Easter and the Easter Season

Easter is a victory celebration, a time for all Christians to proclaim boldly their faith in a risen and victorious Savior. For the early Christians, Easter was not merely one day, it was (and is) a whole season that also includes the celebration of Jesus' ascension. The fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, known as the Great Fifty Days, was the first liturgical season observed in the first three centuries of the Church. This fifty-day celebration is a week of weeks, renewed in the last decades by emphasizing the Sundays as being "of Easter." The season's length is fitting because we are dedicating one seventh of the year to the celebration of the Lord's resurrection.

Easter begins with evening prayer on Holy Saturday, and ends with midday prayer on Pentecost.
The first celebration of Easter is the Easter Vigil, the evening of Holy Saturday. The Vigil includes a service of light, in which fire symbolizes Jesus as the light of the world. The service is designed to take the Christian from the solemnity of Good Friday to the predawn joy of Easter.

Easter is the richest and most lavishly celebrated festival of the Church Year. Congregations may hold a sunrise service, commemorating the surprise of the women visiting the empty tomb of Christ, as well as services that celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While not as lavish, this joyous and celebratory tone echoes down through the Sundays of the Easter season.

Forty days after Easter (Acts 1:3), the Church celebrates the Ascension of Our Lord, who ascended into heaven not only as God but also as man.

The final Sunday of the Easter season, celebrated as Pentecost, was adopted by early Christians to commemorate the first great harvest of believers for Christ (Acts 2:1-41). Thus, Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian Church as the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they gave their compelling witness about the resurrected Lord. Pentecost is a day of joy in the gifts of the Spirit as He still reaches into our lives just as He did to the crowds on that first Pentecost: through the apostolic preaching of God's Word and Holy Baptism.

 

The Propers for Easter
and the Easter Season

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Vigil of Easter

O God, You made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection. Preserve in us the spirit of adoption which You have given so that, made alive in body and soul, we may serve You purely; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (466)

 

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Sunrise

Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L35)
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 16 (v. 11) or The Song of Moses and Israel
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 1 Corinthians 15:12-25
John 20:1-18

 

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Day

Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our 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 forever. (L36)
    OR
O God, for our redemption You gave Your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross and by His glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of the enemy. Grant that all our sin may be drowned through daily repentance and that day by day we may arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L37)
Job 19:23-27
Psalm 118:15-29 (v. 1)
1 Corinthians 5:6-8 or 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Mark 16:1-8

 

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Evening / Easter Monday

O God, in the paschal feast You restore all creation. Continue to send Your heavenly gifts upon Your people that they may walk in perfect freedom and receive eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Sprit, one God, now and forever. (L38)
Exodus 15:1-18
Psalm 100 (v. 5)
Acts 10:34-43
Luke 24:13-35 (36-49)

 

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Tuesday

Almighty God, through the resurrection of Your Son You have secured peace for our troubled consciences. Grant us this peace evermore that trusting in the merit of Your Son we may come at last to the perfect peace of heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L39)
Daniel 3:8-28
Psalm 2 (v. 7)
Acts 13:26-33
Luke 24:36-48 (49)

 

The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Wednesday

Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that we who have been raised with Him may abide in His presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L40)
Acts 3:13-15, 17-19
Psalm 61 (vv. 6-7)
Colossians 3:1-7 or 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 21:1-14

 

Second Sunday of Easter

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord's resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L41)
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 33 (v. 6)
1 John 5:4-10
John 20:19-31

 

Third Sunday of Easter

O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L42)
Ezekiel 34:11-16
Psalm 23 (v. 6)
1 Peter 2:21-25
John 10:11-16

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth so that they may return to the way of righteousness. Grant faithfulness to all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's Church that they may avoid whatever is contrary to their confession and follow all such things as are pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L44)
Isaiah 40:25-31 or Lamentations 3:22-33
Psalm 147:1-11 (v. 5)
1 Peter 2:11-20 or 1 John 3:1-3
John 16:16-22

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L45)
Isaiah 12:1-6
Psalm 66:1-8 (v. 5)
James 1:16-21
John 15:1-8 John 16:5-15

 

Sixth Sunday of Easter

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L46
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-9 (v. 19)
1 Timothy 2:1-6
James 1:22-27
John 16:23-30 (31-33)

 

The Ascension of Our Lord

Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L47)
2 Kings 2:5-15
Psalm 110 (v. 1)
Acts 1:1-11
Mark 16:14-20  or Luke 24:44-53

 

Seventh Sunday of Easter

O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L48)
Ezekiel 36:22-28
Psalm 51:1-12 (v. 10)
1 Peter 4:7-11 (12-14)
John 15:26-16:4

 

Pentecost Eve

Almighty and ever-living God, You fulfilled Your promise by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to unite disciples of all nations in the cross and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. By the preaching of the Gospel spread this gift to the ends of the earth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L49)
Joel 3:1-5
Psalm 85 (v. 11)
Romans 8:12-17
John 14:15-21

 

Pentecost / The Day of Pentecost

O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L50)
Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 143 (v. 11)
Acts 2:1-21
John 14:23-31

 

Pentecost Evening / Pentecost Monday

O God, who gave Your Holy Spirit to the apostles, grant us that same Spirit that we may live in faith and abide in peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L51)
Isaiah 57:15-21
Psalm 43 (v. 3)
Acts 10:34a, 42-48
John 3:16-21

 

Pentecost Tuesday

Almighty and ever-living God, You fulfilled Your promise by sending the gift of the Holy Spirit to unite disciples of all nations in the cross and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. By the preaching of the Gospel spread this gift to the ends of the earth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L49)
Isaiah 32:14-20
Psalm 85 (v. 10)
Acts 8:14-17
John 10:1-10