Easter Day Morning
Prayer Sunday
1st Lesson Isaiah 25:1-9
1 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. 2 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. 3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the
city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 And he will destroy in this
mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil
that is spread over all nations. 8 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. 9 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.
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2nd Lesson Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day
of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the
sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of
the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from
the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his
raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and
became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women,
Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is
not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the
Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from
the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye
see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the
sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples
word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them,
saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped
him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren
that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they
worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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1st Lesson Exodus 12:1-14
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall
be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak ye unto all the
congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they
shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their
fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for
the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it
according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating
shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without
blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep,
or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of
the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel
shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and
strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the
houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in
that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs
they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water,
but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance
thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and
that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your
feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is
the Lord's passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this
night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man
and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I
am the Lord. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the
houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and
the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land
of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall
keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep
it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
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2nd Lesson Revelations 14:1-7,
12-13
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him
an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in
their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many
waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of
harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song
before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no
man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand,
which were redeemed from the earth. 4 These are they which were not
defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow
the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men,
being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was
found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud
voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is
come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the
fountains of waters.
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from
heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord
from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their
labours; and their works do follow them.
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Easter Day Evening
Prayer Sunday
1st Lesson Isaiah 51:9-16
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the
ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut
Rahab, and wounded the dragon? 10 Art thou not it which hath dried the
sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea
a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11 Therefore the redeemed of the
Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy
shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow
and mourning shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you:
who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and
of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And forgettest the
Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the
foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because
of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where
is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may
be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread
should fail. 15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose
waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name. 16 And I have put my words
in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I
may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say
unto Zion, Thou art my people.
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2nd Lesson Luke 24:13-35
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called
Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they
talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came
to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself
drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they
should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of
communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and
are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said
unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the
things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto
them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth,
which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the
people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be
condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it
had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to
day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain
women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the
sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that
they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found
it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said
unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets
have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to
enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he
expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made
as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him,
saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far
spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he
sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and
gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he
vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not
our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while
he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and
returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them
that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath
appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way,
and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
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1st Lesson Isaiah 12
1 And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though
thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou
comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be
afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is
become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord,
call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention
that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done
excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout,
thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the
midst of thee.
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2nd Lesson John 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept,
she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels
in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where
the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest
thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I
know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she
turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was
Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest
thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if
thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will
take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and
saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto
her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father;
and to my God, and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the
disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these
things unto her.
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Easter Morning
Prayer Monday
1st Lesson Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11
1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath
anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to
comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to
give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be
glorified.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath
covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh
himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth
the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will
cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the
nations.
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2nd Lesson Luke 24:1-12
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they
came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared,
and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away
from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the
Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed
thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as
they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said
unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but
is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered
his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things
unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and
Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with
them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words
seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose
Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the
linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at
that which was come to pass.
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Easter Evening
Prayer Monday
1st Lesson Exodus 15:1-13
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord,
and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed
gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The
Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my
God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will
exalt him. 3 The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh's
chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains
also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they
sank into the bottom as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O Lord, is become
glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the
enemy. 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown
them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which
consumed them as stubble. 8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the
waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and
the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, I
will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be
satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as
lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the
gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing
wonders? 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed
them. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast
redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy
habitation.
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2nd Lesson John 20:1-10
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. 2 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. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to
the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did
outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down,
and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then
cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth
the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not
lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the
sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the
scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples
went away again unto their own home.
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Easter Morning
Prayer Tuesday
1st Lesson Daniel 12:1-4, 13
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which
standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that
shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to
righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut
up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and
stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
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2nd Lesson 1 Thessalonians 4:13
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto
you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall
rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.
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Easter Evening
Prayer Tuesday
1st Lesson Isaiah 30:18-21
18 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto
you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you:
for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for
him. 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep
no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry;
when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20 And though the Lord give
you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not
thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see
thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when
ye turn to the left.
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2nd Lesson John 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept,
she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels
in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where
the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest
thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I
know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she
turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was
Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest
thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if
thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will
take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and
saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto
her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my
brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father;
and to my God, and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the
disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these
things unto her.
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Easter Morning
Prayer Wednesday
1st Lesson Micah 7:7-9, 18-20
7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my
salvation: my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy:
when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a
light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have
sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for
me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his
righteousness.
