All the Earth with Joy Is Sounding

This Easter hymn was written by me in 1995 during my pastorate at Grace Lutheran Church in Middletown, Connecticut and was first included in Hymnal Supplement 98. In this hymn, I sought to explore less commonly used Easter themes: Christ as the greater Jonah, the stronger strong man, and the author of salvation.  The strong tune MICHAEL was composed by Herbert Howells (1892-1983) around 1930 and was named after his son who had died at the age of 9 from meningitis in 1929.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4TUej8B2iI

1.

All the earth with joy is sounding:

    Christ has risen from the dead!

He, the greater Jonah, bounding

    From the grave, His three-day bed,

        Wins the prize:

        Death’s demise—

    Songs of triumph fill the skies.

2. 

Christ, the devil’s might unwinding,

    Leaves behind His borrowed tomb.

Stronger He, the strong man binding,

    Takes, disarms his house of doom;

        In the rout

        Casting out

    Pow’rs of darkness, sin, and doubt.

3. 

Jesus, author of salvation,

    Shared in our humanity;

Crowned with radiant exaltation,

    Now He shares His victory!

        From His face

        Shines the grace

    Meant for all our fallen race.

4. 

Praise the Lord, His reign commences,

    Reign of life and liberty—

Paschal Lamb, for our offenses

    Slain and raised to set us free!

        Evermore

        Bow before

    Christ, the Lord of Life adore!

Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Living

The hymn text is by Argentinian poet and Disciples of Christ minister Nicolás Martinez (1917-72) and is based upon 1 Corinthians 15:12-23.  Translating the hymn into English was the task of the Dutch-born English Congregationalist minister, Fred Kaan (1929-2009).  This translation's use of many one-syllable words provides the hymn with a driving, staccato vibrancy appropriate to the hymn's Easter message.  The tune, CENTRAL, was composed in 1960 by Pablo Sosa and takes its name from Central United Methodist Church in Buenos Aires.  The tune has an energetic rhythm, suggesting accompaniment better suited to a guitar than an organ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHaGl8l6KsE    (text in original Spanish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbJIEYynlGA   (piano with solo voice)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIRuozXbJ7A&pbjreload=10  (Christ Church, Fitchburg, Mass. [Episcopalian], English and Spanish with assorted instruments, choir)

1.  

Christ is risen, Christ is living,

    Dry your tears, be unafraid!

Death and darkness could not hold Him,

    Nor the tomb in which He lay.

Do not look among the dead for

    One who lives forevermore;

Tell the world that Christ is risen,

    Make it known He goes before.

2. 

If the Lord had never risen,

    We’d have nothing to believe;

But His promise can be trusted:

    “You will live, because I live.”

As we share the death of Adam,

    So in Christ we live again;

Death has lost its sting and terror,

    Christ the Lord has come to reign.

3. 

Death has lost its old dominion,

    Let the world rejoice and shout!

Christ, the firstborn of the living,

    Gives us life and leads us out.

Let us thank our God, who causes

    Hope to spring up from the ground.

Christ is risen, Christ is giving

    Life eternal, life profound.

1.

¡Cristo vive, fuera_el llanto,

    los lamentos y_el pesar!

Ni la muerte ni_el sepulcro

    lo_han podido sujetar.

No busquéis entre los muertos

    al que siempre_ha de vivir,

¡Cristo vive, estas nuevas

    por doquier dejad oir.

2. 

Que si Cristo no viviera

    vana fuera nuestra fe;

Mas se cumple su promesa:

    “Porque vivo, viviréis.”

Si_en Adán entró la muerte,

    por Jesús la vida_entró;

No temáis, el triunfo_es vuestro:

    ¡El Señor resucitó!

3. 

Si es verdad que de la muerte

    el pecado es aguijón,

No temáis pues Jesucristo

    nos da vida y salvación.

Gracias demos al Dios Padre

    que nos da seguridad,

Que quien cree en Jesucristo

    vive por la eternidad.

