Hymnic Service
with
Holy
Communion
for
Easter Day
Hymnic service
with Holy Communion
for Easter day
From Approved Worship Services of
the Lutheran Church of Australia
The Commission on Worship Lutheran
Church of Australia
Copyright © Lutheran Church of
Australia 1997
Authorisation to copy granted to LCA
Congregations.
Entrance Hymn
We sing:
Christ is Alive
LH 761 CAL 293
Brian A. Wren 1936 -
Christ is Alive
1. Christ is alive! Let Christians
sing.
His cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises
ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall
never die.
Christ is Alive
2. Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and conquer every place and time.
Christ is Alive
3. Not throned above, remotely
high,
untouched, unmoved by human
pains,
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Savior with the Father reigns.
Christ is Alive
4. In every insult, rift, and war
where color, scorn or wealth
divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the
more,
and lives, though ever crucified
Christ is Alive
5. Christ is alive, His spirit burns
through this and every future
age,
till all creation lives and learns
his joy, his justice, love, and
praise.
†
OPENING SENTENCES
M: Christ has risen!
C: Christ has risen indeed!
OPENING SENTENCES
M: Christ has risen from the dead. He has
trampled down death by his death, and
has brought light to those in the grave.
And to us he has given eternal life.
C: Thanks be to God.
M: In the name of the Father and of the
Son † and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
The paschal candle may be lit.
OPENING SENTENCES
M: Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth
be glad, and all creation, both seen and
unseen, keep the feast.
C: Thanks be to God.
M: May the light of Christ, rising in glory,
dispel the darkness of our hearts and
minds.
C: Thanks be to God.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
M: Friends in Christ:
God the Father gave Jesus to die for our
sins and raised him to life in order to put
us right with himself. Let us confess our
sins to God our Father, and ask him to
forgive us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
C: Lord God, our heavenly Father, I am
a sinner and I have sinned against
you, not only in my words and
actions, but also in my secret
thoughts and desires which I cannot
fully know or understand, but which
you know completely.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
C: I am sorry that I have displeased
you, and repent of the evil I have
done. For the sake of your dear Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord, have mercy on
me, forgive my sins, and graciously
help me in my weakness. Amen.
M: As a called and ordained servant of
the word, I announce the grace of God
to all of you. On behalf of my Lord
Jesus Christ, and by his command, I
forgive the sins of all of you who repent
and believe, in the name of the Father
and of the Son † and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
LORD, HAVE MERCY (spoken)
M: Risen Lord Jesus, hear our prayer and
save us.
C: Lord, have mercy.
M: Risen Lord Jesus, hear our prayer and
help us.
C: Christ, have mercy.
M: Risen Lord Jesus, hear our prayer and
give us peace.
C: Lord, have mercy.
GLORY TO GOD
M: Glory to God in the highest,
C: and on earth peace among those
with whom he is pleased.
GLORY TO GOD
(Sung to the tune of Würzburg, 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.
GLORY TO GOD
♫ 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!
EASTER DIALOGUE
Angel:
Who are you looking for in the
grave, you Christians?
Women:O Angel, we are looking for
Jesus of Nazareth who was
crucified.
Angel: He is not here. He has risen, as
he said he would. Go and
announce that he has risen from
the grave.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
GREETING
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF EASTER DAY
M: Let us pray for a resurrection faith.
C: Almighty God, you have overcome
sin and death through the death of
your Son, and have brought back
innocence and eternal life through his
resurrection.
Help us confidently to believe this and
always praise you with our
whole heart.
PRAYER OF EASTER DAY
We ask this through your Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading
R: The first reading for Easter Day is
written in chapter 65 of Isaiah,
beginning at verse 17.
Isaiah 65:17-25
God's new creation
(CEV)
Isaiah 65:17-25
17I
am creating new heavens and a
new earth; everything of the past will
be forgotten.
18Celebrate and be glad forever!
I am creating a Jerusalem, full of happy
people.
