God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Blackrock Castle sunrise #Cork pic.twitter.com/5akIfalw8P
— Dr Richard Scriven (@RichardScrivGeo) May 9, 2021
Lyrics:
1 Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought his Israel
into joy from sadness;
loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke
Jacob’s sons and daughters;
led them with unmoistened foot
through the Red Sea waters.2 ‘Tis the spring of souls today;
Christ hath burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death
as a sun hath risen;
all the winter of our sins,
long and dark, is flying
from his light, to whom we give
laud and praise undying.3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts,
comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem,
who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains
Jesus’ resurrection.4 Neither might the gates of death,
nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal
hold thee as a mortal:
but today amidst thine own
thou didst stand, bestowing
thine own peace, which evermore
passeth human knowing.
Risen Christ,
your wounds declare your love for the world
and the wonder of your risen life:
Through the Holy Spirit give us compassion and courage
to risk ourselves for those we serve,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Slightly edited–KSH.
Finally Friday. This morning's awakening along the Chicago lakefront. #weather #news #ilwx #chicago #sunrise pic.twitter.com/QiZeMwSEID
— Barry Butler (@barrybutler9) May 7, 2021
Listen to it all.
Lyrics:
Most glorious Lord of life, that on this day
Didst make thy triumph over death and sin,
And having harrow’d hell, didst bring away
Captivity thence captive, us to win.
This joyous day, dear Lord, with joy begin,
And grant that we may for whom thou diddest die,
Being with thy dear blood clean wash’d from sin,
May live for ever in felicity.
And that thy love we weighing worthily,
May likewise love thee for the same again;
And for Thy sake, that all like dear didst buy,
With love may one another entertain.
So let us love, dear love, like as we ought;
Love is the lesson which the Lord us taught.
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory. Amen.
Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help
we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
✨Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! ✨#WCC #OrthodoxEaster pic.twitter.com/kDyPMoa7BZ
— World Council of Churches (WCC) (@Oikoumene) May 2, 2021
The words are from Psalm 47. Listen to it all–KSH.
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Good morning all!
Have a great Thursday!
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia pic.twitter.com/8yYKcx4krV— Wayne (@Jericho1864) April 29, 2021
O Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning; who abidest steadfast as the stars of heaven: Give us grace to rest upon thy eternal changelessness, and in thy faithfulness find peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Daily Prayer, Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs, eds. (London: Penguin Books 1959 edition of the 1941 original)
Who needs coffee when #OuterBanks sunrises bring this much magic? ✨ (📸: Justin Potter Photography) pic.twitter.com/AUvaZ9DlvT
— The Outer Banks (@theouterbanks) April 26, 2021
Be thou thyself, O Lord, we beseech thee, the shepherd of thy people; that we who are strengthened by thy risen presence may in our daily life walk with thee, and in humble trust seek to follow thee, as thou callest us by name and dost lead us out; for thy glory’s sake.
—The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: Services of Praise and Prayer for Occasional Use in Churches (New York: Oxford University Press, 1933)
Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. The Communion antiphon for this day, 'Ego sum pastor bonus, is composed of two musical phrases, punctuated by the interspersed Alleluia: https://t.co/h54JbUuqfR
Image: Mausoleo de Galla Placidia, Ravenna, s. V pic.twitter.com/bUbaapdAbM— Neumz 🎶 (@neumz_now) April 25, 2021
From there:
Lord God,
You loved this world so much,
That you gave your one and only Son,
That we might be called your children too.Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace
Of Easter Sunday, everyday.
Let us have hearts of thankfulness
For your sacrifice.Let us have eyes that look upon
Your grace and rejoice in our salvation.
Help us to walk in that mighty grace
And tell your good news to the world.
All for your glory do we pray, Lord,Amen.
Happy Easter.
–Resurrection. From the Rabbula Gospels, Syriac, 6th century. pic.twitter.com/qRUINe0TfO
— Octavius Januarius (@minvcivs) April 4, 2021
When I see blossoms spring,
And hear the birds’ song,
A sweet love-longing
Entirely pierces my heart,
All for a love new
That is so sweet and true,
That gladdens all my song:
I know in truth, iwis,
My joy and all my bliss
On him is all ylong. [is all because of him]
Of Jesu Christ I sing,
Who is so fair and free, [noble]
Sweetest of all thing;
His own ought I well to be.