If Christ Had Not Been Raised From Death

Christopher Idle (b. 1938) wrote this text in May of 1984 while serving as minister at Limehouse, East London.  The text was conceived and written as a response to liberal voices of the late 20th century that had questioned the central doctrine of the Christian faith: Christ's bodily resurrection from the dead.  This is no new heresy.  St. Paul had addressed this same issue nearly 2,000 years earlier in 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter penned by the apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The tune UNION CITY was composed by Phillip Magness (b. 1963) who had attended his grandmother's funeral in Union City, Tennessee and the funeral sermon was on the passage of Scripture on which this hymn is based.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsKo-AoN_9I 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3DcM-GhUIY

1.

If Christ had not been raised from death

    Our faith would be in vain,

Our preaching but a waste of breath,

    Our sin and guilt remain.

But now the Lord is ris’n indeed;

    He rules in earth and heav’n:

His gospel meets a world of need—

    In Christ we are forgiv’n.

2. 

If Christ still lay within the tomb

    Then death would be the end,

And we should face our final doom

    With neither guide nor friend.

But now the Savior is raised up,

    So when a Christian dies

We mourn, yet look to God in hope—

    In Christ the saints arise!

3. 

If Christ had not been truly raised,

    His Church would live a lie;

His name should nevermore be praised,

    His words deserve to die.

But now our great Redeemer lives;

    Through this we are restored:

His Word endures, His Church revives

    In Christ, our risen Lord.

This Joyful Eastertide

This hymn was written by George Ratcliffe Woodford (1848-1934). The scriptural basis for the text is 1 Corinthians 15, St. Paul's great resurrection chapter.  In it, the apostle refutes any claims that Christ did not rise bodily from the dead. Herein Christians receive comfort, hope, and the assurance of their own bodily resurrection from the dead on the Last Day.  (The original order of the stanzas is 1, 3, 2 [reflected in the King's College Cambridge and Quarantine Choir links below] was altered, most likely to place the sequence of events in chronological order: the death of the believer, the body's rest in the grave, and then the waking of the dead at the Last Day.) The tune VRUECHTEN (Dutch for "fruits") is from Davids Psalmen, Amsterdam, 1684.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tipsbcfuB4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyNYjD91TyI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDjkPwHVJoc   (organ only)

1.

This joyful Eastertide

    Away with sin and sorrow!

My love, the Crucified,

    Has sprung to life this morrow:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

    Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

    But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

    But now has Christ arisen!

2.

Death’s flood has lost its chill

    Since Jesus crossed the river;

Lover of souls, from ill

    My passing soul deliver:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

    Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

    But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

    But now has Christ arisen!

3. 

My flesh in hope shall rest

    And for a season slumber

Till trump from east to west

    Shall wake the dead in number:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

    Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

    But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

    But now has Christ arisen!

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia

An Easter hymn by Bernard Kyamanywa (b. 1938), translated by Howard S. Olsen (1922-2010) has become a favorite in our Lutheran Service Book hymnal (LSB 466).  The tune MFURAHINI HALELUYA is from Tanzania in Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmWgMeD5cmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE2zi1JqnSw

1.

Christ has arisen, alleluia.

Rejoice and praise Him, alleluia.

For our Redeemer burst from the tomb,

Even from death, dispelling its gloom.

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

2. 

For three long days the grave did its worst

Until its strength by God was dispersed.

He who gives life did death undergo;

And in its conquest His might did show.

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

3. 

The angel said to them, “Do not fear!

You look for Jesus who is not here.

See for yourselves the tomb is all bare;

Only the grave cloths are lying there.”

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

4. 

“Go spread the news: He’s not in the grave;

He has arisen this world to save.

Jesus’ redeeming labors are done;

Even the battle with sin is won.”

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

5. 

Christ has arisen; He sets us free;

Alleluia, to Him praises be.

Jesus is living! Let us all sing;

He reigns triumphant, heavenly king.

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen

An Easter text by Herbert F. Brokering (1926-2009) set to the tune EARTH AND ALL STARS by David N. Johnson (1922-87). As the Lutheran supplement With One Voice was being prepared in 1995, its editors suggested to Herbert that he write an Easter hymn for Johnson's tune EARTH AND ALL STARS that would draw together thoughts and themes from throughout the Easter season.  The result is this hymn that has come to hold a special place for many. (Stanza 2 recalls the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus [Luke 24:13-49], incorporating one of the hallmark's of Brokering's poetry: the word "surprise.")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysDmJ035FMo  (omits stanza 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx7h0ShOJIE

1. 

Alleluia!

    Jesus is risen!

Trumpets resounding in glorious light!

    Splendor, the Lamb,

    Heaven forever!

Oh, what a miracle God has in sight!

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

2. 

Walking the way,

    Christ in the center

Telling the story to open our eyes;

     Breaking our bread,

    Giving us glory:

Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise.

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

3. 

Jesus the vine,

    We are the branches;

Life in the Spirit the fruit of the tree;

    Heaven to earth,

    Christ to the people,

Gift of the future now flowing to me.

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

4. 

Weeping, be gone;

     Sorrow, be silent:

Death put asunder, and Easter is bright.

    Cherubim sing:

    “O grave, be open!”

Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light.

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

5. 

City of God,

     Easter forever,

Golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb,

    River of life,

    Saints and archangels,

Sing with creation to God the I AM!

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands

Martin Luther's great Easter text speaks of the triumph of Christ's resurrection victory (stanza 1). It points to our bondage to sin and death in the second stanza, and reviews the saving work of Christ in His fight against death, in stanzas 3 and 4.  Using strong picture language, the hymn  also uses Passover imagery in the final three stanzas to express joy of God's people saved by all that Christ has done!  CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN (Wittenberg, 1524) is the strong tune that successfully carries the weight of the text and helps express the joyful victory of Easter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB-6jr6VaHk  (if you look closely, you can see Pastor Starke and Jon Enge and the Amelith youth, middle left, second and third pews!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXMKrjNX2W4 (handbells)

1.

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands

    For our offenses given;

But now at God’s right hand He stands

    And brings us life from heaven.

Therefore let us joyful be

And sing to God right thankfully

    Loud songs of alleluia!

       Alleluia!

2. 

No son of man could conquer death,

    Such ruin sin had wrought us.

No innocence was found on earth,

    And therefore death had brought us

Into bondage from of old

And ever grew more strong and bold

    And held us as its captive.

       Alleluia!

3. 

Christ Jesus, God’s own Son, came down,

    His people to deliver;

Destroying sin, He took the crown

    From Death’s pale brow forever:

Stripped of pow’r, no more he reigns;

An empty form alone remains;

    His sting is lost forever.

       Alleluia!

4. 

It was a strange and dreadful strife

    When life and death contended;

The victory remained with life,

    The reign of death was ended.

Holy Scripture plainly saith

That death is swallowed up by death,

    Its sting is lost forever.

       Alleluia!

5. 

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,

    Whom God so freely gave us;

He died on the accursèd tree—

    So strong His love—to save us.

See, His blood now marks our door;

Faith points to it; death passes o’er,

    And Satan cannot harm us.

       Alleluia!

6. 

So let us keep the festival

    To which the Lord invites us;

Christ is Himself the joy of all,

    The sun that warms and light us.

Now His grace to us imparts

Eternal sunshine to our hearts;

    The night of sin is ended.

       Alleluia!

7. 

Then let us feast this Easter Day

    On Christ, the bread of heaven;

The Word of grace has purged away

    The old and evil leaven.

Christ alone our souls will feed;

He is our meat and drink indeed;

    Faith lives upon no other!

       Alleluia!

The Day of Resurrection

Another great, ancient Easter text by John of Damascus (696-754)!  Just think how long Christians have been singing this fine hymn!  Hymns connect us to Christians across the ages of time and remind us that we are part of one indivisible Church and Body of Christ.  The tune LANCASHIRE was composed by Henry T. Smart (1813-79).  Smart was organist of Blackburn parish in the county of Lancashire (northwest England) from 1831-1836.  The tune first appeared in Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (London, 1866).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpFcVvH9Lw  (minus the doxological stanza)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czh8YTVfyCU       "

1.

The day of resurrection!

    Earth, tell it out abroad,

The passover of gladness,

    The passover of God.

From death to life eternal,

    From sin’s dominion free,

Our Christ has brought us over

    With hymns of victory.

2. 

Let hearts be purged of evil

    That we may see aright

The Lord in rays eternal

    Of resurrection light

And, list’ning to His accents,

    May hear, so calm and plain,

His own “All hail!” and, hearing,

    May raise the victor strain.

3.

Now let the heav’ns be joyful,

    Let earth its song begin,

Let all the world keep triumph

    And all that is therein.

Let all things, seen and unseen,

    Their notes of gladness blend;

For Christ the Lord has risen,

    Our joy that has no end!

4. 

All praise to God the Father,

    All praise to God the Son,

All praise to God the Spirit,

    Eternal Three in One!

Let all the ransomed number

    Fall down before the throne

And honor, pow’r, and glory

    Ascribe to God alone!

Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

This hymn, written by John of Damascus (c. 675-749), has been sung in the Church since the middle of the 8th century!  John links Israel's deliverance through the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1-18) with the resurrection of Jesus.  The text progresses until the Church of all time joins in praising God for her deliverance by Jesus' death and resurrection.  The tune, GAUDEAMUS PARITER is 16th-century Bohemian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjkXJ37So4  (Higher Things youth gathering)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaFyaPy6NLY (stanzas 1, 3, 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQ_5pzRllM  (stanzas 1-4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVTjZCDO_A8 (organ setting)

1.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain

    Of triumphant gladness!

God has brought His Israel

    Into joy from sadness,

Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke

    Jacob’s sons and daughters,

Led them with unmoistened foot

    Through the Red Sea waters.

2. 

’Tis the spring of souls today:

    Christ has burst His prison

And from three days’ sleep in death

    As a sun has risen;

All the winter of our sins,

    Long and dark, is flying

From His light, to whom is giv’n

    Laud and praise undying.

3. 

Now the queen of seasons, bright

    With the day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts

    Comes its joy to render;

Comes to gladden faithful hearts

    Which with true affection

Welcome in unwearied strain

    Jesus’ resurrection!

4. 

For today among His own

    Christ appeared, bestowing

His deep peace, which evermore

    Passes human knowing.

Neither could the gates of death

    Nor the tomb’s dark portal

Nor the watchers nor the seal

    Hold Him as a mortal.

5. 

Alleluia! Now we cry

    To our King immortal,

Who, triumphant, burst the bars

    Of the tomb’s dark portal.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain

    Of triumphant gladness!

God has brought His Israel

    Into joy from sadness!

Stay With Us

A hymn by Herbert F. Brokering (1926-2009) "Stay With Us" captures an event that took place on the evening of Easter when Jesus appeared to two of His disciples walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).  It is paired to the tender tune STAY WITH US by Walter L. Pelz (b. 1926). The hymn text forms a beautiful prayer for us during this pandemic and is found in the evening section of Lutheran Service Book (LSB 879).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eWvrBMI5dg

1.

Stay with us, till night has come:

Our praise to You this day be sung.

    Bless our bread,

    Open our eyes:

Jesus, be our great surprise.

2. 

Walk with us. Our spirits sigh:

Hear when our weary spirits cry,

    Feel again

    Our loss, our pain:

Jesus, take us to Your side.

3. 

Walk with us. The road will bend:

Make all our weeping, wailing end.

    Wipe our tears,

    Forgive our fears:

Jesus, lift the heavy cross.

4. 

