Need some help, chord progression D to E

[timothy42b]

I'm playing the Catholic services next weekend, covering for the regular person.

Some of the music is just melody and chord symbols.  On one piece I end on a D major chord, and then the last verse jumps a step to E major starting on an E major chord.

It doesn't feel right to just make an abrupt shift.  So I've got two measures to get from a D to an E.  And, sigh, I don't know much theory.  (obviously)  Can anybody help?  I'd like it to sound like some kind of cadence ending in the right spot.

[avetma]

What about these major chord progression:
D - A - F# - B - E? It is plain and simple; if you want harmonical analyse - ask

Enjoy.

[ramseytheii]

I think that's pretty good.  Remember that when they transpose up a step, it's to be more intense, so in your two-bar interlude do something big like a long descending scale in octaves in the LH, something with lots of rhythm that also modulates, and grows in volume.

Walter Ramsey

[quantum]

You could also just do
D - B - E or
D - B - B7 - E

The F# of the D chord is used as a pivot to the F# in the B chord.   The V - I cadence of B - E usually helps give a clear signal that there is a key change, so singers don't get confused. 

With C7 resolving to B:
D - C7 - B(7) - E

With whole tone movement:
D - C - D - E

Smoother variant:
D - A/C# - Am/C - D - E