So far for me he sought,
With suffering he me bought,
With wounds two and three;
Well sore he was swung,
And for me with spear was stung,
Nailed to the tree.
Boston, Mass 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/BMEFP3Wapg
— Sharon Chen Music – Nocturne in C Minor out! (@SharonEChen) April 23, 2021
O Blessed Lord, who didst promise thy disciples that through thy Easter victory their sorrow should be turned to joy, and their joy no man should take from them: Grant us, we pray thee, so to know thee in the power of thy resurrection, that we may be partakers of that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory; for thy holy name’s sake.
Sunrise over Boho Fermanagh 📸 @StormHour pic.twitter.com/Qt4R7aVM7r
— Tom Gilroy photography (@tomgilroy33) April 23, 2021
Risen Christ,
through the power of your Holy Spirit you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:
strengthen us to proclaim your risen life
and fill us with your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Slightly edited; KSH.
"The boldness of Thomas’ #Easter request to place his fingers in Jesus' side was rewarded.." https://t.co/hkkejegomu pic.twitter.com/v9ZbKZnn1j
— Diocese of Arlington (@arlingtonchurch) April 6, 2016
O God our Father, who hast taught us that our citizenship is in heaven, and hast called us to tread a pilgrim’s path here on earth: Guide us, we pray thee, on our journey through this world to the Celestial City; defend us from the perils that await us in the way; give us grace to endure faithfully to the end; and at the last bring us to thy eternal joy; through the mercy of thy Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Frosty, fiery Scottish sunrise today#stormhour #loveukweather #sunrise pic.twitter.com/HRMOQDwoXd
— Tom Lowe (@saloplarus) April 22, 2021
Listen to it all.
Look, we beseech thee, O Lord, upon the people of this land who are called after thy holy name, that they may ever walk worthy of their Christian profession. Grant unto us all that, laying aside our divisions, we may be united in heart and mind to bear the burdens which are laid upon us, and be enabled by patient continuance in well-doing to glorify thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Stirling, Scotland 🏴 Early start this morning to catch the sunrise over Stirling Castle and the Ochil Hills. The National Wallace Monument is just visible in the background.#stirling #sunrise #sunrisephotography #sunrise.sunset.scotland #stirlingcastle #castlesofinstagram… pic.twitter.com/rh63qvOAXq
— John Carroll (@johncarrphoto) April 21, 2021
Disillusionment is too weak a word to describe Mary’s crushing pain of feeling sucker punched.
Yes that Easter Sunday…Mary had given up on miracles. Have you?
Miracles: Don’t give up, hold it up 3
If so, you’re in good company. The male disciples don’t even bother showing up at the tomb…
1. Peter gave up
2. The James’s gave up
3. John gave up
4. Andrew gave up
5. Bartholomew gave up
6. Jude
7. Matthew
8. Philip
9. Simon
10. Thomas all gave up
Meaning…If you’ve given up on God—on miracles- You are not alone! There is No guilt-or
judgement in feeling as if that pattern of pain and sin will never break. WHICH IS WHY I SAY:
THANK GOD FOR THE MIRACLE THAT IS EASTER!
• Divine Intervention
• Breaking all Patterns
• Never thought break-able!
As the Disillusioned Marys and Salome walk to the tomb, literally, all HEAVEN breaks loose!
The Miracle begins..
• First…..the massive stone is gone from the entrance to the burial tomb!
And with eyes as wide as 50 cent pieces, the ladies WALK into the tomb. When a white robed
angel APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE AND SAYS five things that would break the GLOBAL
pattern of sin and pain forever!
• Fear not
• I know you’re looking for Jesus
• I know you saw Him killed
• He is not here
HE HAS RISEN!
“Resurrection is not an absurd event within the old world but the symbol and starting point of the new world…Jesus of Nazareth ushers in not simply a new religious possibility, not simply a new ethic or a new way of salvation, but a new creation.” (N.T. Wright) pic.twitter.com/JroMeg4ZkC
— J.R. Turtle ⚓️ (@turtology) April 20, 2021
No other word in all our vocabulary is more expressive of the message of Christ than the word “resurrection.” At Calvary the little band of disciples watched their Lord Jesus die, and they saw His broken body taken from the cross. Earlier, one of them had betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. Another had cursed and had sworn that he never knew Him. Most of them, turning and running for their lives, had forsaken Him. When Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb and the stone was rolled against it, it seemed that this was the end of all their hopes.
Then came Easter morning, and the midnight of despair was turned into glorious dawning. It was the resurrection of all their hopes.
But Calvary does not tell the whole story. Jesus died for all our sins, but the Bible says that Jesus “was raised again for our justification.”(9)
Several years ago I talked with Chancellor Adenauer, of Germany, and he asked me, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive?”
I replied, “Yes, I do.”
He said, “So do I. If Jesus Christ is not alive, then I see no hope for the world. It is the fact of the resurrection that gives me hope for the future.” As he spoke those words, his eyes lighted up.
Indeed, the resurrection of Christ is the only hope of the world: “If Christ be not risen, then our hopes and dreams and faith are in vain.”(10) “The resurrection of Christ is the only hope of the world.”
But Christ is alive. And because He is alive, that makes all the difference in the world. In His resurrection evil has been defeated, Satan has been defeated, death has lost its sting, love has conquered hate, God has accepted the atoning work of Christ on the cross, and all of creation bursts forth in a new song. Because Christ is alive, we can face death with confidence.
In Celebration of Easter: Risen Christ, 1521, Michelangelo, the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome pic.twitter.com/sTe7IKkVkB
— Anatomia Italiana (@AnatomiaItalian) April 21, 2019
Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Sunrise on this Tuesday morning! 🙂🌅#Lowcountry pic.twitter.com/6LOJI4KfiD
— Trooper Bob (@TrooperBob_SC) April 20, 2021
We shall return Tuesday–thanks for your prayers; KSH.
You can listen directly here or download it there.
The Resurrection St. Sebastian
Art by Italian painter Titian (1490–1576) pic.twitter.com/CiSnL5qMZe— Biblio Curiosa (@Bibliocuriosa) April 15, 2021
Does the road wind up-hill all the way?
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.But is there for the night a resting-place?
A roof for when the slow dark hours begin.
May not the darkness hide it from my face?
You cannot miss that inn.Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?
Those who have gone before.
Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?
They will not keep you standing at that door.Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.
St. John the #BaptistChurch is considered to be the acme of the Yaroslavl school of #architecture. It was built in 1671-1687. Its walls & #domedrums are covered with richly #glazedtiles. The 7-storey, 45-metre high bell-tower was built later than the church itself in mid-1690s. pic.twitter.com/D9NToKDb6S
— 2nmP Conceptual (@2NMPConcept) January 24, 2019
Listen to it all.
As I am in the US for the first time in many years, I find myself longing for the simplicity of Maua, Kenya, during Easter time. There Easter has none of the commercial trappings we find here. As I enter grocery stores, discount stores, and department stores I am shocked at the amount of space taken by the Easter candy, bunnies and stuffed animals, baskets, decorations, and new spring clothing. These items take more space than any grocery store has for all their goods in Maua.
I recently read that an estimated $2 billion will be spent on Easter candy this year in the US. Two billion dollars to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who asked us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty, house the homeless, care for the sick and imprisoned, and welcome the stranger.
5 part resurrection icon, Solovetsky Monastery, 17th century.#Easter2015 #Easter https://t.co/GePGBxrqU7 pic.twitter.com/cdWYEO4n8m
— Dean Peters☕ (@deanpeters) April 5, 2015
A year ago, the global Covid pandemic tried to lockdown the church. No one was celebrating Good Friday or Easter in church buildings. Covid tried to lockdown Jesus; it tried to bury him in a cave and seal it with a huge stone. But, the stone was rolled away. Death could not lockdown Jesus. And, Covid could not lockdown the Gospel. Jesus is risen and he can be worshiped not only in churches, but everywhere two or three are gathered together in his name.
I am grateful this Easter that some members of our churches are allowed to gather in their church buildings to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.
