Easter Church Service from Holy Trinity Cathedral

This climax of Holy Week in the Christian calendar comes from Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Auckland. Interwoven with te reo Māori, the Eucharist is presided over by the Reverend Ivica Gregurec, the Cathedral’s Precentor. The music is provided by the Cathedral choir under the direction of Peter Watts.

ORDER OF SERVICE

Introit

Alleluia

sung by the cathedral choir
Composed by William Boyce (1711-1779)

Processional Hymn

Jesus Christ is risen today
sung by the cathedral choir and congregation
The traditional text Lyra Davidica is sung in te reo Māori and English to the tune Easter Hymn

Rangi tapu, rangi koa, hareruia! Ko te Ihu Aranga, hareruia! Nona nei te ripeka, hareruia! Taea ai te orange, hareruia!	Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia! our triumphant holy day, alleluia! who did once, upon the cross, alleluia! suffer to redeem our loss, alleluia!
Rewa koa te himene, hareruia! Ki to tatou Kai-hoko, hareruia! Nga tatou nga mahi he, hareruia! Heke ai ia ki te po, hareruia!	Hymns of praise then let us sing, alleluia! unto Christ, our heavenly King, alleluia! who endured the Cross and grave, alleluia! sinners to redeem and save, alleluia!

But the pains that he endured, alleluia!
our salvation have procured, alleluia!
now above the sky he’s king, alleluia!
where the angels ever sing, alleluia!

The Gathering

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

I runga i te ingoa o te Atua: te Matua, te Tama, me te Wairua Tapu. Āmine.	We gather in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Amen.
Kia noho a Ihowā ki a koutou. Ki a koe anō hoki.	And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
Āreruia! Kua ara a te Karaiti! He pono tonu, kua ara a ia. Āreruia!	Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

E te whanau, dear friends. Happy Easter. Nga mihi nui o te ra Aranga.

A warm welcome to the Easter Eucharist on Radio New Zealand, Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa, broadcast to you from Holy Trinity Cathedral, the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland.

My name is Ivica Gregurec, and I’m the Cathedral Precentor.

On behalf of the Dean, and the whole cathedral community, I extend Easter greetings to all of you, especially those who cannot join Easter celebrations in your churches due to illness. May we celebrate this day of Christ’s resurrection, joyfully and together.

No reira, tena koutou katoa.

We gather in the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Felicity Reid

Let us give thanks for the coming of God’s reign of justice and love.
Jesus Christ is good news for the poor,
release for the captives,
recovery of sight for the blind
and liberty for those who are oppressed.

The Confession

Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.
I will confess my sins to the Lord,
I will not conceal my wrongdoings.
God forgives and heals us.
We need your healing, merciful God:
give us true repentance.
Some sins are plain to us;
some escape us, some we cannot face.
Forgive us; set us free to hear your word to us;
set us free to serve you.

Kyrie

sung by the cathedral choir
From the Communion Service in B♭, composed by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie, eleison

Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Absolution

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

God forgives us; be at peace.
Rejoice and be glad, for Christ is resurrection,
reconciliation for all the human race.
We shall all be one in Christ, one in our life together.
Praise to God who has created us,
praise to God who has accepted us,
praise to God who sends us into the world.

Gloria

sung by the cathedral choir
From the Communion Service in B♭, composed by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Glory be to God on high and in earth peace, goodwill towards men, we praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory. O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesu Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Let us pray.
Glorious Giver of Life,
we praise you, that by the mighty resurrection of Jesus the Christ,
you have delivered us from sin and death and made your whole creation new;
grant that we who celebrate with joy Christ’s rising from the dead,
may be raised from the death of sin to the life of righteousness;
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever.

Amen.

First Reading from Acts/Ngā Mahi 10:34-43

Anita Banbury

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Peter began to speak: ‘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.’

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm 118

sung by the choir and congregation to a traditional psalm melody

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

We give thanks to you O Lord for you are gracious:
and your love endures for ever.
Let the house of Israel say:
“God’s love endures for ever.”

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

The right hand of the Lord raises up:
the right hand of the Lord does mighty things.
I shall not die but live:
and proclaim what the Lord has done."