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth
by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not
his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn
again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities;
and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 Thou
wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou
hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
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2nd Lesson 1 Timothy 6:11-19
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the
good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also
called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 13 I
give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and
before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good
confession; 14 That thou keep this commandment without spot,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 15 Which in
his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King
of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in
the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can
see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 17 Charge them that
are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things
to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready
to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for
themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay
hold on eternal life.
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Easter Evening
Prayer Wednesday
1st Lesson Isaiah 26:12-16, 19
12 Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought
all our works in us. 13 O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had
dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. 14
They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not
rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their
memory to perish. 15 Thou hast increased the nation, O Lord, thou hast
increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto
all the ends of the earth. 16 Lord, in trouble have they visited thee,
they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they
arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew
of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
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2nd Lesson John 20:19-23
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week,
when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of
the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace
be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands
and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent
me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on
them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever
sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye
retain, they are retained.
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Easter Morning
Prayer Thursday
1st Lesson Ezekiel 37:1-14
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit
of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full
of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold,
there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O
Lord God, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these
bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5
Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to
enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and
will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in
you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7 So I
prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise,
and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and
the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 9 Then
said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say
to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O
breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I
prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they
lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 Then he
said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:
behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut
off from our parts. 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith
the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause
you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of
Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your
graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall
put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your
own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and
performed it, saith the Lord.
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2nd Lesson Philippians 3:7
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be
found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which
is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I
count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be
perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God
shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have
already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same
thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which
walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies
of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their
belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that
it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the
working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
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Easter Evening
Prayer Thursday
1st Lesson Isaiah 52:1-10
1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful
garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more
come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake thyself from
the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands
of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3 For thus saith the Lord, Ye
have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
4 For thus saith the Lord God, My people went down aforetime into Egypt
to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 5 Now
therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken
away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the
Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. 6 Therefore my
people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I
am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. 7 How beautiful upon the
mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that
publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth 8 Thy watchmen shall
lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they
shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. 9 Break
forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the
Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord
hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the
ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
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2nd Lesson John 20:24
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them
when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have
seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands
the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails,
and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight
days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came
Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be
unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and
behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:
and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said
unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because
thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not
seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in
the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his
name.
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Easter Morning
Prayer Friday
1st Lesson Isaiah 65:17
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former
shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and
rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem
a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in
her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant
of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child
shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years
old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them;
and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall
not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat:
for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect
shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in
vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed
of the Lord, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to
pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet
speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and
the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the
serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,
saith the Lord.
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2nd Lesson Revelation 1:4-18
4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you,
and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and
from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus
Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead,
and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and
priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see
him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth
shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and
which is to come, the Almighty. 9 I John, who also am your brother, and
companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus
Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and
for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's
day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am
Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in
a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto
Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto
Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see
the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden
candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like
unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt
about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were
white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;
and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right
hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and
his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I
saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me,
saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that
liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and
have the keys of hell and of death.
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Easter Evening
Prayer Friday
1st Lesson Zephaniah 3:14
14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice
with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The Lord hath taken away
thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even
the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion,
Let not thine hands be slack. 17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee
is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will
rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 18 I will gather
them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to
whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will
undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather
her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every
land where they have been put to shame. 20 At that time will I bring you
again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name
and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your
captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
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2nd Lesson John 21:1-14
1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at
the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were
together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana
in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also
go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and
that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come,
Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered
him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the
ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able
to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom
Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard
that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was
naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples
came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were
two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as
they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid
thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye
have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full
of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were
so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and
dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing
that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth
them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed
himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
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Easter Morning
Prayer Saturday
1st Lesson Isaiah 25:1-9
1 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. 2 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. 3 Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the
city of the terrible nations shall fear thee. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 And he will destroy in this
mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil
that is spread over all nations. 8 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. 9 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.
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2nd Lesson Revelation 7:9
9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood
before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation
to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all
the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the
four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped
God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving,
and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.
Amen. 13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these
which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said
unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the
throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that
sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor
any heat. 17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed
them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes.
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Easter Evening
Prayer Saturday
1st Lesson Jeremiah 31:10-14
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the
isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and
keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11 For the Lord hath redeemed
Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall
flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and
for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul
shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old
together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort
them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 And I will satiate the
soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with
my goodness, saith the Lord.
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2nd Lesson John 21:15
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He
saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith
unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son
of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the
third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all
things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my
sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou
girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou
shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird
thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 This spake he,
signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken
this, he saith unto him, Follow me. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth
the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast
at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter
seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus
saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to
thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the
brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto
him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is
that to thee? 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things,
and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And
there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they
should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could
not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
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