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The Week that Changed the World: Sunday of the Resurrection

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.
John 21:18

Collect of the Day

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.

Audio from the Chapel

• Easter Sermon: Br. Curtis Almquist
  
  

Did You Know?

The Great Vigil of Easter is the most solemn and ancient liturgy of the entire year.  It is the culmination of Lent and Holy Week, and the Paschal Holy Days.  The service consists of four parts:  The Service of Light, in which new fire is kindled outdoors to light the Paschal (Easter) Candle, the entire congregation then processing into the chapel;  The Service of Lessons, in which God’s saving deeds in history are retold;  The Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant, in which believers reaffirm their commitment to the Christian way;  and The Holy Eucharist, which breaks the Lenten fast with the proclamation of the Easter Alleluia and the first celebration of the Eucharist since Maundy Thursday.  The vesture of the sacred ministers is white, symbolizing the light of Christ. 

Ring the bells!  
Worshippers at the Great Vigil of Easter are encouraged to bring with them any sort of hand-held bell they would like to ring as we sing God’s Paschal Lamb at the beginning of the first Eucharist of Easter and during the singing of Jesus Christ is Risen Today.  This is our way of participating in the tradition of silencing church bells on Maundy Thursday and ringing them again on Easter Day.  The custom likely reflects even more ancient habits of keeping silence before a spring equinox or a winter solstice, then celebrating it with a joyous celebration of light and sound announcing that the darkness has fled and that new life is coming back into the world.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

A Hymn Text for Meditation

Jesus Christ is risen 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 heavenly 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!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
praise eternal as his love, Alleluia!
praise him all ye heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Latin 14th cent. tr. Lyra Davidica, 1708, alt. St. 4, Charles Wesley.

 

Holy Saturday