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

The stone which the builders rejected:
has become the head of the corner.
This is the Lord’s doing:
and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Second Reading from Colossians/Korohe 3:1-4

Andrew Dawson

A reading from the Letter to the Colossians

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.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn

He came singing love
sung by the cathedral choir and congregation
to a text and music by the New Zealand composer Colin Gibson

He came singing love
and he lived singing love;
he died singing love.
He arose in silence.
For the love to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

He came singing faith
and he lived singing faith;
he died singing faith.
He arose in silence.
For the faith to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

He came singing hope
and he lived singing hope;
he died singing hope.
He arose in silence.
For the hope to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

He came singing peace
and he lived singing peace;
he died singing peace.
He arose in silence.
For the peace to go on
we must make it our song:
you and I be the singers.

Gospel Acclamation.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Gospel Matthew/Matiu 28:1-10

Read by Felicity Reid in English and Reverend Hinemoa Carpenter in te reo Māori

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Praise and glory to God.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.

I te mutunga o te hāpati i te mea ka tata tonu te pūao te rā tuatahi o te wiki, ka haere a Meri Makarini me tērā Meri kia kite i te tanumanga. Nā, he nui te rū i puta mai; i heke iho hoki tētahi anahera a te Ariki i te rangi, ā, haere ana, whakatakā atu ana e ia te kōhatu i te kūwaha, ā, noho ana i runga. Ko tōna āhua me te mea he uira, mā tonu tōna kākahu ānō he hukarere. Ā, wiri noa iho ngā kaitiaki i te wehi ki a ia, ka rite ki te tūpāpaku.

But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’

Nā, ka oho te anahera, ka mea ki ngā wāhine, “Kei wehi kōrua; e mātau ana hoki ahau, e rapu ana kōrua i a Īhu i rīpekatia. Kāhore ia i konei; kua ara kē, kua pērā me tāna i mea ai. Haere mai kia kite i te wāhi i takoto ai te Ariki. Ā, hohoro te haere, kōrerotia ki āna ākonga, ‘Kua ara ia i te hunga mate; tēnā ia te haere nā i mua i a koutou ki Karirī; ko reira koutou kite ai i a ia.’ Nā, kua kōrero nei ahau ki a kōrua.”

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

Ā, hohoro tonu tā rāua haere atu i te urupā, me te wehi, me te harakoa nui, ā, oma ana ki te kōrero ki āna ākonga. Nā, ka tūtaki a Īhu ki a rāua, ka mea mai, “E ia mā.” Nā, ka haere atu rāua, ka pupuri i ōna waewae, ka koropiko ki a ia. Kātahi a Īhu ka mea ki a rāua, “Aua e wehi; haere, kī atu ki ōku tēina kia haere ki Karirī, ko reira hoki rātou kite ai i ahau.”

This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ the Word.

Easter Reflection

By Dr Emily Colgan

In the name of God, creator, redeemer, and giver of life. Amen.

There’s a really well-known story about a young girl walking along a beach where thousands of pātangaroa – or starfish – had been washed up during a storm. When she came upon a pātangaroa, she would pick it up and throw it as far as she could, back into the ocean.

She went on like this for some time, until an old man approached her and called out, ‘E Kare! Why are you doing that? Look at those starfish, you can’t possibly save them all! You can’t even begin to make a difference!’ But the little girl looked him in the eye and then bent down, she picked up another starfish and threw it as far as she could, back into the sea. ‘I made a difference for that one,’ she said simply.

Now, this story has become something of a cliché, but bear with me because it asks us to think about those deemed to be of little account and a world that is quick to turn away in indifference or give up in the face of overwhelming odds. And I want us to think with this story as we reflect on Easter Day and the events that led up to this moment.

The gospels tell us that, like the little girl, Jesus shows concern for and commitment to those the world has deemed to be of little account. Time and again throughout his ministry, Jesus challenged the Roman empire, which favoured the rich and powerful when the majority of the population lived in abject poverty. His actions and words proclaimed a world where the first will be last and the last will be first. A world where those at the bottom of the pile – those of little account – hold a special place in God’s kingdom.

Jesus dared to suggest that the values of empire – and its elitist trappings of wealth, power, and influence – are not the values of God. Rather, God sides with those who are marginalised and oppressed, willing a world where all are able to flourish and mutually enjoy abundance of life. Unsurprisingly then, it was here, on the margins, that Jesus spent much of his time – with tax collectors, fishermen, women, those who were stigmatised because of illness, and those considered ethnically or religiously ‘other.’ It is those that the world deems to be of little account that are given priority in the divine re-ordering of society.

Ultimately, of course, the empire responded to Jesus’s vision of an alternative kingdom with execution by crucifixion. But in death – as in life – Jesus was accompanied by those on the margins. It is the women who remain at the foot of the cross until the very end. It is the Earth who holds Jesus, womb-like, in the rocky darkness of the tomb for three days and nights, who then quakes as the stone sealing his grave is removed to reveal an empty space. And it these figures of little account – these women and the Earth – who cannot stay silent, who proclaim the good news of the resurrection, announcing that, despite all reason and logic, Christ is alive, that death is not the final word.

