EASTER DAY:          PSALM 118: 1-2, 14-24

O give thanks to the Holy One, for God is good;

The Almighty's unfaltering love goes on forever!

God Most High is my strength and my song; 

The Holy One has become my deliverance.

Glad songs of triumph resound in the tents of the faithful,

"The right hand of the Almighty does valiant deeds;

The right hand of the Holy One is exalted;

The right hand of the Holy One does valiant deeds."

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the God of Deliverance.

The Almighty has taught me rigorously,

But has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of good will,

That I may enter through them and give thanks to God the Almighty.

This is the gate of the Holy One; those who walk in God's ways shall enter through it.

I thank You that You have answered me and have become my salvation.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Holy One's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the Holy One has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

PSALM 118: 1-2, 14-24, Antiphonal

Voice 1:           O give thanks to the Holy One,

PEOPLE:         For God is good;

ALL:                The Holy One's  unfaltering love goes on forever!

Voice 1:           God Most High is my strength and my song; 

PEOPLE:         The Holy One has become my deliverance.

Voice 2:           Glad songs of triumph resound in the tents of the faithful,

Voice 1:           "The right hand of the Almighty does valiant deeds;

PEOPLE:         The right hand of the Holy One is exalted;

Voice 2:           The right hand of the Holy One does valiant deeds."

Voice 1:           I shall not die,

PEOPLE:         But I shall live, and recount the deeds of the God of Deliverance.

Voice 2:           The Almighty has taught me rigorously,

PEOPLE:         But has not given me over to death.

Voice 1:           Open to me the gates of good will,

PEOPLE:         That I may enter through them and give thanks to God the Almighty.

Voice 2:           This is the gate of the Holy One;

Voice 1:           Those who walk in God's ways shall enter through it.

Voice 2:           I thank You that You have answered me

and have become my salvation.

PEOPLE:         The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

Voice 1:           This is the Holy One's doing;

PEOPLE:         It is marvelous in our eyes.

Voice 2:           This is the day that the Holy One has made;

PEOPLE:         Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

 

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER:              PSALM 133

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil joyfully poured on the head in greeting,

Running down upon the chin,

Running down over the collar of the anointed one's robes.

It is like the rich dew of the northern realm,

Which falls in the south on the mountains of Zion.

For there the Holy One ordained blessing, life forevermore.

 

PSALM 133, Antiphonal

Leader:         How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

PEOPLE:      It is like precious oil joyfully poured on the head in greeting,

Leader:         Running down upon the chin,

PEOPLE:      Running down over the collar of the anointed one's robes.

Leader:         It is like the rich dew of the northern realm,

PEOPLE:      Which falls in the south on the mountains of Zion.

Leader:         For there the Holy One ordained blessing,

PEOPLE:      Life forevermore.

 

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER:      PSALM 4

Answer me when I call, O Righteous One.

When I was cramped by distress,

You widened my spirit.

Be merciful to me now

And hear my prayer.

 

How long, you people,

Will you turn my honor into disgrace?

How long will you love worthless words,

And lust after lies?

Just know that the godly seek unceasingly for the Holy One;

God hears when I call.

 

Do not let your enemies rattle you,

Or shatter your faithfulness;

Be quieted;

Rest easy in your beds;

Offer yourselves to God,

Put your trust in the Most High.

 

There are many who say, "O that we might see prosperity!

Shine upon us with Your riches, O God!"

But You have put great gladness in my heart,

More than when food and drink abound.

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

Relying on You alone, O Holy One,

Who lets me dwell in safety.

 

PSALM 4, Antiphonal

Voice 1:           Happy are those who consider the poor;

PEOPLE:         The Holy One delivers them in the day of trouble.

Voice 2:           The Author of Life protects them and keeps them alive;

PEOPLE:         They are called happy in the land.

Voice 1:           You do not surrender them to the desires of their enemies.

PEOPLE:         The Almighty sustains them on their sickbed,

Transforming their bed of suffering.

