Tag Archives: Easter

Easter Resources 2021

“Easter Morning” by Caspar David Friedrich, 1835.

Eastertide Lectionary Readings (Year B)

Easter Day (April 4): Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 25:6-9; Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18; Mark 16:1-8

Second Sunday of Easter (April 11): Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31

Third Sunday of Easter (April 18): Acts 3:12-19; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36b-48

Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 25): Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18

Fifth Sunday of Easter (May 2): Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8

Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9): Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17

Ascension of the Lord (May 13): Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

Seventh Sunday of Easter (May 16): Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19

Poetry

Seven Stanzas at Easter by John Updike

On Belief in the Physical Resurrection of Jesus by Denise Levertov

Easter Monday by Christina Rossetti

Resource Links

Collects for Eastertide from the Book of Common Worship

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom

Christus Resurrexit! Resurrexit Vere! – Melito, Bishop of Sardis (180 A.D.) On the Resurrection

“Resurrection” painting by Sister Joanne Emmer, 1965.

“The Resurrection” painting by Sir Stanley Spencer, 1924-1927.

Archived Posts for Easter from The Liturgy Letter

Music

Divine Presence” A Spotify Playlist for Eastertide 2021

Resurrection” by Olivier Messiaen, sung by Dawn Upshaw

“Jesus Having Risen from the Tomb” by John Tavener

“Ascension” by John Coltrane

L’ Ascension by Olivier Messiaen, performed by Frankfurt Radio Symphony

No. 19 : The Resurrection, Glass Slide image of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, George D., Rice, 1861-1936.

Did they move or was there not enough people to evangelize to anymore?“, 2011.

Easter Morning Sun 2020 (COVID-19 artwork no.3), Alfred Freddy Krupa, 2020.

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Third Sunday of Easter 2020 (Year A)

Astonished Hearts, Opened Eyes, Enlightened Minds

God has heard the cry of his people (Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19) and ransomed them from futile ways through the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:17-23). Repent, and be baptized (Acts 2:14a, 36-41). Jesus is risen and has revealed himself to those who had lost hope. He is the Messiah. The Suffering Servant whose blessed body was broken and given to those whose eyes were opened. They were astonished that he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35).

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Christus resurrexit! Resurrexit vere! – Melito, Bishop of Sardis (180 A.D.) on the Resurrection

The Lord clothed himself with humanity,
and with suffering on behalf of the suffering one,
and bound on behalf of the one constrained,
and judged on behalf of the one convicted,
and buried on behalf of the one entombed,
rose from the dead and cried out aloud:

“Who takes issue with me? Let him stand before me.
I set free the condemned.
I gave life to the dead.
I raise up the entombed.
Who will contradict me?”

“It is I”, says the Christ,
“I am he who destroys death,
and triumphs over the enemy,
and crushes Hades,
and binds the strong man,
and bears humanity off to the heavenly heights.”

“It is I,” says the Christ.
“So come all families of people
adulterated with sin,
and receive forgiveness of sins.
For I am your freedom.
I am the Passover of salvation,

I am the lamb slaughtered for you,
I am your ransom,
I am your life,
I am your light,
I am your salvation,
I am your resurrection,
I am your King.
I shall raise you up by my right hand,
I will lead you to the heights of heaven,
there shall I show you the everlasting father.”

He it is who made the heaven and the earth,
and formed humanity in the beginning,
who was proclaimed through the law and the prophets,
who took flesh from a virgin,
who was hung on a tree,
who was buried in earth,
who was raised from the dead,
and ascended to the heights of heaven,
who sits at the right hand of the father,
who has the power to save all things,
through whom the father acted from the beginning and for
ever.

This is the alpha and omega,
this is the beginning and the end,
the ineffable beginning and the incomprehensible end.
This is the Christ,
this is the King,
this is Jesus,

this is the commander,
this is the Lord,
this is he who rose from the dead,
this is he who sits at the right hand of the father,
he bears the father and is borne by him.
To him be the glory and the might forever.
Amen.

Melito (Bishop of Sardis) in On Pascha, St. Valdimir Press, 2001, pg. 65-67

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Second Sunday of Easter 2020 (Year A)

Faith in the Risen Son of God

Jesus Christ has risen from the dead (Acts 2:14a, 22-32). Therefore, God is always before us. He has the power and authority to save us from the curse of death and show us the path of life (Psalm 16). Through Jesus, we have been given new birth into a living hope, as we wait in faith, for the promise of salvation to be fully revealed (1 Peter 1:3-9). Jesus has sent his Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey toward the consummation of our faith. Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have come to believe (John 20:19-31).

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Seventh Sunday of Easter / Ascension Day 2019 (YEAR C)

Life Through Jesus

Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail for casting out unclean spirits in the name of Jesus. In their suffering, they exhibited joy and trusted God. God saved them. As a result, the jailer and his household believed in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 16:16-34). We can rejoice because this same God, revealed through Jesus, is above all other gods (Psalm 97). He will come again in power and offers life to all that come to him (Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21). Until that time, Jesus desires his children to walk together in unity and love (John 17:20-26). 

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Fourth Sunday of Easter 2019 (Year C)

Our Merciful Shepherd

“Through Christ, we are able to do more than we could in our own strength, just as Peter worked a miracle in Joppa (Acts 9:36-43). The Lord is our shepherd (Revelation 7:9-17); he takes care of all our needs (Psalm 23) and offers us eternal life (John 10:22-30).” 

-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Third Sunday of Easter 2019 (Year C)

Now I See

“Just as Saul heard the voice of the Lord in the road to Damascus, was blinded and then regained his sight (Acts 9: 1-6), so we who turn from our sins and follow the Lord find joy and healing (Psalm 30). Because we love and trust God’s Son, who became man and dwelled among us (John 21:1-19), we offer him all praises and glory (Revelation 5:11-14).” 

-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Easter Sunday & Second Sunday of Easter 2019 (Year C)

Christ is Risen!

“He is risen (John 20:1-18)! In Christ’s resurrection is peace for the world and the promise of a new creation (Isaiah 65:17-25). The Lord is our strength and our salvation. This is the day the Lord has made – let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24). Death is destroyed. Christ is risen – he is risen indeed (1 Corinthians 15:19-26).” 

-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Bearing Witness

“We bear witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection and tell everyone the good news (Acts 5:27-32). Like Thomas, we lay aside our doubts (Jn 20:19-31) and now anticipate his second coming (Rev 1:4-8). We will not die, but live and proclaim what the Lord has done (Ps. 118). Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” 
–Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional

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