An Easter Cantata- Don't ask me why I was moved to do this...at the time every song had a tune..

AnthonyVan

Jesus Christ Rising Son - lyrics for a cantata
Centurion –
What death is this that I have seen?
The darkness falling like a shroud
What death is this incredible scene?
A man who always drew a crowd

His words in pain yet so sublime
Forgiveness to the very end
His words will last throughout all time
I see a love to us extend
Surely I have seen God’s Son
Surely something new’s begun
Is this the end? Is He done?
Or is all this a vict’ry won?
Is all this a victory won?

The ground it rumbles and it shakes
I think I heard him breathe his last
My hardened heart it almost breaks
In life and death his love surpassed
chorus
The crowd they leave some satisfied
While others are filled with regret
Was a Messiah crucified?
Who was this man that we have met?
Chorus

Joseph and Nicodemus-
J- I see the burden of the spice                           N- If you had seen what he has done
Too much, for you?                                                  So much for me
Myrrh and aloes at such a price                                His words of hope, new life begun
Too much for you?                                                   So much for me

Look at the linen cloth I bring                 The fragrance of the life he spent
So much to do                                   So much to see
I was sure that he would be our king            His wisdom caused me to repent
His words were true                             He found out me

        Could we be who we were before?
        Satisfied by the law?
        Wondering what he came here for?
        Miracles leaving us in awe
        Jesus leaving us in awe

Now he is lying in this grave                …. Now he is lying in this grave
What can we do?                                 How can this be?
He said he came to forgive and save             He said he came to forgive and save
It can’t be true                                Let’s wait and see
            chorus 

Priests-
1What did he say?
They’ll get him out
'bout the third day
They’ll get him out
We’ll make him stay
They’ll get him out
What did he say?

2It’s Pilate’s lot
They’ll get him out
Stop the plot
They’ll get him out
It’ll get too hot
They’ll get him out
It’s Pilate’s lot

3Roll the stone
They’ll get him out
It’ll be his home
They’ll get him out
He’ll be unknown
They’ll get him out
Roll the stone

Pilate
I can’t believe you’re worried about this
We saw him dying on a cross
This is one man that we won’t miss
Just a man who’s no great loss

Priests
4Seal the tomb
They’ll get him out
It’ll be our doom
They’ll get him out
They can’t exhume
They’ll get him out
Seal the tomb

Pilate

5Place a guard
They’ll get him out
It can’t be hard
They’ll get him out
We’ll all be scarred
They’ll get him out
Place a guard

I’ll send a guard I’ll seal with wax
Nothing there for you to dread

But you all need to face the facts
This man Jesus he is dead

Mary to disciples
I go to him but he is gone
From this life he has passed
I can’t believe that it’s come to this
Will all his teaching last?

                Women
                We were there and there were men in white
                Listen to what we say
                We were there and the light was so bright
                Listen to what we say

I come to him but he is gone
The stone is rolled away
In darkness I have searched for him
I wait the light of day

                         We were there and they said not to fear
                         Listen to what we say
                         We were there and they said he’s not here
                         Listen to what we say

I went to him but he was gone
Listen to my cry
Someone’s taken his body away
Go run and find out why

                         We were there and saw where he had lain
                         Listen to what we say
                         We were there and the message was plain
                         They told us to what to say
                         That he has risen today
                         That he has risen today

Disciples
Now we’ve heard it all
What is this rave?
An empty grave
He said he’d save
It’s the wrong cave
Now we’ve heard it all
His death we still recall

Now we’ve heard it all
They said he’s gone
They must be wrong
No one’s that strong
It’s a big con
Now we’ve heard it all
His death we still recall

Now we’ve heard it all
They’re all female
Made up this tale
I saw the nail
Beyond the pale
Now we’ve heard it all
His death we still recall

Now we’ve heard it all
What did they see?
The tomb empty
Angels shiny
Imaginary
Now we’ve heard it all
His death we still recall
His death we still recall