I also encourage the government to lift the restrictions on children coming to church. Just as children are returning to school, the church is very ready to receive our children for only one hour per week in an organized way that upholds the SOPs. Our children need to be in church with their families.
I still encourage everyone to worship daily at home, even if you are going to church each Sunday. Family worship is essential in sustaining our faith and in raising children to know and love the Lord.
I am here today to declare to you that the greatest force on earth – death itself – could not hold Jesus down. He was killed and buried on Good Friday. But, on Easter morning, he was raised from the dead. He is alive and will never die again. Jesus is risen to be worshiped.
Congratulations Stephen Samuel Kaziimba,The 9th Archbishop elect of Church of Uganda pic.twitter.com/XE2K6rn2S4
— Komakech Robert (@KomakRobert) August 28, 2019
O Lord God, who hast revealed in holy Scripture what conquests faith has made both in doing, and in suffering: Grant us no smaller faith than that which overcometh the whole world, that Jesus thy Son is God, very God from the beginning, the First and the Last, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, world without end.
—Daily Prayer, Eric Milner-White and G. W. Briggs, eds. (London: Penguin Books 1959 edition of the 1941 original)
Friday morning Sunrise ….. pic.twitter.com/0nvyXCSNxP
— Tony Wootton (@tonywootton7) April 16, 2021
Enjoy it all (just over 4 1/2 minutes).
Michelangelo Buonarroti's Resurrection, Sistine Chapel, Rome
Alleluia, Jesus Christ is Risen! Happy Easter! pic.twitter.com/yMVvvcwh7k
— jake alano (@alano_jake) April 11, 2020
Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred:
open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others
and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,
through the Holy Spirit to the praise of God the Father.
Slightly edited–KSH.
"Sounds like birdsong and flowing water may alleviate stress, help lower blood pressure and lead to feelings of tranquility." https://t.co/Acg2mXcgcx
— Friends of the Wiss (@FOWissahickon) April 13, 2021
From there:
When asked the question, “What will we be after we die?” The human race has conjured up four answers.
- Nothing – we will decay and/or disintegrate. Death is a dead end. Our works and reputation might survive, not us.
- Ghosts – Phantoms of what we once were. Pale as Edgar Winters’ beard. Structured as a morning mist. What will we be after we die? Spectres.
- Or, hawks. Or, cows, or a car mechanic in Kokomo. Reincarnation rewards or punishes us according to our behavior. We come back to earth in another mortal body. Or,
- As part of the universe. Eternity absorbs us like a lake absorbs a storm. We return to what we were before we were what we are… we return to the cosmic consciousness of the universe.
According to some folks, we bury the soul when we bury the body like a wrapping with a hot dog, never expecting to see either again. Other people propose that the spirit abandons the body as a butterfly escapes the cocoon. Christianity, on the other hand, posits a new startling, surprising idea. What you had before death, you’ll have after death, only better, much, much better. You will go to paradise: heaven, but not home. Then, upon the return of Christ, you will receive a spiritual body and inhabit a restored universe. This is the promise of God. This promise hinges on the resurrection of Christ. The Christian hope depends entirely upon the assumption that Jesus Christ died a physical death, vacated an actual grave and ascended into heaven where he, at this moment, reigns as head of the church.
The Easter miracle, in other words, changed everything.
#Easter Garden at Holy Trinity #Bingley. pic.twitter.com/iaiGhl2xmF
— Andrew Clarke (@andrewclarkebd) April 13, 2021
From there:
If in that Syrian garden, ages slain,
You sleep, and know not you are dead in vain,
Nor even in dreams behold how dark and bright
Ascends in smoke and fire by day and night
The hate you died to quench and could but fan,
Sleep well and see no morning, son of man.
But if, the grave rent and the stone rolled by,
At the right hand of majesty on high
You sit, and sitting so remember yet
Your tears, your agony and bloody sweat,
Your cross and passion and the life you gave,
Bow hither out of heaven and see and save.
Weathers and seasons were part of the living world, and the movement between them was the world's breathing and showed that it was alive and in good health. Only when the rhythm became erratic, when the world drew its breath in great spasms, did they become afraid."C.R.Milne pic.twitter.com/r2AhQjKUEd
— A.A.Milne (@A_AMilne) April 13, 2021