meal.

 

Alternatively, the following eucharistic prayers, modified from the standard prayers in the orders of service, may be used:

 

EASTER

A. Service - Alternative Form (also in the Sing the Feast settings):

All praise and thanks be to you, eternal God, holy Father,

together with your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the Holy Spirit, who unites your people in love.

We thank you for creating all things.

We thank you for calling and rescuing your chosen people.

Above all we thank and praise you

for keeping your promise to the people of old

and sending your Son Jesus Christ.

You have raised him to triumphant new life,

and exalted him in glory.

By his victory over death

the reign of sin is ended

and the world is restored.

And so we remember

his life, death, and resurrection for our salvation

as he comes to us in this holy meal.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

B. Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today):

Gracious Father,

we therefore remember the sacrifice of our Lord in celebration,

as we receive his body and blood

with this bread and wine.

We rejoice to receive all that he has done for us

in his life and death,

his resurrection and ascension.

We thank you that you have raised him to triumphant new life,

and exalted him in glory,

and that by his victory over death

the reign of sin is ended

and the world is restored.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit,

so that we who receive the body and blood of Christ

may live as true members of the body of your Son.

Amen.

 

ASCENSION

A. Service - Alternative Form (also in the Sing the Feast settings).

All praise and thanks be to you, eternal God, holy Father,

together with your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the Holy Spirit, who unites your people in love.

We thank you for creating all things.

We thank you for calling and rescuing your chosen people.

Above all we thank and praise you

for keeping your promise to the people of old

and sending your Son Jesus Christ.

You have highly exalted him

and given him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

And so we remember

his life, death, and resurrection for our salvation

as he comes to us in this holy meal.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

B. Modern Liturgy (originally from Worship Today):

Gracious Father,

we therefore remember the sacrifice of our Lord in celebration,

as we receive his body and blood

with this bread and wine.

We rejoice to receive all that he has done for us

in his life and death,

his resurrection and ascension.

We thank you that you have highly exalted him

and given him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit,

so that we who receive the body and blood of Christ

may live as true members of the body of your Son.

Amen.

 

ACCLAMATION AFTER THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

If the Service - Alternative Form is used, the acclamation 'Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again' may be sung according to the tune in ATE 268.

 

COMMUNION INVITATION

The following invitation may be used before communion throughout the Easter season. The congregation may respond with the words 'Thanks be to God' after the verse, before the invitation, 'Come . . .'

 

Jesus says: 'Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood

have eternal life,

and I will raise them up on the last day.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

 

DISMISSAL AFTER COMMUNION

The dismissal after communion could be modified to:

 

The body of our risen Lord Jesus Christ,

and his precious blood

strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life eternal.

Go in peace.

Amen.

 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The following variation of the post-communion prayer may be used during Easter.

 

Heavenly Father,

you gave your Son to die and raised him to give us eternal life.

Grant that we who have received his body and blood

may live in him and serve you as your children.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

 

SEASONAL BLESSING

The following blessing, given in the documents for each Sunday up the Sixth Sunday of Easter, may be used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

 

(May) the God of peace,

who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus,

provide you with every good thing you need in order to do his will; . . .

(the blessing follows)

 

 

HYMNS AND SONGS

 

SOURCES

The following are the main sources for suggested hymns and songs:

 

Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement (LHS)

The 'All Together' songbooks (AT)

Together in Song: Australian Hymn Book II (TIS)

Revised texts: Modernised 'Lutheran Hymnal' hymns (see the 'Modernised Lutheran Hymnal hymns' folder). These modernised hymns are usually indicated with an asterisk (*) and the words 'Modernised version available'.

Some new hymns/songs.

 

Permission is given for the new songs/hymns and new versions to be reproduced by congregations for non-commercial worship purposes (with acknowledgment).

 

LORD, HAVE MERCY

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Hymns and songs', 'Lord, have mercy', in this folder for metrical paraphrases of the 'Lord, have mercy'.

