Easter Evening Service

Collect
O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Acts 5:29a,30-32
Peter and the other apostles replied:

30"The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

OR

Daniel 12:1-3
"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered.Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

OR

Acts 5:29a,30-32
Peter and the other apostles replied:

30"The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Psalm: 114

1. Hallelujah!
   When Israel came out of Egypt, *
   the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2. Judah became God's sanctuary *
   and Israel his dominion.
3. The sea beheld it and fled; *
   Jordan turned and went back.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, *
   and the little hills like young sheep.
5. What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
   O Jordan, that you turned back?
6. You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
   you little hills like young sheep?
7. Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
   at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8. Who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
   and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

OR

Psalm 136

1. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *
   for his mercy endures for ever.
2. Give thanks to the God of gods, *
   for his mercy endures for ever.
3. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
   for his mercy endures for ever.
4. Who only does great wonders, *
   for his mercy endures for ever;
5. Who by wisdom made the heavens, *
   for his mercy endures for ever;
6. Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
   for his mercy endures for ever;
7. Who created great lights, *
   for his mercy endures for ever;
8. The sun to rule the day, *
   for his mercy endures for ever;
9. The moon and the stars to govern the night, *
   for his mercy endures for ever.
10. Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
11. And brought out Israel from among them, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
12. With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
13. Who divided the Red Sea in two, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
14. And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
15. But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
16. Who led his people through the wilderness, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
17. Who struck down great kings, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
18. And slew mighty kings, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
19. Sihon, king of the Amorites, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
20. And Og, the king of Bashan, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
21. And gave away their lands for an inheritance, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
22. An inheritance for Israel his servant, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
23. Who remembered us in our low estate, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
24. And delivered us from our enemies, *
    for his mercy endures for ever;
25. Who gives food to all creatures, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.
26. Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
    for his mercy endures for ever.

OR

Psalm 118:14-17, 22-24

• 14 The LORD is my strength and my song, *
  and he has become my salvation.
• There is a sound of exultation and victory *
  in the tents of the righteous:
• "The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
  the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
  the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
• I shall not die, but live, *
  and declare the works of the LORD.
• 22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
  has become the chief cornerstone.
• This is the LORD'S doing, *
  and it is marvelous in our eyes.
• On this day the LORD has acted; *
  we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"

"What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."

He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore