Songs and Hymns for Easter Day (April 4 2010)

Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25
1 Corinthians 15:19-26or Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18or Luke 24:1-12
Tune In: God is walking in the garden (Brown) A gentle song perfect for Easter. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
Tune In: In the shape of a cross (Brown) A cry to God for help. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
Tune In: Making things new (Anderson). A groovy one. Great for kids, and lots of fun. Reference recording, lyrics and songbook.
Iona / CH430 / SFFS2115 / G(II)308 / GC452 / GC(II)465 Christ has risen while earth slumbers (Bell / Maule) There are a number of tune setting for this. I prefer HOLY MANNA. Lyrics.
*TiS 383 Joyful the morning when Jesus Christ is risen (Traditional Torres Strait Islander) It's beautiful and joyful and Torres Strait Islander! We should sing this! I can't believe I hadn't noticed this song before!
Iona (Love From Below) / CH434 / CP232 Jesus is risen from the grave (CHILDER) Good, simple rhythm and tune. You can even make up some verses if you like. Good for kids.
TiS 242 / AHB 183 / AoV1-018 / ATN 27 / CH404 / UMH261 / VU352 / HPP163 / HPSS302 / G(II)481 / GC708 / GC(II)689 I danced in the morning (Carter / SIMPLE GIFTS) Well known and very easy to sing. Lyrics and tune sample.
ATW 452 Halle Halle / Why do you look among the dead (Mann) Storytelling Easter song, with catchy hallelujahs. Lyrics.
TiS 720 / AHB 295 / aoVK-85 / AoV2-046 / ATOK 319 / NCH236 / Iona (Many & Great, There is one among us) / CH345 / VU958 / StJ / SFFS 2026 / HPP571 / RS 396 Halle halle hallelujah (Traditional Caribbean) Excellent – simple, great for kids, good rhythm. And Easter Day deserves many Hallelujahs! Sound sample.
SFFS 2078 / GC(II)271 Alleluia / Praise Praise God in the Temple (Glover / Honduras) I would just sing the refrain of this. It would make a great introit or postlude for Easter Day. Sheet music and lyrics (chorus only). I'm not wild about the sound sample, but it gives you some ideas.
TiS 370 / AHB 290 / NCH367 / CH411 / UMH302 / VU157 / LBW128 / ELW369 / G(II)315 / GC437 / GC(II)439 / RS602 / CP206 Christ the Lord is risen today (Wesley) (Llanfair) It's not quite Easter without this hymn, but be aware that the lyrics vary widely between hymnals. TiS is good, although some may not like the Kingly language. If you want fully inclusive language, the NCH has good lyrics. An example of lyrics and tune.
TiS 382 / AoV2-131 / ATN 15 / NCH238 / CH417 / UMH311 / VU186 / LBW280 / ELW570 / HPP210 / G(II)318 / GC444 / GC(II)456 / CP237 Now the green blade riseth (NOEL NOUVELET) I love these words and this simple French folk tune. I particularly like this played to guitar, but TiS has an excellent piano arrangement too. Lyrics and tune sample.
TiS 392 / NCH308 At the dawning of salvation Good hymn words of Easter theology and Christ’s presence at Creation to a fun standard American folk tune (NETTLETON).
TiS 380 / AHB 303 / NCH253 / CH419 / UMH308 / VU173 / LBW145 / ELW376 / HPP203 / HPSS122 / CP210 / CP(E)160 / W&R310 / Cha218 / Srce694 Thine be the glory risen conquering Son One of the few older hymns that doesn't require updating. A great classic hymn! Lyrics and tune.
TiS 367 / AHB 287 / NCH242 / CH412 / UMH306 / VU159 / LBW135 / ELW366 / HPSS119 / GC446 / GC(II)459 / CP212 The strife is o'er the battle done There are two possible tunes for this hymn. I prefer to sing this hymn to the tune by James Minchin (THE STRIFE IS O’ER), which is found in the Australian Hymn Book, rather than the more traditional minstrellish VULPIUS. The newer tune is pretty groovy (I loved it as a kid!), and has lots and lots of alleluias. The words also vary a lot between hymnals. So, the best would be a combination of the TiS words and the AHB tune 287 (ii).
ATW 463 / Iona (T1AU) / R239 / ELW721 / SFFS 2219 Goodness is stronger than evil (Tutu / Iona) Words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. "Victory is ours, victory is ours, through him who loves us". Some congregations change the last line to "Compassion is ours, compassion is ours...". It depends on the context in which you sing it, I suppose. Sound sample.
ATW 445 Roll the rock It’s a bit silly, but very joyous, catchy and good for the kids.
TiS 541 / CH674 / WoV722 / ELW535 / G(II)394 / GC562 / GC(II)529 / CP082 Hallelujah we sing your praises / Haleluyah! Pelo Tsa Rona. Joyous and simple song.
AHB 281 / NCH244 / CH431 / UMH317 / VU170 / LBW514 / ELW820 / HPSS116 / GC423 / GC(II)446 / CP228 O sons and daughters let us sing (O FILII ET FILIAE) Many versions and many verses. AHB has emphasis on Thomas verses, but Gather hymnals have some nice verses about the women finding Christ risen. This tune can be really pretty cool - either as plainchant, hymn or fairly majestic contemporary mass music. Listen to the sample of an altogether different version (with different words); search for GC(II)447 here.
TiS 393 / GA365 Christ is alive with joy we sing (Stotter) Joyful alleluias, and Easter images of Christ as grain of wheat, rising sun, vine and bread. Sung to the familiar tune VULPIUS.
Iona (TI1AU) / MV038 Glory to God / Nzamuranza (Mozambique / Matsikenyiri) Simple African call and response song. Great harmonies and particularly good for Easter Day. Thanks to Noodle Thrower for this suggestion.
GA338 People of God O welcome the light (Wood) Quite good simple refrain for the start of an Easter celebration
FFS55 Relentless lover God in Christ (Barrell/Gibson) Great words! Can also be sung to KINGSFOLD if you don't want to explore a new tune.
CH797 The Lord is risen from the dead (Halleyi) Simple chant for Easter day.
ATA 160 The Son is up the Word is out / Resurrection shout (Mann) A bit silly, but could be fun on Easter day with lots of kids.
GC(II)464 / CP230 The Tomb Is Empty (Dunstan) This one is so joyful it gives me goosebumps!! It would be a great start to worship on Easter Day. The verses say "Come and see", "Come and hear", "Come and touch", "Come and meet", "Come and serve". Sound sample. Lyrics and sample sheet music.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
Linnea Good / MV008 And on this path (Good) An energetic gospel style song.
TiS 74 / GA070 This is the day the Lord has made (Willcock) Unusual timing in this refrain, but once you've nailed it, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the week, which is what I like about Psalm refrains.
MV122 This is the day (Harding) This is a really simple nice jazzy song. Sound sample. Sample sheet music.
GA071 / G(II)320 / GC449 This is the day the Lord has made (Haugen) Quite a groovy refrain and cantored verses OK too. Refrain could be sung to read verses. I wouldn't let the congregation sing the verses though. Lyrics and sheet music. Sound sample.