 

Here is a metrical 'Lord, have mercy' by David Schubert which could be used in the Easter season. It is to the metre 8.6.8.6, so there are plenty of available tunes, eg the tune of LH 99, an Easter hymn. Note that there is also a 'Lamb of God' (below, under 'Hymns and songs', 'Lamb of God') to the same metre, so consider singing the 'Lord, have mercy' here to the same tune as the 'Lamb of God' before communion, to help give a unity to the liturgy if hymnic parts are used. The pastor/cantor/choir could sing lines 1 and 3, or they could be sung by only men or only women, alternating verse by verse, and then the whole congregation could sing lines 2 and 4 in each verseas a repeated response.

 

Our risen Lord*, we pray to you,

in mercy hear us, Lord.

Look down in pity on our needs,

have mercy on us, Lord.

 

Our risen Lord* we pray to you,

in mercy hear us, Christ.

Defend and help and comfort us,

have mercy on us, Christ.

 

Our risen Lord* we pray to you,

in mercy hear us, Lord.

Be with your people, give us peace,

have mercy on us, Lord.

 

* For Ascension and the Seventh Sunday of Easter: Ascended Lord

 

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST

The following may be used in the place of 'Glory to God in the highest'.

 

(Spoken)

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.

 

(Sung to the tune of W¸rzburg, LH 102)

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Hearts to heaven 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 has risen from the dead.

 

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Glory be to God on high;

hallelujah to the Saviour

who has gained the victory;

hallelujah to the Spirit,

fount of love and sanctity;

hallelujah, hallelujah

to the Triune Majesty!

 

THIS IS THE FEAST

The following songs may be used instead of 'This is the feast':

 

Lutheran Hymnal and Supplement

436

Come, let us join our cheerful songs (TIS 204)

666

Worthy is the Lamb

667

Worthy is the Lamb

 

All Together

163

Hymn of Glory

247

Alabare, Alabare

 

SEQUENCE HYMN

The sequence is a hymn specially written for use on major festivals between the second reading and the alleluia verse. The Latin texts for these traditional songs grew out of the alleluia verse during the ninth and tenth centuries. Only two of these sequence hymns remain in use in the church, both of which have versions included in our hymnal: the sequence for Easter ('Victimae paschali laudes' LH 91) and the sequence for Pentecost ('Veni sancte spiritus' LH 120). Our Lutheran Hymnal also contains two versions of the sequence for the requiem mass 'Dies irae' (LH 485 and 488), although even in the Roman rite this sequence is no longer used.

 

Versions of the sequence for Easter Sunday and the festival of Pentecost are given in the notes for those Sundays, in the documents for Easter Day and Pentecost Day for each of the three years.

 

ALLELUIA VERSE

The following hymn verse (LH 105, v 1 modernised) may be used for an alleluia verse during Easter.

 

All Christians, come, rejoice and sing!

Now is the triumph of our King;

to all the world glad news we bring:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Any of the following hymns or songs may be used as an alleluia hymn for Easter.

 

Lutheran Hymnal and Supplement

88

Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia! (TIS 362)

90

Christ the Lord is risen again (TIS 365, mod.)

92

Christ the Lord is risen today (Tune: Easter Hymn with Alleluias; TIS 370)

94

This is the Lord's triumphal day

96

Ere yet the dawn has filled the skies

97

The strife is o'er, the battle done (TIS 367, mod.)

101

Jesus lives! thy terrors now *

102

Hallelujah, hallelujah! (vv 1 and 4 especially) *

105

Good Christian men, rejoice and sing *

      * modernised version available

 

All Together

7

This is the day of the Lord (create an extra verse between vv 3 and 4 with the line 'Jesus is risen from the dead...')

44

Psalm 100 (chorus only)

50

I will sing (chorus only)

51

Sing alleluia to the Lord

52

Alleluia

162

King of kings and Lord of lords

227

Allelu

248

Alleluia

319

Halle, halle, halle

 

Together in Song

701

Alleluia (Iona)

702

Alleluia (Taize)

720

Halle, halle, halle

731

Jubilate deo

732

Lift up your hearts unto the Lord (This is particularly suitable for the Easter season)

 

The following hymn may be used as an alleluia hymn for Ascension:

 

Lutheran Hymnal and Supplement

111

Hail the day that sees him rise (TIS 369, mod.)

