A Hymn of Praise

TE Deum  ~   Prayed in choir (regular type - italic type)

You are God,     we praise you; You are Lord,     we adore you; To you, Creator Holy,     all creation offers praise.   With the angels in heaven:     We Praise you! With the cherubim & seraphim:     We praise you! With apostles and prophets:     We praise you! With the martyrs and your holy church:     We sing in endless praise!

Creator of all things:

    We praise you!

O Jesus Christ, Redeemer:

    We praise you!

O Spirit, most Holy:

    We praise you!

To the Trinity most Blessed:

    We sing in endless praise!

O Christ, King of glory:

    We praise you!

You became like us to set us free:

    We praise you!

You have risen to free us:

    We praise you!

You have hallowed our humility:

    We sing in endless praise!

Let us remember that we are in God's holy presence -

In the name of God our Creator,

Jesus our redeemer,

and the Holy Spirit our sanctifier.  Amen!

Introduction:

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb ....

Suddenly

grief is interrupted and

sorrow suspended.

The gaping grave

gives hearts

hope.

Daylight

drives the darkness

into deserved oblivion.

Life is reinvigorated and

we are exhilarated.

Joy abounds,

Jesus lives.

He is risen.

He is not here.

A

L

L

E

L

U

I

A

His rising,

wherever we go,

whatever we are doing.

let us too proclaim your great story,

to every human being we ever meet, O Lord.

Not just with our mouths, which talk too much

anyway.

Let us use our hands and

move our feet.

Let us make bells in towers ring,

climb to the rooftops

to shout it

to all!

Christ is risen!  Christ is risen!

Death, you have

no sting.

Love lives!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

AMEN!

ALLELUIA!

ALLELUIA!

Reflection Time and Community Sharing

'What is the meaning of Christ's resurrection for my life?

Intercessions

    Intercessions for this Easter should come from the community

    Response:  Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

Closing Prayer     From Fortunatus, 6th Century

Hail thee, festival day!

Blest day to be hallowed forever;

Day when our Lord was raised,

breaking the kingdom of death.

Rise from the grave now, O Lord,

the author of life and creation.

Treading the pathway of death,

new life you give to us all.

God the Almighty, the Lord,

the ruler of earth and the heavens,

Guard us from harm without;

cleanse us from evil within.

Jesus, the health of the world,

enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,

Son of the Father supreme,

only begotten of God.

Spirit of life and of power,

now flow in us, fount of our being,

Light that enlightens us all,

life that in all may abide.

Praise to the giver of Good!

O lover and Author of concord,

Pour out your balm on our days;

order our ways in your peace.

Glory to the Father ....

Brother Nick Morris (Rome)