Painting above: Empty Tomb ©T.Jutsum 2006
THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM: EASTER DAY
THE FEAST OF THE RESURRECTION
APRIL 5, 2026
FESTAL HOLY EUCHARIST
11:00 A.M.
BISHOP: The Rt. Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer
PRESIDER: The Rev. Steven Metcalfe
MUSIC DIRECTOR and ORGANIST: Stephen Kennedy
VANDELINDER FELLOW and ASSISTANT ORGANIST: James Jeffery
VANDELINDER FELLOW and ORGANIST: Dominic Fiacco
Honoring the Baptismal Covenant, we strive for justice and peace for all people,
respecting the dignity of every human being
VOLUNTARY I. Moderato (Symphonie Romane, op. 73) Charles-Marie Widor (1844–1937)
THE ENTRANCE RITE
Please stand, as able.
HYMN 200 Come ye faithful raise the strain Gaudeamus pariter
EASTER PROCLAMATION
COLLECT FOR PURITY
Presider: Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
THE WORD OF GOD
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Let us pray. (Silence)
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Lesson Acts 10:34-43
Peter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Leader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL Psalm 118 Benedictus Caleb Meyerhoff
Commissioned for Christ Church of Rochester, NY, 2025
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord God and He has given us light! Bind the festal procession with cords up to the horns of the altar. Thou are my God and I will praise Thee. Give thanks to the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord for he is good for His steadfast Love endures for ever.
THE SECOND LESSON
Colossians 3:1-4
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Leader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Please stand, as able.
SEQUENCE HYMN: 207 Jesus Christ is risen today Easter hymn
ALLELUIA VERSE: Pascha nostrum
Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
GOSPEL John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
SERMON The Rev. Steven Metcalfe
A time of silent reflection is kept after the sermon.
THE NICENE CREED recited in unison
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin
Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."
For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our Bishop, Kara Wagner Sherer, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the city of Rochester, for every city and
community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the widowed and orphans, for those who are lonely, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the people of Christ Church, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, for those who suffer in war and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Defend us, deliver us, and in your compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.
Presider: Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Presider: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Minister and People:
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Presider: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
THE PEACE
Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
People greet one another in the name of the Lord.
PARISH NOTICES
Offertory Motet: Surrexit Christus hodie Samuel Scheidt (1587-1684)
Surrexit Christus hodie Christ rose today
Humano pro solamine For human comfort,
In hoc Paschali gaudio In this Paschal joy
Benedicamus Domino Let us bless the Lord.
Laudetur sancta Trinitas Let the Holy Trinity be praised
Deo dicamus gratias. Alleluia! Let us give thanks to God. Alleluia!
THE HOLY COMMUNION
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
All who are able, stand.
SURSUM CORDA Plainsong
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
SANCTUS
The people may stand or kneel as they are able.
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
Celebrant and People:
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
The Celebrant continues:
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him,
being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
A period of silence is kept.
FRACTION ANTHEM
Invitation to Holy Communion
Presider: The gifts of God for the people of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, 4
and feed on him by faith, with thanksgiving.
Everyone, without exception, is welcome to receive Holy Communion.
If a gluten free wafer is better for you, please tell the minister when you come forward.
The Bread and the Cup are given with these words:
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. Please Respond: Amen.
The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Please Respond: Amen.
COMMUNION MOTET Exultate justi Ludovico da Viadana (1560-1627)
Translation: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just; praise befits the upright.
Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.
Sing to him a new canticle, sing well unto him with a loud noise.
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just; praise befits the upright.
HYMN 205 Good Christians all, rejoice and sing Globt sei Gott
Easter Blessing
May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection
of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.
Amen.
May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make
you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.
Amen.
May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer,
bring you to your eternal inheritance.
Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and
remain with you for ever.
Amen.
Dismissal
Deacon Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia!
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
ITE, MISSA EST Translation: The Mass is ended. Thanks be to God.
VOLUNTARY Sonata No. 1 in F Minor iv. Allegro Vivace Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
CLERGY
PRESIDER: The Rev. Steven Metcalfe
MUSIC MINISTERS FOR EASTER SUNDAY
2026
Stephen Kennedy, director of music
David Higgs, associate organist
Caleb Meyerhoffer, principal cantor
VanDelinder Fellows
Jimmy Jeffery, fellow, assistant organist
Dominic Fiacco, fellow
The Christ Church Choir
Caroline Barata,* Anna Bjerken,* Jackie Burkhardt, Thea Cleaveland, Benjamin Doane,
Amelia Harkey,* Joan Hunt, Kristy Liddell, Kyle Liddell, Andrea McGaugh,*
Caleb Meyerhoff,* Kristina Niemiec, Daniel Perez,* Lisa Pigut,
Mary Reins,* Sonja Shelton, Maya Watters*
*Choral Scholars
Renaissance sackbut players of the Christ Church Schola Cantorum
Gabriel Williams, Ethan Pound, Jacob Lytle, Jacob Ellgass
https://songforchristchurch.org/
www.facebook.com/ChristChurchRochester www.facebook.com/ccscholacantorum
www.amealandmore.org
Newsletter: www.songforchristchurch.org
Contact Stephen Kennedy stephenk@rochester.rr.com if you want to participate in our music program.
For more information about upcoming events at Church, scan this QR code below.