 

Also, highly recommended for the Alleluia is the Celtic Alleluia by Christopher Walker with a selection of appropriate verses. See Gather (no. 117), Gather Australia (no. 141) or As One Voice (no. 13).

 

GOSPEL RESPONSE

This response may be sung after the gospel to the tune of 'Gelobt sei Gott' LH 105.

 

All Christians, come, rejoice and sing!

Now is the triumph of our King;

to all the world glad news we bring:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

 

Your name we bless, O risen Lord,

and sing today with one accord

the life laid down, the life restored:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

OFFERTORY

The following hymn verses (sung to the tune of W¸rzburg LH 102) may be used for the offertory during Easter.

 

Christ has risen, Christ the first-fruits

of the holy harvest field,

which will at his second coming

all its full abundance yield;

then the golden ears of harvest

will their heads before him wave,

ripened by his glorious sunshine

from the furrows of the grave.

 

Christ has risen, we have risen;

shed on us your heavenly grace,

rain and dew and gleams of glory

from the brightness of your face;

so that we on earth are fruitful

till our final hour has come,

then by angel-hands are gathered,

safely to our harvest home.

 

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

One of the following paraphrases of the 'Holy, holy, holy' may be used. Both are sung to the tune Easter Hymn LHS 88, TIS 362.

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, Alleluia!

great and ever-present God. Alleluia!

Earth joins heaven as we sing: Alleluia!

Praise to our triumphant king. Alleluia!

 

In this place let us proclaim Alleluia!

Christ who comes in God's own name; Alleluia!

join with angels as we sing: Alleluia!

Glory to our holy king. Alleluia!

 

OR

Holy, holy, holy Lord: Alleluia

through all heaven and earth adored: Alleluia!

Let us worship and proclaim: Alleluia!

him who comes in God's own name. Alleluia!

 

For other alternatives, see the document 'General notes and resources' in this folder (under 'Hymns and songs', 'Holy, holy, holy’).

 

LAMB OF GOD

Consider using the following paraphrase of the 'Lamb of God', sung to the same tune as the paraphrase for 'Lord, have mercy' suggested above.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God,

you take away our sin,

you take the sin of all the world:

have mercy, make us clean.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God,

you take away our sin,

you take the sin of all the world:

have mercy, make us clean.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God,

you take away our sin,

you take the sin of all the world:

grant us your peace. Amen.

 

POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE

The following song, sung to the tune of Unser Herrscher, LH 95, TIS 379, could be used in place of the post-communion canticle.

 

He is risen, he is risen!

Tell it with a joyful voice:

he has burst his three days' prison,

let the whole wide world rejoice.

Death is conquered, we are free,

Christ has won the victory.

 

He is risen, he is risen!

He has opened heaven's gate;

we are free from sin's dark prison,

risen to a holier state;

soon a brighter Easter beam

on our longing eyes will stream.

 

'ALL TOGETHER' SONGS SUITABLE FOR EASTER

The following 'All Together' songs could be considered for use in Easter.

 

2

This is the day

13

Lord of the morning

15

God's love

26

He is Lord

27

I danced in the morning

28

I'm happy

35

I will sing unto the Lord

46

Come on and clap your hands

59

Jesus

125

Celebration song

127

Because he lives

133

Jesus set us free

142

If I could I surely would

148

Born for resurrection

150

Sing a new song

160

Resurrection shout

163

Glory, Hallelujah

165

He is the King of Kings

167

I am the Bread of Life

171

Dying you destroyed our death

182

Christ is changing everything

227

Allelu!

231

A cry in the night

240

My peace I give

241

On the day of resurrection

257

Jesus is living

263

Singing all praises

266

Through our God we will do valiantly

268

Christ has died

312

Celebrate

343

Jesus come and stand among us

344

The New Road

346

Jesus is alive today

421

Born forever (baptism)

422

Canticle of Daniel

437

I have seen the Lord

445

Roll the rock (v 1) (for children)

452

Why do you look among the dead?

463

Goodness is stronger than evil

 

The following songs could be considered for Ascension:

 

26

He is Lord

146

They knew who he was

161

Majesty

165

He is the King of kings

166

Clap your hands, all you peoples

226

All is nearness

252

He is exalted

329

This kingdom

370

You are glorious

 

TOGETHER IN SONG HYMNS AND SONGS

See section VII 'Jesus Christ: Resurrection and Ascension', nos 359-395.

