The Collect

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 25:1–9

(The Lesson is written in the 25th chapter of the Book of Isaiah the Prophet, beginning at the 1st verse.)

O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Here endeth the Lesson.

Psalms

Psalm 93

THE LORD is King, and hath put on glorious apparel; the LORD hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.

2 He hath made the round world so sure, that it cannot be moved.

3 Ever since the world began, hath thy seat been prepared: thou art from everlasting.

4 The floods are risen, O LORD, the floods have lift up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.

5 The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly; but yet the LORD, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.

6 Thy testimonies, O LORD, are very sure: holiness becometh thine house for ever.

Psalm 111

I WILL give thanks unto the LORD with my whole heart, secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.

2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3 His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4 The merciful and gracious LORD hath so done his marvellous works, that they ought to be had in remembrance.

5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him; he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.

6 He hath showed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are true.

8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and equity.

9 He sent redemption unto his people; he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; his praise endureth for ever.

The Epistle

Colossians iii. 1.

(The Epistle is written in the 3rd chapter of Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Colossians, beginning at the 1st verse.)

IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Here endeth the Epistle.

The Gospel

St. John xx. 1.

THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.