The Mass for Easter Day (Order of Service)

THE MASS FOR EASTER DAY

THE GATHERING

Hymn

Jesus Christ is risen today

Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing Alleluia!
unto Christ our heav'nly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

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!

[NEH 110]

Introit

The celebrant prays the Introit

The Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

You have laid your hand upon me, alleluia.

Too wonderful for me this knowledge, alleluia.

The Greeting

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

All      Amen.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

All      He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The celebrant welcomes the people and introduces the service

Prayer of Preparation

All   Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of Confession

The Celebrant introduces the Confession with words appropriate to the season.

All      Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have sinned against you

and against our neighbour

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

we are truly sorry

and repent of all our sins.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

who died for us,

forgive us all that is past

and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name.

Amen.

The celebrant proclaims God’s forgiveness

The Gloria

All   Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Collect

The Celebrant prays the Collect set for the day

Let us pray.

Lord of all life and power,

who through the mighty resurrection of your Son

overcame the old order of sin and death

to make all things new in him:

grant that we, being dead to sin

and alive to you in Jesus Christ,

may reign with him in glory;

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

be praise and honour, glory and might,

now and in all eternity.

All      Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First reading

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

[Acts 10. 34-43]

Second Reading

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

[Colossians 3.1-4]

The readings end with the words

This is the word of the Lord.

All      Thanks be to God.

Hymn

The day of resurrection

The day of resurrection! 

Earth, tell it out abroad; 

the passover of gladness, 

the passover of God. 

From death to life eternal, 

from earth unto the sky, 

our Christ hath brought us over, 

with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, 

that we may see aright 

the Lord in rays eternal 

of resurrection light; 

and listening to his accents, 

may hear, so calm and plain, 

his own "All hail!" and, hearing, 

may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! 

Let earth the song begin! 

The round world keep triumph, 

and all that is therein! 

Let all things seen and unseen 

their notes in gladness blend, 

for Christ the Lord hath risen, 

our joy that hath no end.

[NEH 117]

Gospel reading

The Celebrant announces the Gospel using the acclamation 

proper to the season then introduces the Gospel with these words

The Lord be with you.

All      And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St N.

All      Glory to you, O Lord.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All      Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The Creed

All      We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

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.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

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.

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 catholic and apostolic Church.

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.

Prayers of Intercession

This responses is used

Lord, in your mercy

All      hear our prayer.

And at the end

Merciful Father,

All   accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT

The Peace

The celebrant introduces the Peace with words proper to the season and then says

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All      and also with you.

Hymn

Alleluia, alleluia! Hearts to heav'n and voices raise;

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts to heav'n 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 is risen from the dead.

Christ is risen, Christ the first-fruits
of the holy harvest field,
which will all its full abundance
at his second coming 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 is risen; we are risen!
shed upon us heavenly grace,
rain and dew and gleams of glory

from the brightness of Thy face,
that we, Lord, with hearts in Heaven
here on earth may fruitful be,
and by angel hands be gathered,
and be ever safe with Thee.

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Glory be to God on high;

To the Father, and the Saviour

who has gained the victory;

Glory to the Spirit, 

fount of love and sanctity.

Alleluia! Alleluia

to the Triune Majesty. Amen.

[NEH 103]

Prayer over the gifts

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

All      and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

All      We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All      It is right to give thanks and praise.

The Celebrant praises God for his mighty acts and all respond

All      Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The president recalls the Last Supper,

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:

All      Dying you destroyed our death,

rising you restored our life:

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

The Prayer continues and concludes with these words

[…] Through him, and with him, and in him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you, Father almighty,

in songs of everlasting praise:

All   Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All      Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Breaking of the bread

Every time we eat this bread

and drink this cup,

All      we proclaim the Lord’s death

until he comes.

The Agnus Dei

All      Jesus, Lamb of God,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

grant us peace.

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

All      Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

We make our spiritual communion

During Communion Tabitha will sing the anthem ‘This joyful Eastertide’ [NEH 121]

Post Communion Prayer

All  Father of all,

we give you thanks and praise,

that when we were still far off

you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, he declared your love,

gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.

May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;

we who drink his cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise your name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

Notices

Hymn

Thine be the glory,

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son:

endless is the vict'ry thou o’er death hast won;

angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;

endless is the vict'ry thou o’er death hast won.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;

lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;

let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing,

for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;

endless is the vict'ry thou o’er death hast won.

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;

life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;

make us more than conqu'rors, thro' thy deathless love:

bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

Thine be the glory, risen, conqu'ring Son;

endless is the vict'ry thou o’er death hast won.

[NEH 120]

Final blessing

The celebrant introduces the blessing with words proper to the season and then says

[…] and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All      Amen.

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

All      Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which 

is included in this service, is copyright of the Archbishops' Council 2000

The New English Hymnal material from which is included in this service, is copyright of 

The Canterbury Press, 2010