And because of their witness to the risen Christ, others also came to recognise that the empty tomb does not signify absence, but presence: it proclaims the resurrected Christ’s presence with us! In the weeks, months, years, and centuries that have followed, millions of people have come – in different ways – to experience something of the resurrected Christ; to experience a God who is always present and bringing newness of life. So, 2000 years on, their claim is our claim: Christ is alive and that even in death, new life is possible.

But the resurrection is more than something we marvel at; it is something that we are called to participate in. The claim that Christ is alive is a call to action. When we seek justice for those who suffer violence and death, we participate in the resurrection. When we work to reconcile damaged relationships, we participate in the resurrection. When we protect the life of a single starfish – or indeed any aspect of creation – we participate in the resurrection.

When we act to keep our vulnerable communities safe, when we share love with our neighbours, when we work to restore peace in the world, when we offer welcome and hospitality, when we stand in solidarity with those the world deems to be of little account, when we work towards a world where all are able to flourish and live abundantly, we participate in the ongoing resurrection.

So, the resurrection of Christ was not a one-off event that happened 2000ish years ago. Christ’s resurrection is simply the clearest example of God’s ongoing action in the world. Wherever there is death, God struggles with us to find new life – even in the face of indifference or against overwhelming odds. And this is cause for celebration; this is good news for all creation! Christ is risen and present with us. So, let us go out into the world and live that resurrection.

Amen.

Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, we remember that through the paschal mystery we have died and been buried with him in baptism, so that we may rise with him to a new life within the family of his Church. Now that we have completed our observance of Lent, we renew the promises made at our baptism, affirming our allegiance to Christ, and our rejection of all that is evil. Therefore, I ask these questions:
Do you turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Let us now proclaim the Christian faith into which we were baptised, and in which we live and grow.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Presider asperges the congregation with Paschal holy water. This involves sprinkling water drawn from the baptismal font over those assembled, in memory of their baptismal vows.

Hymn

Christ is alive
Sung by the choir and congregation
to a text by the New Zealand writer Shirley Murray, and music by J. Bray

Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,
and the stars and the suns shout on this Easter Day!
Christ is alive, and his family must celebrate
in a great alleluia, a great alleluia,
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Here is our hope: in the mystery of suffering
is the heartbeat of Love, Love that will not let go,
here is our hope, that in God we are not separate,
and we sing alleluia, we sing alleluia,
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Christ Spirit, dance through the dullness of humanity
to the music of God, God who has set us free!
You are the pulse of the new creation's energy;
with a great alleluia, a great alleluia,
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Prayers of the People

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Let us pray for the Church and the world giving thanks for God’s goodness.

Felicity Reid

For Christians across the world; for communities across Aotearoa New Zealand, large and small, that are gathering together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ; that we may be transformed to reflect Christ’s likeness.

E te Atua aroha, whakarongo mai ki tā mātou īnoi.

God of love: hear our prayer.

That the resurrection of Christ inspire the governments of our nation and countries around the world in our common striving for peace, justice and the rights of all people. On this most holy day we pray for the people of the Ukraine in their striving for freedom, justice and peace, as well as for many nations around the world that are suffering because of human greed, exploitation, climate change, wars or injustice of any kind.

E te Atua aroha, whakarongo mai ki tā mātou īnoi.

God of love: hear our prayer.

For all people, wherever they are; that through our common work together, we may build a society based on respect and inclusion of all. We pray also for those suffering as a result of natural disasters, especially in Syria and Turkey, as well as those affected by bad weather in many parts of Aotearoa New Zealand.

E te Atua aroha, whakarongo mai ki tā mātou īnoi.

God of love: hear our prayer.

For all who are being baptised and received into the Church this Easter, and for all of us who have renewed our baptismal promises; that we may grow to be faithful in our commitment.

E te Atua aroha, whakarongo mai ki tā mātou īnoi.

God of love: hear our prayer.

Our Jewish friends celebrate Passover, and our Muslim friends are observing their fast in their holy month of Ramadan; may our journeying together, as children of Abraham and people committed to love God and neighbour, lead to mutual understanding an a commitment to love and respect for one another, as we worship one God.

E te Atua aroha, whakarongo mai ki tā mātou īnoi.

God of love: hear our prayer.