Isaiah 65:17-25
19I
will celebrate with Jerusalem and all
of its people; there will be no more
crying or sorrow in that city.
20No child will die in infancy; everyone
will live to a ripe old age. Anyone a
hundred years old will be considered
young, and to die younger than that
will be considered a curse.
Isaiah 65:17-25
21My
people will live in the houses they
build; they will enjoy grapes from their
own vineyards. 22No one will take
away their homes or vineyards.
My chosen people will live to be as old
as trees, and they will enjoy what they
have earned.
Isaiah 65:17-25
23Their
work won't be wasted, and their
children won't die of dreadful
diseases. I will bless their children
and their grandchildren.
24I will answer their prayers before they
finish praying.
Isaiah 65:17-25
25Wolves
and lambs will graze together;
lions and oxen will feed on straw.
Snakes will eat only dirt! They won't
bite or harm anyone on my holy
mountain.
I, the LORD, have spoken!
This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
The Psalm
R: The Psalm is Psalm 118
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24 (CEV)
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
1Tell
the LORD how thankful you are,
because he is kind and always
merciful.
C: 2Let Israel shout, "God is always
merciful!”
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
R: 14My power and my strength come
from the LORD, and he has saved
me.
C: 15From the tents of God's people
come shouts of victory: "The
LORD is powerful!
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
R: 16With his mighty arm the LORD
wins victories! The LORD is
powerful!"
C: 17And so my life is safe, and I will
live to tell what the LORD has
done.
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
R: 18He punished me terribly, but he did
not let death lay its hands on me.
C: 19Open the gates of justice! I will
enter and tell the LORD how
thankful I am.
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
R: 20Here is the gate of the LORD!
Everyone who does right may enter
this gate.
C: 21I praise the LORD for answering
my prayers and saving me.
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
R: 22The stone that the builders tossed
aside has now become the most
important stone.
C: 23The LORD has done this, and it
is amazing to us.
Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
R: 24This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate and be glad today.
C: Glory to the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning is now
and will be for ever. Amen.
2nd Reading
R: The Second Reading is written in
Chapter 10 of Acts, beginning at
Verse 34
Acts 10:34-43 (CEV)
Summary of Jesus' life and ministry
Acts 10:34-43
34Peter
then said: Now I am certain
that God treats all people alike.
35God is pleased with everyone who
worships him and does right, no
matter what nation they come from.
36This is the same message that God
gave to the people of Israel, when he
sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of
all, to offer peace to them.
Acts 10:34-43
37You
surely know what happened
everywhere in Judea. It all began in
Galilee after John had told everyone
to be baptized. 38God gave the Holy
Spirit and power to Jesus from
Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he
went around doing good and healing
everyone who was under the
power of the devil.
Acts 10:34-43
39We
all saw what Jesus did both in
Israel and in the city of Jerusalem.
Jesus was put to death on a cross.
40But three days later, God raised him
to life and let him be seen.
41Not everyone saw him. He was seen
only by us, who ate and drank with
him after he was raised from
death.
Acts 10:34-43
We were the ones God chose to tell
others about him. 42God told us to
announce clearly to the people that
Jesus is the one he has chosen to
judge the living and the dead.
Acts 10:34-43
43Every
one of the prophets has said
that all who have faith in Jesus will
have their sins forgiven in his name.
This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
M: Since Christ was raised from the
dead, he cannot die again; death no
longer has any power over him.
Hallelujah!
C: Hallelujah!
M: The life he lives, he lives to God.
C: Hallelujah!
The Gospel Reading
M: The holy gospel is
written in chapter 24
of the Gospel
according to St Luke,
beginning at verse 1.
C: Glory to you, O
Lord,
raised to live for
Luke 24:1-12
ever.
The women find the
tomb empty
(CEV)
Luke 24:1-12
Very early on Sunday morning the
women went to the tomb, carrying
the spices that they had
prepared. 2When they found the
stone rolled away from the
entrance, 3they went in. But they did
not find the body of the Lord
Jesus,4and they did not know what to
think.