Talk with us, till we behold

A joyful life You will unfold:

    Heal our eyes

    To see the prize:

Jesus, take us to the light.

5. 

Stay with us, till day is done:

No tears nor dark shall dim the sun.

    Cheer the heart,

    Your grace impart:

Jesus, bring eternal life.

Awake, My Heart, With Gladness

How does one choose a favorite hymn for Easter?  For me, the answer is Paul Gerhardt's (1607-76) "Awake, My Heart, With Gladness."  It is sung to the tune AUF, AUF, MEIN HERZ composed by Johann Crueger (1598-1662). 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9-11_uG7ys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhDgSlpOMh0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is5yYY4vSLM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-agRB9rxJuk
1.

Awake, my heart, with gladness,

    See what today is done;

Now, after gloom and sadness,

    Comes forth the glorious sun.

My Savior there was laid

Where our bed must be made

    When to the realms of light

    Our spirit wings its flight.

2.

The foe in triumph shouted

    When Christ lay in the tomb;

But lo, he now is routed,

    His boast is turned to gloom.

For Christ again is free;

In glorious victory

    He who is strong to save

    Has triumphed o’er the grave.

3.

This is a sight that gladdens—

    What peace it doth impart!

Now nothing ever saddens

    The joy within my heart.

No gloom shall ever shake,

No foe shall ever take

    The hope which God’s own Son

    In love for me has won.

4.

Now hell, its prince, the devil,

    Of all their pow’r are shorn;

Now I am safe from evil,

    And sin I laugh to scorn.

Grim death with all its might

Cannot my soul affright;

    It is a pow’rless form,

    Howe’er it rave and storm.

5.

The world against me rages,

    Its fury I disdain;

Though bitter war it wages,

    Its work is all in vain.

My heart from care is free,

No trouble troubles me.

    Misfortune now is play,

    And night is bright as day.

6.

Now I will cling forever

    To Christ, my Savior true;

My Lord will leave me never,

    Whate’er He passes through.

He rends death’s iron chain;

He breaks through sin and pain;

    He shatters hell’s grim thrall;

    I follow Him through all.

7.

He brings me to the portal

    That leads to bliss untold,

Whereon this rhyme immortal

    Is found in script of gold:

“Who there My cross has shared

Finds here a crown prepared;

    Who there with Me has died

    Shall here be glorified.”

Upon the Cross Extended

A Good Friday hymn of personal reflection for each believe, penned by Paul Gerhardt (1607-76) and set to the tune O WELT, ICH MUSS DICH LASSEN, by Heinrich Isaac (1450-1517). "Your cords of love, my Savior, Bind me to You forever."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-zLTbxjrWI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayDPbRdV4Dw

1.

Upon the cross extended

See, world, your Lord suspended.

    Your Savior yields His breath.

The Prince of Life from heaven

Himself has freely given

    To shame and blows and bitter death.

2. 

Come, see these things and ponder,

Your soul will fill with wonder

    As blood streams from each pore.

Through grief beyond all knowing

From His great heart came flowing

    Sighs welling from its deepest core.

3. 

Who is it, Lord, that bruised You?

Who has so sore abused You

    And caused You all Your woe?

We all must make confession

Of sin and dire transgression

    While You no ways of evil know.

4. 

I caused Your grief and sighing

By evils multiplying

    As countless as the sands.

I caused the woes unnumbered

With which Your soul is cumbered,

    Your sorrows raised by wicked hands.

5. 

Your soul in griefs unbounded,

Your head with thorns surrounded,

    You died to ransom me.

The cross for me enduring,

The crown for me securing,

    You healed my wounds and set me free.

6. 

Your cords of love, my Savior,

Bind me to You forever,

    I am no longer mine.

To You I gladly tender

All that my life can render

    And all I have to You resign.

7. 

Your cross I place before me;

Its saving pow’r restore me,

    Sustain me in the test.

It will, when life is ending,

Be guiding and attending

    My way to Your eternal rest