One of my favorite things about the last school year was the hymn study we did using the Lutheran Service Book: Companion to the Hymns as the foundation. When I chose the hymns, I made sure to cover the major church seasons/festivals, picked some of my favorites as well as some of my students’ favorites, looked for some that were in The Illuminated Hymnal, and tried to make sure we had selections from a wide variety of times, places, and authors. Here’s a look a the full list, from the first week of school (I will always think of “Earth and All Stars” as the Lutheran dayschool Opening Service hymn!) to the last (which I definitely didn’t get through without crying!):

• “Earth and All Stars”
• “With the Lord Begin Your Task”
• “Jesus Loves Me”
• “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It”
• “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God”
• “Listen, God is Calling”
• “Christ, the Lord of Hosts Unshaken”
• “What is this Bread?”
• “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”
• “Thy Strong Word”
• “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
• “For All the Saints”
• “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”
• “Now Thank We All Our God”
• “Praise and Thanksgiving”
• “Savior of the Nations, Come”
• “Prepare the Royal Highway”
• “Where Shepherds Lately Knelt”
• “As with Gladness Men of Old”
• “Abide with Me”
• “‘Tis Good, Lord, To Be Here”
• “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory”
• “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
• “Alleluia, Song of Gladness”
• “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”
• “In Silent Pain the Eternal Son”
• “Lamb of God, Pure and Holy”
• “I Bind unto Myself Today”
• “Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle”
• “Awake, My Heart with Gladness”
• “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing”
• “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”
• “Holy Spirit, the Dove Sent from Heaven”
• “Up through Endless Ranks of Angels”
• “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise”
• “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”

Ladybug has already requested that we do more hymn studies in addition to our regular religion studies next year…I’m looking forward to choosing more of our favorites!