That the light of the risen Christ may shine through us, your people, upon the poor, the afflicted, the hungry, the homeless, the unemployed, and those who are victims of prejudice, that they may feel their stones rolled away and new light pouring into their lives. Forgive us our prejudices and help us to see Christ’s presence in every human person and in the whole of creation.

E te Atua aroha, whakarongo mai ki tā mātou īnoi.

God of love: hear our prayer.

We rejoice with the disciples and all the saints in the joy of Christ’s resurrection. May all those who have died be blessed with the fullness of Christ’s light and peace in eternal life.

God of all truth, in you nothing is hidden. Help us to be faithful followers of Jesus, who is risen, the first-born from the dead. Amen.

The Peace

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

The peace of God be with you all.
In God’s justice is our peace.
E te whānau, Christ calls us to live in unity.
We seek to live in the Spirit of Christ.

Reverend Hinemoa Carpenter

Let us offer the peace of the risen Christ to one another.

The congregation members offer each other a greeting of Peace. During the Offertory Hymn, the bread and wine are prepared for the Eucharist.

Offertory Hymn

Jesus lives! thy terrors now
Sung by the choir and congregation
Text by C. F. Gellert to the tune St Albinus

Jesus lives! thy terrors now
can no more, O death, appal us;
Jesus lives! by this we know
thou, O grave, canst not enthral us. Alleluia!

Jesus lives! for us he died;
then, alone to Jesus living,
pure in heart may we abide,
glory to our Saviour giving. Alleluia!

Jesus lives! henceforth is death
but the gate of life immortal;
this shall calm our trembling breath
when we pass its gloomy portal. Alleluia!

Jesus lives! our hearts know well
nought from us his love shall sever;
life, nor death, nor powers of hell
tear us from his keeping ever. Alleluia!

Jesus lives! to him the throne
over all the world is given:
may we go where he has gone,
rest and reign with him in heaven. Alleluia!

The Preparation of the Gifts

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

God of all creation, you bring forth
bread from the earth
and fruit from the vine.
By your Holy Spirit this bread and wine
will be for us the body and blood of Christ.
All you have made is good.
Your love endures for ever.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord is here.
God’s spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts:
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.

It is right indeed to give you thanks most loving God,
through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
the pioneer of our salvation,
one of us, yet from the heart of God.
For with your whole created universe,
we praise you for your unfailing gift of life.
Your love is shown to us, for while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
In that love, dear God, righteous and strong to save,
you came among us in Jesus Christ, our crucified and living Lord.
You make all things new.
In Christ’s suffering and cross you reveal your glory
and reconcile all peoples to yourself,
their true and living God.

In the power of endless life Christ is risen from the grave.
His death has broken death and opened for us the new and living way.
Christ is now our peace, our freedom and our joy.
Through Christ you gather us, new-born in your Spirit,
a people after your own heart.
Therefore with saints and martyrs,
apostles and prophets,
with all the redeemed,
joyfully we praise you and sing:

Sanctus and Benedictus

Sung by the cathedral choir
from the Communion Service in B♭,
composed by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts,
heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. Amen.
Blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Accept our praises, living God, for Jesus Christ,
the one perfect offering for the world,
who in the night that he was betrayed, took bread,
and when he had given thanks,
broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take, eat, this is my body
which is given for you; do this to remember me.

After supper he took the cup;
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, to forgive sin.
Do this as often as you drink it to remember me.

Therefore, God of all creation,
in the suffering and death of Jesus our redeemer, we meet you in your glory.
Here and now, with this bread and wine,
we celebrate your great acts of liberation,
ever present and living in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen,
who was and is and is to come.

Reverend Hinemoa Carpenter

With thanksgiving and hope we sing.

Glory to you, Lord Christ,
your death we show forth;
your resurrection we proclaim,
your coming we await;
Amen, come, Lord Jesus.

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

May Christ ascended in majesty
be our new and living way.
In him we offer ourselves to do your will.
Empower our celebration with your Holy Spirit,
feed us with your life,
fire us with your love,
confront us with your justice,
and make us one in the body of Christ
with all who share your gifts of love.
Through Christ,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you
in earth and heaven,
we worship you, Creator God,
in songs of everlasting praise.

Blessing, honour and glory be yours,
here and everywhere, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Communion

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Let us pray in the words Christ has taught us.