 

TAIZE SONGS FOR EASTER

Taize chants may be used in a separate service, or they may be used in the Service with Communion as meditative responses to readings, replacements for the equivalent section of the liturgy (eg kyries may replace the 'Lord, have mercy'), as a simple chant to be sung during communion, or as sung responses to the intercessions. Here are some suitable for Easter.

 

VOLUME 1

Crucem tuam

Surrexit Dominus vere I

Kyrie IX

Alleluias IVI

Mysterium fide (as a response after the words of institution)

Alleluia (Canon)

Benedicite Domino (for the canticle at the end of the Easter Vigil)

Misericordias Domini (for Third Sunday of Easter)

Jubilate Deo (for Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Jubilate, servite (for Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Cantate Domino (for Fifth Sunday of Easter)

Exaudi nos (for Seventh Sunday of Easter)

Christus vincit, Jubilate coeli!

 

VOLUME 2

Alleluias VIIX

Christus Resurrexit

This is the day (Easter Day)

O Christe Domine Jesu (Psalm for Fourth Sunday of Easter)

Surrexit Christus

 

IONA COMMUNITY SONGS FOR EASTER

Here is a list of some of the available volumes of music and recordings, and those songs in the collection that are suitable for Easter. Note that the Iona Community is willing to allow a church or worship assembly to reproduce the words only of a song from these publications on a service sheet or overhead transparency that is to be used once only on a non-commercial basis, provided that the title of the song and the name of the copyright holder is clearly shown.

 

John L Bell & Graham Maule, Wild Goose Songs vol. 2 Enemy of Apathy

Available as songbook. Contains sixty-two songs and chants for Lent, Eastertide and Pentecost.

 

page 64

Lord of the morning (esp for Easter Vigil)

page 64

The Robber

page 66

Torn in two

page 68

Christ has risen while earth slumbers

page 70

Darkness is gone

page 77

Easter Evening (suitable, obviously, for Easter Evening)

page 78

He comes (suitable for Easter Evening)

page 88

Go home by another way

page 94

Christ in the stranger's guise (suitable for Easter Evening)

page 98

The Saviour leaves (esp for Ascension, and Seventh Sunday)

page 18

Lo, I am with you (esp for Ascension)

page 135

Alleluia

 

John L Bell & Graham Maule, Wild Goose Songs vol. 3 Love from Below

Available as songbook and cassette. Contains sixty-two songs of discipleship and the church's sacraments and seasons.

 

page 41

Stay with us now (esp for Easter Evening)

page 52

I am the vine (esp for Fifth and Sixth Sundays B)

page 116

Jesus is risen from the grave (esp for Second Sunday)

page 118

Shout for joy

 

John L Bell, Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise

 

page 4

Psalm 1 (for Seventh Sunday)

page 11

Psalm 19 (for Easter Vigil)

page 12

Psalm 23 (for Fourth Sunday)

page 22

Psalm 42 (for Easter Vigil)

page 24

Clap your hands all you nations (Psalm 47) (for Ascension)

page 57

Glory to God above! (Psalm 148) (for Fifth Sunday C)

 

John L Bell & Graham Maule, Wild Goose Songs vol. 1 Heaven shall not wait

Available as songbook. Contains sixty-two songs and chants on the themes of Creation, Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.

 

page 102

The miraculous catch (esp for Third Sunday of Easter C)

page 112

Blessing and honour (esp for second reading on Third and Fourth Sunday of Easter C)

 

CANTICLES

For guidelines on using canticles as well as different versions of the texts, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Canticles', in this folder. The following canticles are particularly appropriate for Easter.

 

* This is the feast

 

* Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1b-13,17,18)

'The Victory Dance' (ATN 35) is based on Exodus 15:1b,2. TIS 384, 'Through the Red Sea brought at last', is based in part on Exodus 15. Here is the NRSV text of the Song of Moses. It may be spoken or sung responsively, the responses being the indented lines.

