adapted from the ancient prayer of the Easter Vigil, called the Exsultet. This prayer was traditionally sung late in the night on the Saturday before Easter and continued into the wee hours of Easter morning. Therefore, all references to 'night' or 'evening' have been changed to 'day' or 'morning' for our worship today.
"Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!
Rejoice, O Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!"
"This is the morn,
when Jesus broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.
What good would life have been to us,
had Christ not come as our Redeemer?
Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.
O happy fault, O necessary sin of Adam,
which gained for us so great a Redeemer!
Most blessed of all days,
chosen by God to see Christ rising from the dead!"
"The power of this holy day dispels all evil,
washes guilt away,
restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy;
it casts out hatred,
brings us peace,
and humbles earthly pride.
Day truly blessed,
when heaven is wedded to earth
and we are reconciled to God!
Therefore, heavenly Father,
in the joy of this day,
receive our sacrifice of praise,
your Church's solemn offering."
"Accept, O Lord, not only these gifts we bring,
but also our hearts,
newly aflame with love and joy
this glorious day.
May they glow to the honor of God.
Let the light in our hearts
mingle with the lights of heaven
and continue bravely burning
to dispel the darkness of sin and night!
May that Morning Star which never sets
find his flame still burning in these hearts of ours.
May we hear again today,
as for the first time,
the words of our Resurrected Savior
that call us to live lives of hope and joy and power.
The words of our Savior,
Jesus Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all humanity,
your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen."