 

Voice 2:           As for me, I said, "O Holy One, be gracious to me;

Restore me, for I have strayed from You."

Voice 1:           My enemies asked in malice when I would die,

And my name pass from memory.

Voice 2:           And when they came to see me,

They uttered empty words,

While their minds amassed tales;

Voice 1:           When they went out, they defamed me.

Voice 2:           All who hated me whispered together about me;

Voice 1:           They assumed the worst for me.

Voice 2:           They speculated that a deadly thing had fastened on me,

That I would not rise again from where I lay.

Voice 1:           Even my closest friend

                        in whom I trusted,

who ate of my bread,

Turned against me.

Voice 2:           But You, O Redeemer, had compassion on me,

PEOPLE:         And raised me up, that my life might refute their claims.

Voice 1:           I know that You bless me,

PEOPLE:         Because the ill-will of my enemy has not triumphed over me.

Voice 2:           You uphold me because I put my trust in You,

PEOPLE:         And let me in live in Your presence forever.

 

ALL:    Blessed be the Holy One, the God of the faithful,

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

 

 

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER:              PSALM 23

The Almighty cares for me, I am never in want.

God shepherds me into green pastures, to eat,

And guides me beside quiet waters, where I can drink.

God renews my life.

The Holy One leads me along paths that are free from danger;

It is God's very nature to keep me safe.

 

Even when I pass through death's bleak landscape, I will not fear;

For You are with me;

The signs of Your authority bring me comfort.

You prepare a table for me in full view of my enemies;

You anoint my head tenderly with fragrant oil;

You fill my cup to overflowing.

 

Surely God's goodness and love shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the household of The Most High my whole life long.

 

PSALM 23, Antiphonal

Leader: The Almighty cares for me,

PEOPLE:         I am never in want.

Leader: God shepherds me into green pastures, to eat,

And guides me beside quiet waters, where I can drink.

PEOPLE:         God renews my life.

Leader: The Holy One leads me along paths that are free from danger;

PEOPLE:         It is God's very nature to keep me safe.

 

Leader: Even when I pass through death's bleak landscape, I will not fear;

PEOPLE:         For You are with me;

Leader: The signs of Your authority bring me comfort.

PEOPLE:         You prepare a table for me in full view of my enemies;

Leader: You anoint my head tenderly with fragrant oil;

PEOPLE:         You fill my cup to overflowing.

 

ALL:                Surely God's goodness and love shall follow me

all the days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the household of The Most High

my whole life long. 

 

 

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER:       PSALM 22: 25-31

I will offer my thanksgiving in the company of those who seek Your presence.

The needy shall feast and be satisfied;

All those who seek the Most High shall give reverence.

May Your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth shall remember God's deeds and turn to the Holy One;

All the families of  all the nations shall revere the Most High..

For the Eternal One reigns,

It is our God who has authority over the nations of earth.

All who sleep in the earth shall declare this;

All who go down to the dust and cannot keep themselves alive shall give honor;

Our children and our children's children will follow God's way;

Future generations will hear about the Holy One;

They will proclaim deliverance by the Almighty to a people yet unborn.

For God has done it.  God has stayed with us.

 

 

PSALM 22: 25-31, Antiphonal

Leader: I will offer my thanksgiving

in the company of those who seek Your presence.

PEOPLE:         The needy shall feast and be satisfied;

Leader: All those who seek the Most High shall give reverence.

PEOPLE:         May Your hearts live forever!

Leader: All the ends of the earth shall remember God's deeds

and turn to the Holy One;

PEOPLE:         All the families of  all the nations shall revere the Most High..

Leader: For the Eternal One reigns,

PEOPLE:         It is our God who has authority over the nations of earth.

Leader: All who sleep in the earth shall declare this;

PEOPLE:         All who go down to the dust and cannot keep themselves alive

shall give honor,

Leader: Our children and our children's children will follow God's way;

PEOPLE:         Future generations will hear about the Holy One;

Leader: They will proclaim deliverance by the Almighty to a people yet unborn.

PEOPLE:         For God has done it.  God has stayed with us.