Peter and John
    What has happened?  …   Who can know?
    Strange events      …   We must go
    Who would take him? …   Who can say?
    What of the stone?  …   Rolled away

    I am running        …   I’ll come too
    Can’t believe it    …   Must be true
    Wait for me         …   Do be quick
    Stolen body?        …   Makes me sick

    Getting tired       …   Almost there
    I’m still coming    …   Tomb is bare
    What is inside?     …   I can’t see
    I’m going in        …   too dark for me

We’re standing in an empty tomb
He’s gone away
What can we say?
What can we say?

Our hearts are filled with fear and gloom
Terrible day
What can we say?
What can we say?

We were followers for three short years
Knowing laughter and knowing tears
Feeling courage and feeling fears
We were followers for three short years

    I am inside         …   Can you see?
    Strips of linen     …   It’s empty?
    Burial cloth        …   From his head?
    And nothing else    …   empty bed?

    Come inside John        Where is he?
    You see he’s gone       Can it be?
    Mary was right          Now I grieve
    He is not here          I believe

We’re standing in an empty tomb
He’s gone away
What can we say?
What can we say?

Our hearts are filled with fear and gloom
Terrible day
What can we say?
What can we say?

We were followers for three short years
Knowing laughter and knowing tears
Feeling courage and feeling fears
We were followers for three short years

Mary
There are tears in my eyes
I cannot understand
No sign of him is found
He was the hope of our land
And I look for him to search him out but he’s not here
How could he go, did they take him away or did he disappear

There are tears in my eyes
I look inside the tomb
Two angels all in white
Seated in the darkened room
And I look for him to search him out but he’s not here
How could he go, did they take him away or did he disappear

        Jesus
        Why are you sighing why are you crying?

               Do not fear
               Why are you sighing why are you crying?
               He’s not here

There are tears in my eyes
And I started to say
Words that were in my mind
They took my Lord away
And I looked for him to search him out but he’s not here
How could he go, did they take him away or did he disappear

                 Why are you sighing why are you crying?
                 Who are you looking for?
                 Why are you sighing why are you crying?
                 Look no more
There were tears in my eyes
Don’t know where they put him
The gardener came by
Tell, where have you put him?
And I looked for him to search him out and you must say
Did you take him off, where did he go, did you carry him away?

                  Mary, Mary,
                  Do not hold on to me
                  Mary, Mary,
                  With my Father I must be

                  Mary, Mary,
                  To the brothers you must go
                  Mary, Mary,
                  And tell this news they must know.

He said
Mary, Mary
Those words echo in my mind
Mary, Mary
In a voice that was so kind

He is alive
I saw him with my own two eyes
When he called out my name
I’ll never be the same
He is alive
Chorus
I’ve seen the Lord
He was standing talking with me
He goes to Galilee
The one who set me free
He is alive
Chorus
I’ve seen the Lord
He was standing talking with me
I’ve seen the Lord
The one who set me free
He is alive…He is alive

Emmaus Road

Emmaus road that we were walking
In the pall of grief and pain
Dismal words that we were talking
Was he Christ—but he was slain?

Emmaus road and we were saying
That our hope has disappeared
Mourning thoughts our hearts were weighing
End of road is what we feared

Emmaus road and we were meeting
A strange man who walked along
Glimpses of his face were fleeting
He’s asking us what was wrong

Emmaus road and we were aching
As he opened up the law
He spoke of Jesus no mistaking
And our minds were filled with awe

Emmaus road our eyes were seeing
In the broken bread and wine
It was Jesus’ very being
Leaving us without a sign

Emmaus road our hearts were glowing
As we thought of what he said
Now in truth our faith was growing
Risen Christ no longer dead

Emmaus road our hearts were glowing
Emmaus road our faith is growing…

Disciples
Are we safe?
The door is locked against our foes
Are we safe?
We are hidden no-one knows

