In plain words
Hebrew for “Praise the Lord.” Sung before the Gospel reading, and left out during Lent.
The fuller definition
Hebrew for “Praise the Lord.” Sung before the Gospel reading as a welcome to Christ, who speaks in it. By long custom it is not sung during Lent and returns at Easter, which is part of why Easter sounds the way it does.
In Sunday worship: The parts of a service, daily prayer, and the things you see in a church.