 

I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

      horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation;

      this is my God, and I will praise him,

      my fathers' God, and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a warrior;

      the Lord is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into the sea;

      his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea.

The floods covered them;

      they went down into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power

      your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries;

      you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble.

At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap;

      the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall

  have its fill of them.

      I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'

You blew with your wind, the sea covered them;

      they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?

      Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

      awesome in splendour, doing wonders?

You stretched out your right hand,

      the earth swallowed them.

In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed;

      you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession,

      the place, O Lord, that you made your abode,

      the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established.

The Lord will reign forever and ever.

 

* Worthy is the Lamb (Dignus est agnus) (Revelation 5:12,13b; 15:3b,4)

 

* Song of Creation (Greek version of Daniel 3:57-88)

The Song of Creation (also called the Song of the Three and the Canticle of Daniel) may be sung or said in the following form (as in Church Rites).

 

Praise the Lord, all creation;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all angels of the Lord;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all heavenly powers;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, sun and moon;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, stars of heaven;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, rain and dew;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all winds;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, bitter cold and scorching heat;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, daylight and darkness;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, lightning and storm clouds;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Let the earth praise the Lord;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, mountains and hills;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, everything that grows;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, lakes and rivers;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, whales and sea creatures;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all birds;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all cattle and wild animals;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all people on earth;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Lord, all faithful people;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

Praise the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;

sing his praise and honour him forever.

 

OR

The following version of the Song of Creation is a paraphrase by David Sch¸tz, sung to the tune of Monkland, LH 565, TIS 83.

 

All creation, praise the Lord;

praise him, angels of the Lord:

 

      Sing his praise and honour him,

      praise the Lord forevermore.

 

Heavens high, now praise the Lord;

praise him, sun and moon and stars:

 

Rain and dew, now praise the Lord;

praise him, wind and heat and cold:

 

Night and day, now praise the Lord;

praise him, lightning, clouds and storms:

 

Let the whole earth praise the Lord;

praise him, hills and mountains high:

 

Trees and plants, now praise the Lord;

praise him, rivers, lakes and springs:

 

All sea creatures, praise the Lord;

praise him, birds and beasts of earth:

 

And all people of the earth,

praise the Lord, the God of all:

 

Faithful people of the Lord,

priests and servants of our God:

 

Praise the Father and the Son,

and the Spirit, three in one:

 

OR

The song 'Canticle of Daniel', ATW 422, is based on the Song of Creation.

 

*Te Deum

 

 

MUSIC

 

For various music resources and guidelines, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Music', in this folder. See also in this folder the document 'Indexes to Music Packages'.

 

 

VISUAL ARTS

 

GENERAL

For general guidelines and ideas, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Visual arts', in this folder.

 

COLOURS

White or gold.

 

DECORATION

Use some of the following suggestions:

 

*

as much decoration and richness and light as possible

*

plenty of flowers and greenery

*

full, colourful paraments, vestments, banners

*

streamers, ribbons, and balloons, especially in colours white, gold, green

*

gold-coloured foil as a decorative material

*

cardboard or paper butterflies pinned on wall or hanging from mobiles, especially in white and gold, but could also have bits of other bright colours to highlight them

*

a miniature flower garden (perhaps with potted flowering plants) at the foot of font or pulpit (see below under 'An Easter garden (with tomb)')

*

an Easter equivalent to the Christmas nativity scene, including a model open tomb, figures of the three Marys, an angel, the risen Christ (see below under 'An Easter garden (with tomb)')

*

an Easter tree with bright green leaves, white and gold streamers, light at the top, decorated with butterflies, crowns, flowers (perhaps on a table or platform covered with white cloth or incorporated in the Easter tomb scene)

*

Good Friday cross decorated with flowers

*

bringing the Lent-Easter tree to life (see below under 'Lent-Easter tree').

 

If an Easter Vigil service is held on the Saturday evening, attenders who are able to stay behind could decorate the church. Decoration should involve children and youth if possible, especially in the construction of the decorations.

 

FLOWERS

A few ideas for using flowers, together with other objects, are given in some of the documents for Sundays and festivals. These suggestions come from Jan Pietsch, who heads an active visual arts group at Pilgrim congregation, Magill SA.