Are we safe from the Romans are we safe from the priests?
They are violent men they are wild angry beasts
Are we safe from the soldiers are we safe from the Jews
Ev’rything’s gone wrong and it’s all bad news

Are we safe?
This secure room is hard to raid
Are we safe?
The door is locked don’t be afraid

Chorus
Peter
Are we safe?
And will we always have to hide
Are we safe?
I tried, I lied, I cried, he died,

Chorus

Jesus appears
Peace be still
We saw him just appear
Peace be still
His words were firm and clear

Peace to you
Amidst the flow of tears
Peace to you
He tried to calm our fears

We cannot understand
How he came into the room
Our thoughts shouted out
He had been in a tomb
It’s a spirit. It’s a ghost.
We didn’t truly know
Looking at his hands and feet
The doubts they wouldn’t go

To Thomas
Thomas where have you been?
Jesus was among us
A wonder never seen
Jesus was among us
Thomas where have you been?

Thomas do you believe?
Jesus is now alive
Why would we deceive?
Jesus is now alive
Thomas do you believe?

Thomas what did you do?
The Lord was here with us
It is strange but it’s true
The Lord was here with us
Thomas what did you do?
Thomas
This story you have told
That Jesus lives again
How can you be so bold?
I will believe it when
His body I will hold

How could I believe, I doubt it very much
My eyes did not behold I would need to touch
Those wounds from the nails the piercing in his side
How could I believe, I’m sure that you have lied
…………………………………………………………………………………
Peace be still
We saw him just appear
Peace be still
His words were firm and clear

Peace to you
Amidst the flow of tears
Peace to you
He tried to calm our fears

We cannot understand
How he came into the room
Our thoughts shouted out
He had been in a tomb
It’s a spirit. It’s a ghost.
We didn’t truly know
Looking at his hands and feet
The doubts they wouldn’t go

Thomas
And he said
Touch me and see
You see that it is me
Disciples
Shalom to all
We saw his flesh and bone
Shalom to all
We’re No longer alone

He spoke as he showed us
His hands and his feet
You see that I am real
Give me something to eat
Thomas
And he said And he said
Touch me and see Touch me and see
You see it is me You see it is me

Jesus Lord and my God
‘Twas too hard to conceive
Jesus Lord and my God
I now see and believe

Jesus Lord and my God
Those who don’t see he stressed
Jesus Lord and my God
By their faith will be blessed

And he said And he said
Touch me and see Touch me and see
You see it is me You see it is me

Disciples
Where do we go from here?

Peter

It’s fishing, I’m wishing through water we’re swishing
Where do we go from here?

Where do we go from here?
Galilee, by the sea. It’s our home and we’re free
Where do we go from here?

Why did he command?
That we should go to Galilee
It is our homeland
Where we will see our family

Where do we go from here?
No hiding, confiding, through water we’re gliding
Where do we go from here?

Where do we go from here?
It’s working, no shirking, no enemies lurking
Where do we go from here?

Why did he command?
That we should go to Galilee
It is our homeland
Where we will see our family

Disciples (Calypso)

We are on the water now
The moon is shining oh so bright
Water splashing on the bow
And we are fishing through the night

It isn’t easy for us all
We went away we heard the call
And now we’re back we’ve lost our way
Do we go or do we stay

Ready now and throw the net
Then pull it in what have we caught?
Not so close I’m getting wet
Count the fish and there are naught

It isn’t easy for us all
We went away we heard the call
And now we’re back we’ve lost our way
Do we go or do we stay

Try again we’ll catch a haul
Let us see what will happen now
Throw it far and give our all
I think we have forgotten how

We’re getting tired too hard to do
Caught not a fish and it’s almost morn
Thought at least we’d catch a few
Aching back and my hands are worn

It isn’t easy for us all
We went away we heard the call
And now we’re back we’ve lost our way
Do we go or do we stay

