The Lessons Appointed for Use on
Easter Day Evening Service
All Years

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.

Acts 5:29a,30-32

Peter and the apostles said to the high priest and the council, "The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

or

Daniel 12:1-3

The Lord spoke to Daniel in a vision and said, "At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."

Psalm 114 Page 756, BCP

In exitu Israel

1

Hallelujah!
When Israel came out of Egypt, *
the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,

2

Judah became God's sanctuary *
and Israel his dominion.

3

The sea beheld it and fled; *
Jordan turned and went back.

4

The mountains skipped like rams, *
and the little hills like young sheep.

5

What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
O Jordan, that you turned back?

6

You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
you little hills like young sheep?

7

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
at the presence of the God of Jacob,

8

Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

or

Psalm 136 Page 789, BCP

Confitemini

1

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

2

Give thanks to the God of gods, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

3

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

4

Who only does great wonders, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

5

Who by wisdom made the heavens, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

6

Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

7

Who created great lights, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

8

The sun to rule the day, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

9

The moon and the stars to govern the night, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

10

Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

11

And brought out Israel from among them, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

12

With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

13

Who divided the Red Sea in two, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

14

And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

15

But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

16

Who led his people through the wilderness, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

17

Who struck down great kings, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

18

And slew mighty kings, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

19

Sihon, king of the Amorites, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

20

And Og, the king of Bashan, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

21

And gave away their lands for an inheritance, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

22

An inheritance for Israel his servant, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

23

Who remembered us in our low estate, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

24

And delivered us from our enemies, *
for his mercy endures for ever;

25

Who gives food to all creatures, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

26

Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

or

Psalm 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.

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.

1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

or

Acts 5:29a,30-32

[See above]

Luke 24:13-35

Now on that same day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose NAME was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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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