 

VESTMENTS

In the early church, those who were baptised wore white gowns to show that they had been made clean in the waters of baptism and clothed in the risen Christ. White was the colour Christians wore for worship. We see this today in only two remnants: first, the white robe that is placed over the baptised immediately after baptism; and second, the white alb (or surplice) that the pastor wears when leading the service. In some congregations, even these last remnants of this sign of Jesus' forgiveness have been lost.

 

Consider using plain white albs for all those who assist in the liturgy: for lay readers, lectors and communion assistants, and for children who help to carry the procession cross, candles, and other tasks to assist with worship. Such gowns can be simply made, or check out the church supplies shops in the capital cities that often stock cheap albs that zip up the front.

 

Vestments are not simply for the pastor. They are for all the baptised.

 

BAPTISM FONT

Where is the baptism font in your church? Tucked away to one side and pulled out just for baptisms? During Easter, the baptism festival of the church, try these locations to highlight the significance of the sacrament:

 

*

At the front of the church at the entrance to the sanctuary. This emphasises that baptism is the way we gain access to God.

*

At the door of the church, either just inside the main worship centre or in the narthex. This emphasises that we come into the church through baptism.

*

In the centre of the church, in the middle of the aisle among pews. This emphasises that we are all the body of Christ through baptism.

 

PASCHAL CANDLE

The paschal candle (sometimes called the Easter candle) is meant to symbolise the presence of the risen Christ, the Light of the world, with his faithful people. This candle plays an important role in the Easter Vigil ritual, where it is first brought into the chancel. It may be prepared in a rite immediately prior to the service by incising in it a cross, the Greek letters alpha and omega, and the numerals of the current year. The traditional words while doing this (taking 2002 as an example) are:

 

Christ yesterday and today [cross]; the beginning and the end [alpha and omega]; his are all times [2] and all ages [0]; to him be glory and dominion [0], through all the ages of eternity [2]. Amen.

 

Sometimes at this point five nails or grains of incense (said to represent the five wounds of Christ) are placed in the cross at the extremities of the arms and at their point of intersection. The words for this are:

 

By his holy, glorious wounds, may Christ our Lord guard us and keep us. Amen.

 

Thus, the candle becomes a symbol of the presence of Christ with his people, bearing his sign and title. These days, however, most paschal candles come with transfers, in which case it is sufficient for the pastor, at the appropriate point in the ritual, simply to trace his finger over the respective symbols rather than make any actual incision.

 

When the Easter Triduum is observed, all candles and lights are extinguished at the end of the service on Maundy Thursday. The paschal candle is lit from the new fire outside the church door at the beginning of the Easter Vigil (some time after sunset on the Saturday or before dawn on Easter Sunday). Worshippers then light their own candles from it and follow it as it is carried in procession into the still-dark church and placed on a stand in the centre of the chancel. This ceremony is usually accompanied by the singing of the Easter proclamation (an ancient chant known as the 'Exsultet'), in which there are allusions to the Passover and the crossing of the Red Sea. These events foreshadow our passing from earth to heaven through the death and resurrection of Christ, our Passover Lamb.

 

When the Easter Vigil is not observed, the paschal candle is placed on its stand in the centre of the chancel before the first service of Easter day, and lit together with the other candles. [It may be possible to transfer some of the Easter Vigil ceremonies to the early service on Easter Sunday morning, see Church Rites, p 296ff.]

 

After the service on Easter day, the candle may be placed on a stand next to the altar on the gospel side (that is, the left side when facing the altar), where it would remain for either the 40 or 50 days of Easter, lit for each service. Alternatively, it may remain in the chancel, in front of the altar, in order to give it special prominence during the season of Easter.

 

According to an old tradition the paschal candle is extinguished after the gospel on Ascension day symbolising the fact that on that day Christ withdrew his visible presence from the disciples and returned to his Father.

 

According to a more recent practice, the paschal candle remains near the altar or in the chancel until the end of the Easter season, after which it is placed near the baptismal font and lit whenever there is a baptism. This practice underscores the unity of the seven Sundays between Easter and Pentecost, which, in the revised church year, are Sundays of Easter, not after Easter.

