Easter Day 2021

Easter Day 2021

The Collect

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

The First Reading Acts 10:34-43 

Peter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: "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."

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *

 his mercy endures for ever. 

2 Let Israel now proclaim, * 

"His mercy endures for ever." 

14 The LORD is my strength and my song, * 

and he has become my salvation. 

15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *

 in the tents of the righteous: 

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

the right hand of the LORD is exalted! 

the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!" 

17 I shall not die, but live, * 

and declare the works of the LORD. 

18 The LORD has punished me sorely, * 

but he did not hand me over to death. 

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; * 

I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the LORD. 

20 "This is the gate of the LORD; * 

he who is righteous may enter." 

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me * 

and have become my salvation. 

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *

has become the chief cornerstone. 

23 This is the LORD's doing, *

 and it is marvelous in our eyes. 

24 On this day the LORD has acted; * 

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 The Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe. 

 The Gospel John 20:1-18 

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 toward 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 around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” 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. 

A Litany for Easter Sunday in Pandemic

Great Creator you formed us each

in your image and likeness we are

and we have strayed often from you

yet you seek to find and redeem us.

Alleluia, Christ is risen from the tomb.

The year has been dark and confusing

disease and fear has surrounded us 

we ventured out cautiously and alone

tears flowing we go to the grave at dawn.

Alleluia, Christ is risen from the tomb.

You sent angels to greet the disciples

the empty tomb terrified them all

yet quietly with love you spoke Mary!

and she ran with joy to share good news.

Alleluia, Christ is risen from the tomb.

Let us be like Mary running with joy

For you have borne all out sorrows.

Help us to be your loving followers

your love is needed in our dark world now.

You have brought us from sorrow to joy.

Let us sing out loud,  Alleluia, Alleluia.

Dear Savior you have redeemed us all

help us to love and serve your creation. Amen! Alleluia!