Luke 24:1-12
Suddenly two men in shining white
clothes stood beside them. 5The
women were afraid and bowed to the
ground. But the men said, "Why are
you looking in the place of the dead
for someone who is alive? 6Jesus
isn't here! He has been raised from
death.
Luke 24:1-12
Remember that while he was still in
Galilee, he told you, 7'The Son of
Man will be handed over to sinners
who will nail him to a cross. But three
days later he will rise to life.' "
8Then they remembered what Jesus
had said.
Luke 24:1-12
9-10Mary
Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the
mother of James, and some other
women were the ones who had gone
to the tomb. When they returned,
they told the eleven apostles and the
others what had happened.
11The apostles thought it was all
nonsense, and they would not
believe.
Luke 24:1-12
12But
Peter ran to the tomb. And when
he stooped down and looked in, he
saw only the burial clothes. Then he
returned, wondering what had
happened.
M: This is the Gospel
of the Lord
C: Praise to you,
O Christ,
raised to live
forever.
Gospel Response
♫ All Christians, come, rejoice and
sing!
Now is the triumph of our King;
to all the world glad news we bring:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Gospel Response
♫ Your name we bless, O risen
Lord,
and sing today with one accord
the life laid down, the life restored:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
†
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the
Father, the Almighty, maker of
heaven and earth, of all that is,
seen and unseen.
C:
NICENE CREED
We believe in one Lord, Jesus
Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten
not made, of one being with the
Father; through him all
things were made.
NICENE CREED
For us* and for our salvation he
came down from heaven, was
incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the
Virgin Mary and became truly
human. For our sake he was
crucified under Pontius Pilate; he
suffered death and was buried.
* This means: us human beings
NICENE CREED
On the third day he rose again in
accordance with the Scriptures; he
ascended into heaven and is
seated at the right hand of the
Father.
He will come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead, and his
kingdom will have no end.
NICENE CREED
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Lord, the giver of life, who
proceeds from the Father and the
Son, who with the Father and the
Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the
prophets. We believe in one holy
Christian** and apostolic church.
** or ‘Catholic’ here means ‘universal’
NICENE CREED
We acknowledge one baptism for
the forgiveness of sins. We look
for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
We sing:
Jesus Christ is risen today
LH88
CAL293
‘Lyra Davidica’ 1708
Jesus Christ is risen today
1. Jesus Christ is risen today,
Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day,
Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross,
Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss.
Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today
2. Hymns of praise then let us sing,
Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King,
Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave,
Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save.
Alleluia!
Jesus Christ is risen today
3. But the pains which he endured,
Alleluia!
our salvation have procured,
Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King,
Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing.
Alleluia!
†
SERMON
Our Risen Lord Jesus Christ
Speaks to us
Through His Word
through our Pastor
Hymn
We sing
The New Road
v.1,7,8
AT344
Words and music: John Beavis
Public domain. All rights waived.
CAL293
67
The New Road
1. You who puzzle on the Saviour’s
deeds,
will you stop and listen where the
New Road leads.
First-born child of the refugees,
he was raised in Nazareth
and schooled in charity,
and found salvation on his knees.
68
The New Road
7. Mary wondered at the stone flung
wide
and the tomb rang hollow when she
stepped inside.
Angels seated where the Christ had
lain
bid her quit that prison,
for the Son was risen
and would speak in Galilee again.
69
The New Road
8. Show by living what the Lord has
done
in the selfless giving of his only Son.
Chart this passage to the last amen,
for the climb is steady
if the pilgrim’s ready
and the New Road reaches out
again.
†
70
OFFERING SONG
♫ Christ has risen, Christ the firstfruits
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,
opened by his glorious sunshine
from the furrows of the grave.
(Sung to the tune of Würzburg, LH 102)
OFFERING SONG
♫ 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 be gathered,
safely to our harvest home.
†
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Let us pray that the results of
Christ’s resurrection may be seen
throughout the world.