Peter
There was a stranger
In the morning there he stood
He calmly called out
Are you doing any good?
   Disciples                 -And we said no

And we said no

There was a stranger
He was waiting on the shore
He gave instructions
And I think you’ll catch some more
                                 -And we thought no
And we thought no

It was this stranger
He said cast it on the right
And when we did it
A full net we had to fight
                                  -And it was so
I had to go

It is the Lord
Friends did he call?
It is the Lord
Whatever should befall
It is the Lord
Let’s give our all…It is the Lord

No more a stranger
I really had to jump in
Wanting to swim
Too impatient to row in
                                  -His love to show
Want him to know

It is the Lord
Friends did he call?
It is the Lord
Whatever should befall
It is the Lord
Let’s give our all…It is the Lord

REINSTATEMENT-Peter
You ask for me to go for a walk
You say to me that we need to talk
And I feel ashamed
Am I to blame?

And then you lift up your eyes to mine
Do you see the guilty sign?
You say
In words so softly

So do you love me?

Chorus
You know that I like you…You know that I care
How can I convince you? You are standing there…

And I haven’t been able to sleep
And you keep on talking of sheep
If you knew how sorry I am
That my life is really a sham
Still you say, feed my lambs, feed my lambs

Jesus is standing looking at me
And I squirm uncomf’tably
I have turned from you
What can I do?

And then you move in close to my face
I sense your perfect grace
You say
In words so softly
So do you love me?

Chorus

Is it all starting over again?
He says my name and then
Sounding like the end
So, are you my friend?

And the pain it went straight to my heart
Was this where we would part
Lord, you know all things
My love in me sings

You know that I love you…You know how I feel
How can I convince you? I want to be real

And I haven’t been able to sleep
And you keep on talking of sheep
If you knew how sorry I am
That my life is really a sham
Still you say, feed my lambs, feed my lambs
Words are deep, feed my sheep, feed my sheep

Anthem -all
Can you believe what he has done?
The battle fought the vict’ry won
He’s standing with us today
Will He go or will He stay?

There were more than five hundred people
Not in a hall or in a steeple
And as we heard your word
Then our hearts were stirred
And to actions spurred
He is the Lord And with one accord
He is the Lord His life restored
He is our God
He is our God
He is our G….od

He tells us his salvation plan
To give us hope to rescue man
His words true and teaching pure
Eternal life for us secure
chorus
The mystery is clearer now
We worship and our knee we bow
His kingdom is in our hearts
And for us His gospel starts
chorus

Five hundred strong who can deny
He is alive who once did die
We will go from here to tell
Jesus has done all things well
Chorus

ASCENSION
Now that we know what the prophets said
Dying He could sins forgive
Our hope in Him who once was dead
With Him to forever live

We are witnesses of these things
We will receive power
More blessed than priests and kings
He is our strong tower

With this knowledge we spread good news
His grace and love we will share
Repent and trust what will you choose?
Be baptised faith declare

Now he rises into glory
We know he’ll come again
We’ll repeat salvation’s story
Spirit led until then

WriteInTheHeadAgain

this is really beautiful.

I love to write music. this would be an enormous challenge to write for. did you have a concept in mind, musically?

AnthonyVan

When I wrote there were a range of tunes in my mind but being a musical illiterate I would find it hard to encapsulate an overall concept. The only one I labelled 'calypso' was to fit the Galilean fishing context.
The first instance that may have motivated me was the appalling fact that 'Jesus Christ Superstar' totally missed the point that he overcame death hence 'Jesus Christ Rising Son'.
I encourage anyone to put their skills to composing and making use of an idea that would otherwise go nowhere. Hopefully the text conveys the mood of each song.

LoraConnor

I would present this to the music/choir director of your church to consider for Easter Sunday! It couldn't hurt, right?

AnthonyVan

Thankyou for your comment. Small church, small music department may restrict the possibilities. The number of songs might make it a long term project anyway. I'm happy for anyone to give it a try.