 

When the paschal candle is moved next to the font at the end of the Easter season, this may be done within the context of a short ritual just prior to the conclusion of the service on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. The lit candle may be moved from the altar area or chancel by the minister or acolyte during the reading of John 8:12 and Matthew 5:16.

 

The fact that the candle is placed next to the font during the Sundays after Pentecost highlights the close connection between Jesus' death and resurrection and our dying and rising with him through baptism. Through this sacrament we share in the light and life of Christ.

 

Where baptismal candles are presented to parents at the baptism of their children, these candles are first lit from the paschal candle, which normally stands near the font, except during the season of Easter. When parents are presented with a baptismal candle, they should not extinguish it until they have returned to their seat. The baptismal candle is meant to be lit on each anniversary of the child's baptism as a reminder that on this day he/she became a child of the light.

 

The paschal candle may also be used for funerals, in which case it is placed on its stand at the head of the coffin to remind the congregation of the scriptural promise that all who have been united with Christ in his death will certainly be united with him in his resurrection. Since in baptism we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Rom 6:8)

 

(From the Commission on Worship Statements, February 1989. Please note: the COW statements are available from the LCA National Office, 197 Archer Street, North Adelaide 5006, and are also on the LCA web site.)

 

A HELPFUL HINT FOR CANDLES

Pastor Greg Pietsch wrote when he was serving in Queensland: 'We have a lot of trouble with paschal candles (and others for that matter) dripping. It's bad up here in Queensland where you have to have fans on to keep people cool. Fans, or a breeze, blow the flame to one side and cause the wax rim to burn through, spilling the pool of melted wax everywhere. Solution: Make a flue out of overhead transparency plastic (this does not melt at temperatures as low as regular plastic - it goes through photocopiers) cut to approx 10 cm, wrap around candle and sticky tape it together. Then leave about 1 cm above the wax rim. This prevents wax running out even if the flame is blown to one side. Note that this will not work with thin candles where the flame could come into contact with the flue. As the candle burns down, just push the flue down a little.'

 

AN EASTER GARDEN (WITH TOMB)

Genesis 2 tells us that God placed Adam and Eve in a garden. It was in a garden that death entered the world. Now, in John's gospel, we read that not only was Jesus arrested in a garden, the Garden of Gethsemane, but his burial was also in the garden. So the resurrection, the entry of life into the world, took place in a garden. Mary Magdalene even mistook the risen Jesus for the gardener.

 

To highlight these connections in the Scriptures and provide an attractive visual aid for children and others, an Easter garden scene (with or without a model tomb) may be constructed in the sanctuary. This should preferably be large enough and raised high enough to be able to be seen throughout the church. Ideally real flowers should be grown in real soil, and the brighter the colours the better.

 

If a model tomb is added, the whole scene becomes an Easter equivalent to the Christmas nativity scene. The tomb could be made of clay, plaster-of-paris, or papier-mache, perhaps over a frame of some kind, eg wire netting, and then painted (or covered with the soil of the garden). There should be a roundish stone standing alongside the empty tomb. Model pine trees (eg little pine branches) could be added to the scene. Figures of the three Marys, an angel, and the risen Christ could also be added. Some or all of these figures could be cut out of cardboard, plywood, perspex or some other plastic, and either painted realistically or left as plain white 'silhouettes'. A vertical board at the back of the scene could be painted as a bright blue sky with a bright early morning sun.

 

LENT-EASTER TREE

If you started a Lent-Easter tree in Lent (see the document 'Lent season', under 'Lent-Easter tree', in this folder), continue it throughout Easter.

 

SYMBOLS FOR EASTER

The following symbols may be used for decoration during Easter, as the basis of banners or in bulletins.

 

*

The shell of baptism

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The phoenix of resurrection

*

The butterfly

*

The peacock

*

The split pomegranate

*

All symbols of the chi rho and IHS

*

The cross with lilies

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The cross triumphant (the cross surmounting an orb of the world)

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The empty cross

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The fountain of life

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The lamb victorious

 

CONCORDIA COMMENTARY 'ICONS'

Some striking and simple visual designs, among which some are suitable for Easter, may be found in the Concordia Commentary Series published by Concordia Publishing House (eg in Greg Lockwood's commentary on 1 Corinthians, page xxi). These could be especially fruitful for ideas for banner designs or bulletin art.