M: Lord God, heavenly Father, we
thank and praise you for the glorious
resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus
Christ. Your Son, our Passover Lamb,
has taken away the sin of the world.
Forgive us and all people. Lord, in
your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Your Son said ‘Peace be with you’.
Bring your peace to all the world and
to our own country. Lord, in your
mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Your Son appeared to Mary
Magdalene when she was weeping.
Comfort those who are sad, lonely, or
grieving. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Your Son met the women and asked
them to tell the disciples about his
resurrection. Guide Christians
everywhere to witness to the
resurrection in their lives. Lord, in
your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Your Son proclaimed himself to the
two disciples from the Scriptures and
made himself known to them in the
breaking of the bread. Reveal him to
us and all people through the
teaching of your word and the
celebration of your holy meal. Lord, in
your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Your Son strengthened the faith of
Thomas by telling him to touch his
hands and side. Reassure those who
are troubled by doubts, and
strengthen their faith in your
goodness. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Your Son conquered death by his
death and won the victory by his
resurrection. Be with those who are
dying, and lead them to life with you
forever.
Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
M: Heavenly Father, grant that all who
now celebrate these joyful holy days
here on earth may finally praise you
forever, with all the angels and saints
in heaven. We ask this through your
risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
(spoken)
M: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
M: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
C: It is right to give our thanks
and praise.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
(spoken)
M: 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.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
(spoken)
M: 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:
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
♫ 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!
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
M: 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.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
M: Above all we thank and praise you for
keeping your promise to the people of
old and sending your Son Jesus Christ,
whose life, death, and resurrection for
our salvation we remember as he
comes to us in this holy meal.
C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night
when he was betrayed, took bread, and
when he had given thanks, he broke it
and gave it to his disciples, and said,
Take and eat; this is † my body, which
is given for you. Do this in
remembrance of me.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
M: In the same way he took the cup, after
the supper, and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said,
Drink of it, all of you; this is † my blood
of the new covenant, which is shed for
you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this
as often as you drink it, in remembrance
of me.
C: Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
M: Send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen
our faith, so that we who receive the
body and blood of Christ may live as
true members of the body of your Son.
C: Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
LITURGY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
M: Join our prayers with those of your
servants of every time and every place,
and unite them with the ceaseless
petitions of our great high priest until he
comes as victorious Lord of all.
C: Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours,
almighty Father,
now and forever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
your name, your kingdom come, your
will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us. Lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the
glory are yours now and
forever. Amen.
M: The peace of the Lord be with you
always.
C: Amen.
INVITATION
M: Jesus says: ‘Those who eat my flesh
and drink my blood have eternal life,
and I will raise them up on the last day.’
C: Thanks be to God.
M: Come, everything is ready.
LAMB OF GOD
♫ 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.
LAMB OF GOD
♫ 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.
When the minister and his
assistants give the bread
and the cup they say:
Take and eat, this is the
body of Christ, given for
you.
Take and drink, this is the
blood of Christ, shed for
you for the forgiveness of
sins.
DISMISSAL
M: 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.
C: Amen.
POST-COMMUNION SONG
♫ 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.
POST-COMMUNION SONG
♫ 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.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
M: Let us pray.
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; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
CONCLUSION
M: Christ has risen!
C: He has risen indeed!
101
BLESSING
M: 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 Lord bless you and keep you. The
Lord make his face shine on you and
be gracious to you. The Lord look
upon you with favour, † and give you
peace.
C: Amen.
102
DISMISSAL
M: Go in peace, as witnesses of the
risen Lord.
C: In the name of Christ. Amen.
He is Risen
We sing:
He is Risen
LH95
CAL293
Cecil Frances Alexander (1823-1895)
He is Risen
1. 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, man is free,
Christ has won the victory.
He is Risen
2. Come with high and holy
gladness,
Chant our Lord’s triumphant lay;
Not one touch of twilight sadness
Dims His resurrection day;
Brightly dawns the radiant east,
Brighter far our Easter feast.
He is Risen
3. 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 shall stream.
†