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This page is for things to do on Easter. It is sufficient for use, but I will improve it.
In 2021, the three readings below worked well. People read them as dessert was served. You can print out the readings from: READING 1: Luke 23-24. The Easter Story and READING 2: Revelation 19. Christ the Victor over Death and READING 3: Revelation 20. The New Jerusalem. You can do it several ways:
- (a) Three people read Readings 1, 2, and 3. (3 people participate)
- (b) Five people read Readings 1a, 1b, 1c, 2 , and 3. (5 people participate)
- (c) Four people read Readings 1a, 1b, and 1c and 2. Five people read Reading 3. (9 people participate)
- (d) Three people read Readings 1a, 1b, and 1c. Six people read Reading 2. One person reads Reading 3 (10 people participate)
- (e) Three people read Readings 1a, 1b, and 1c. Then six people read Reading 2 and five people read Reading 3. (14 people participate)
We are having our big dinner at 5pm today. For that, I will try to expand this. I will try to get some hymns printed out, with sheet music, and to get everyone to have an instrument-- grand piano, violin, viola, cello, trombone, ukulele, didgeridoo, kazoo, harmonica, pots-and-pans percussion, recorder, clarinet are possibilities. I will look for an ancient prayer or a Book of Common Prayer one for dinner. Maybe stories of past Easters. Maybe Dante's Paradiso has something good. I'd like to write up something on the theology of Easter to add to the readings. During dinner, maybe as people for names of some dead people we can hope will rise again, with no discussion of the probabilities of happy ending in particular cases. Ideally, we'd do something on the pattern of a seder, though we're a bit wiped out after last night's Christian seder at Bob's House.
READING 1: Luke 23-24. The Easter Story
This should be read by three people, 1a, 1b, 1c.
Reading 1a.
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
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.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
Reading 1b.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
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?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered his words,
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
Reading 1c.
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.
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
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.
READING 2: Revelation 19. Christ the Victor over Death
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
READING 3: Revelation 20. The New Jerusalem
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