 

Dr Christopher Mitchell is the editor of the Concordia Commentary series. Greg Lockwood says that he would be able to help regarding copyright matters; his e-mail address at CPH is

cmitchell@cph.org

and his home e-mail is

ccdnmitch@aol.com

 

 

DRAMA

 

For ideas involving drama and dramatisation, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Drama and movement', in this folder. See also the 'Easter dialogue' and 'Easter play' in the 'Easter Day' documents for each year.

 

 

CHILDREN

 

GENERAL

For guidelines and general ideas on involving children, see the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Involving children', in this folder. The lighting and carrying of candles is an example of a dramatic rite which can speak to all people, including children.

 

A BAPTISM SONG

Based on the song 'It's your birthday' by Geoff Strelan (ATN 5), this following song by David Sch¸tz may be easily taught to children in a talk with the children on a day that baptisms take place.

 

I am baptised, I am baptised,

and Jesus is my friend.

Into the water, into the water,

I went in Jesus' name.

I am clean now, I am clean now,

and all my sin is gone:

God is now my Father,

and I'm his child!

 

FURTHER IDEAS

See the suggestions for decorating the church under 'Visual arts' above, as many of these decorations could be projects for the children to make.

 

Make use of the Norman Habel 'Gloria' story for children, The old holy rolling stone (Openbook Publishers). There's even a song to sing at the back of the book!

 

Children could give a gift of a white flower to each member of the congregation during the service, or at the door as the congregation arrives or leaves. At Ascension, provide a simple golden cardboard crown for all the children to wear during the service, or after the children's address, or during the communion.

 

 

OTHER MATERIAL

 

EASTER GREETING

The response: 'Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!' is a traditional Easter greeting among Christians. Instead of greeting one another on Easter Day by saying 'Good morning', teach (by practice) members of the congregation to greet one another with this response. The response may be used in many places during the service - at the very beginning (instead of 'Hullo, welcome to church this Easter morning'), at the very beginning of the sermon (before the Apostolic greeting) and at the very end of the sermon (instead of the usual 'Amen' or in additon to 'The peace which passes all understanding . . .'), before the blessing, or in connection with the dismissal.

 

'RESURRECTION CELEBRATION'

See the separate document for the 'Resurrection celebration' (in the 'Rites and services' folder), which may be used as a minor service on Easter Sunday (eg in the afternoon or evening) or on any other day in the first week of Easter or the following Sunday. The service is based on 1 Corinthians 15. It may be adapted or shortened according to circumstances, or parts of it may be used within a regular Easter service.

 

BLESSING THE FIELDS (ROGATION DAYS)

The Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Ascension Day were once used as days for special services, prayers, and processions asking God's blessing on the fruits of the earth. The ancient Romans used to hold a solemn procession of prayer for the safe growth of the corn crop every year, and in time, the Christian church took on the same practice. These 'rogation days' (so called from the Latin word for prayer) could usefully be revived in some form, especially in rural areas where these days roughly coincide with the season of sowing. The Sunday before Ascension (Sixth Sunday of Easter) was once known as 'Rogate' and may be a suitable time to carry out these prayers. Those parishes which are not rural could also use such prayers and processions to pray for institutions in their local community, such as hospitals, schools, and business areas.

 

Before or after the service for the day, the congregation forms a procession and goes out into the nearby fields or to the place of the institution which is to be prayed for. As they walk, they may sing hymns from the Harvest, Creation and Society sections of the Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement, or suitable hymns from TIS. When they arrive at the destination (there may be one or more stations), appropriate prayers and blessings may be said. It is also customary to pray the Litany, and this can be done either while in procession or at one of the stations. Psalm 70 is also traditionally prayed during the procession. There are no set words or rituals. See the rites and prayers for blessing included in Rites and Resources on pages 186-203 for ideas.

 

Even if a procession is not held, it may be worth considering holding a 'Planting festival' around this time, in much the same way that a Harvest festival is held, but remembering to pray for blessing on all new endeavours and labours, and where appropriate conducting blessings.