Kua ākona nei tātou e tō tātou Ariki, ka waiata tatou:

E to matou Matua i te rangi, Kia tapu tou ingoa. Kia tae mai tou rangatiratanga. Kia meatia tau e pai ai ki runga ki te whenua, kia rite ano ki to te rangi. Homai ki a matou aianei he taro ma matou mo tenei ra. Murua o matou hara, me matou hoki e muru nei i o te hunga e hara ana ki a matou. Aua hoki matou e kawea kia whakawaia; engari whakaorangia matou i te kino. Nou hoki te rangatiratanga, te kaha, me te kororia. Ake, ake, ake. Amine.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

The bread is broken in silence.

The bread we break
is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The priest lifts the cup and says:

The cup of blessing
for which we give thanks
is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The Invitation

Reverend Hinemoa Carpenter

The gifts of God
for the people of God.
May we who share these gifts
be found in Christ
and Christ in us.

Agnus Dei

sung by the cathedral choir
From the Communion Service in B♭,
composed by Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

O Lamb of God,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God,
that takest away the sins of the world,
grant us thy peace.

Communion Motet

sung by the cathedral choir as the congregation takes communion in the form of bread and wine
Christ the Lord is risen again!
composed by John Rutter (b. 1945)

Christ the Lord is risen again!
Christ hath broken every chain!
Hark, the angels shout for joy,
singing evermore on high,
Alleluya!

He who gave for us his life,
who for us endured the strife,
is our Paschal Lamb today!
We too sing for joy, and say
Alleluya!

He who bore all pain and loss
comfortless upon the Cross,
lives in glory now on high, pleads for us,
and hears our cry.
Alleluya!

Now he bids us tell abroad
how the lost may be restored,
how the penitent forgiven,
how we too may enter heaven.
Alleluya!

Thou, our Paschal Lamb indeed,
Christ, today thy people feed;
take our sins and guilt away,
that we all may sing for aye,
Alleluya!

Prayer after Communion

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Loving God,
we have seen with our eyes
and touched with our hands the bread of life.
Strengthen our faith
that we may grow in love for you and for each other;
through Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.

Final Hymn

Thine be the glory
sung by the choir and congregation
to a text by E Budry, and tune by Handel: Maccabeus

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where his body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting:

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above:

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

The Blessing

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

May Christ, who by death has destroyed death, give you all courage and joy in believing; and the blessing of God our Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be with you always.
Amen.

The Dismissal of the Community

Reverend Ivica Gregurec

Go in peace. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Amen. We go in the name of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Organ Sortie

Chorale Prelude on 'Gelobt sei Gott'
played by the cathedral organist Dr Philip Smith
composed by Healey Willan (1880-1968)

This service could not have been made without the help of Reverend Ivica Gregurec and the choir and community at Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Auckland.

RNZ is extremely grateful for the support of all those involved.

The recording for RNZ was engineered by Adrian Hollay, and produced by Paul Bushnell.

Presider
The Reverend Ivica Gregurec
Holy Trinity Cathedral Precentor
Gospeller
The Reverend Hinemoa Carpenter
St Mary’s Anglican Church, Glen Innes
Easter Reflection
Dr Emily Colgan
Senior Lecturer, Trinity Methodist College
Liturgist
Felicity Reid
Readers
Anita Banbury
Andrew Dawson
Director of Choirs
Peter Watts
Organist
Dr Philip Smith
Mass Setting
Communion Service in B♭, Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
Choir
Sopranos
Penny Christiansen
Farah Christopher
Yuriko Gromi
Shona McIntyre-Bull
Brena Merz
Hilary Monteith
Katharine Watts
Maggie Zhang
Altos
Anita Banbury
Maddie Barber-Wilson
Eliana Dunford
Arien Okan
Tenors
Matthew Bennett
Andrew Dawson
Tejas Lamb
Basses
Gregory Camp
Nathaniel Hood
Henry Shum
Edward Swift

MUSIC DETAILS

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Jesus Christ is risen today
Composer: Trad.
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Kyrie Eleison from the Communion Service in B♭
Composer: Stanford
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Gloria from the Communion Service in B♭
Composer: Stanford
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Psalm 118
Composer: Trad.
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: He came singing love
Composer: Colin Gibson
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Christ is alive
Composer: Shirley Murray
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Jesus Lives
Composer: Gellert/St Albinus
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Sanctus and Benedictus from the Communion Service in B♭
Composer: Stanford
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Agnus Dei from the Communion Service in B♭
Composer: Stanford
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Christ the Lord is risen again!
Composer: John Rutter
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Thine be the glory
Composer: Handel
Album: RNZ recording

Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral
Song: Chorale Prelude on 'Gelobt sei Gott'
Composer: Healey Willan
Album: RNZ recording