 

 

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER:       PSALM 98

O sing a new song to God Most High,

Who has done marvelous things.

The Holy One's strong right hand and holy arm have delivered us from bondage.

The Almighty has made our deliverance known,

And has revealed this concern for the people in the sight of the nations.

The Most High has always shown love and faithfulness to the people.

All the ends of the earth have seen the deliverance by our God.

 

Shout for joy to God Most High, all the earth;

Break forth into joyous song.

Make music to the Holy One with the lyre,

With the lyre and melodious song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn

Make a joyful noise before the Almighty,

The One who reigns.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

The world and those who live in it.

Let the rivers clap their hands;

Let the hills sing together for joy,

At the presence of the Holy One,

Who is coming to rule the earth.

The Almighty will rule the world with justice,

And the peoples with equity.

 

PSALM 98, Antiphonal

Leader: O sing a new song to God Most High,

            Who has done marvelous things.

PEOPLE:         The Holy One's strong right hand and holy arm

have delivered us from bondage.

Leader: The Almighty has made our deliverance known,

PEOPLE:         And has revealed this concern for the people

in the sight of the nations.

Leader: The Most High has always shown

love and faithfulness to the people.

PEOPLE:         All the ends of the earth have seen the deliverance by our God.

 

Leader: Shout for joy to God Most High, all the earth;

PEOPLE:         Break forth into joyous song.

Leader: Make music to the Holy One with the lyre,

PEOPLE:         With the lyre and melodious song.

Leader: With trumpets and the sound of the horn

Make a joyful noise before the Almighty,

PEOPLE:         The One who reigns.

Leader: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

PEOPLE:         The world and those who live in it.

Leader: Let the rivers clap their hands;

PEOPLE:         Let the hills sing together for joy,

Leader: At the presence of the Holy One,

PEOPLE:         Who is coming to rule the earth.

Leader: The Almighty will rule the world with justice,

PEOPLE:         And the peoples with equity.

 

 

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER:       PSALM 1

Happy are those who do not heed the rhythm of blighted hearts,
      or tread any  path that does not lead to life,
      or sit aloof and scoff in arrogance.
Delight is served up to those who yearn to know the mind of God,
      who sink their roots into wisdom’s generous soil.
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
Trees which yield their fruit in its season,
Whose leaves never wither,
Because they are nourished by the flow of grace.
In all that they do,
They thrive.

Not so for the wayward, 
      for those who disregard The Holy One.
They dry up;
The winds blow them away like dust.
Their branches are brittle;
They have no roots to sustain them.
They cannot stand before the howling gales of change.
Nor can the self-satisfied mingle unnoticed
      in the company of those who follow the road to deliverance.

For The Almighty watches over those who journey in faithfulness;
But the walk of the wayward
Leads nowhere.

 

PSALM 1, Antiphonal

Voice 1:           Happy are those who do not heed the rhythm of blighted hearts,
Voice 2:           Or tread any  path that does not lead to life,
Voice 1:           Or sit aloof and scoff in arrogance.
Voice 2:           Delight is served up to those who yearn to know the mind of God,
Voice 1:           Who sink their roots into wisdom’s generous soil.
PEOPLE:         They are like trees planted by streams of water,
Voice 1:           Trees which yield their fruit in its season,
PEOPLE:         Whose leaves never wither,
Voice 2:           Because they are nourished by the flow of grace.
PEOPLE:         In all that they do, they thrive.

Voice 1:           Not so for the wayward, 
Voice 2:           For those who disregard The Holy One.
PEOPLE:         They dry up;
Voice 1:           The winds blow them away like dust.
PEOPLE:         Their branches are brittle;
Voice 2:           They have no roots to sustain them.
PEOPLE:         They cannot stand before the howling gales of change.
Voice 1:           Nor can the self-satisfied mingle unnoticed
                              in the company of those who follow the road to deliverance.

Voice 2:           For The Almighty watches over those who journey in faithfulness,
PEOPLE:         But the walk of the wayward leads nowhere.

---