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
