Lutheran Service Book

Hymn of the Day–“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

I’ve never really thought too much about this Polish Christmas hymn before, but for some reason this year, I really fell in love with it. I think that verse two, in particular, is absolutely beautiful!

Infant holy, Infant lowly,
For His bed a cattle stall;
Oxen lowing, Little knowing
Christ the child is Lord of all.
Swiftly winging, Angels singing,
Bells are ringing, Tidings bringing:
Christ the child is Lord of all!
Christ the Child is Lord of all!

Flocks were sleeping, Shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, Heard the story,
Tidings of a Gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, Free from sorrow,
Praises voicing,
Greet the morrow;
Christ the child was born for you!
Christ the child was born for you!  Lutheran Service Book #393

Hymn of the Day–“The Magnificat”

OK, technically “The Magnificat,” (Song of Mary), is a canticle, not a hymn, but I’ve really enjoyed singing it during Evening Prayer at our Midweek Advent services, and I think it’s worth sharing! Many churches, in an attempt not to over-venerate Mary, end up all but ignoring her, (when she does, in fact, deserve recognition for being chosen by God for such an incredible task!), and in doing so, miss out on treasures such as this, even though it is taken directly from the Bible in Luke 1.

Refrain:
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my Spirit rejoices in God, My Savior.

For He has regarded
the lowliness of His handmaiden.
For behold, from this day
all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things to me,
and holy is His name;
and His mercy is on those who fear Him
from generation to generation. Refrain

He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy
as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen. Refrain From Lutheran Service Book’s Evening Prayer Service

Hymn of the Day

Savior of the nations come,
Virgin’s Son, make here Your home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God,
Was the Word of God made flesh–
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

Here a maid was found with child,
Yet remained a virgin mild,
In her womb this truth was shown,
God was there upon His throne.

Then stepped forth the Lord of all
From His pure and kingly hall;
God of God, yet fully man,
His heroic course began.

God the Father was His source,
Back to God He ran His course.
Into hell His road went down,
Back then to His throne and crown.

For You are the Father’ Son
Who in flesh the vict’ry won.
By Your mighty pow’r make whole
All our ills of flesh and soul.

From the manger newborn light
Shines in glory through the night.
Darkness there no more resides;
In this light faith now abides.

Glory to the Father sing,
Glory to the Son, our king,
Glory to the Spirit be
Now and through eternity. Lutheran Service Book # 332

Hymn of the Day–“O Love, How Deep”

“O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!

He sent no angel to our race,
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame,
And to this world Himself He came.

For us baptized, for us He bore
His holy fast and hungered sore;
For us temptation sharp He knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.

For us He prayed; for us He taught;
For us His daily works He wrought.
By words and signs and actions thus
Still seeking not Himself but us.

For us by wickedness betrayed,
For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us He gave His dying breath.

For us He rose from death again;
For us He went on high to reign;
For us He sent His Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

All glory to our Lord and God
For love so deep, so high, so broad;
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forevermore.” Lutheran Service Book #544

Hymn of the Day–Michaelmas

Today is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, (also known as Michaelmas), one of those rare “white days” that appear on the church year calendar amid the sea of green that is the Time of the Church. I was surprised to discover that Lutheran Service Book has not one, but three hymns, (#520-522), appropriate for this day. Here are the words to one of them, “Lord God, to Thee We Give All Praise,” the famous angelic hymn by Philipp Melanchthon:

“Lord God, to Thee we give all praise,
With grateful hearts our voices raise,
That angel hosts Thou didst create
Around Thy glorious throne to wait.

They shine with light and heav’nly grace
And constantly behold Thy face;
They heed Thy voice, they know it well,
In godly wisdom they excel.

They never rest nor sleep as we;
Their whole delight is but to be
With Thee, Lord Jesus, and to keep
Thy little flock, Thy lambs and sheep.

The ancient dragon is their foe;
His envy and his wrath they know.
It always is his aim and pride
Thy Christian people to divide.

As he of old deceived the world
And into sin and death has hurled,
So now he subtly lies in wait
To undermine both Church and state.

A roaring lion, round he goes,
No halt nor rest he ever knows;
He seeks the Christians to devour
And slay them by his dreadful pow’r.

But watchful is the angel band
That follows Christ on ev’ry hand
To guard His people where they go
And break the counsel of the foe.

For this, now and in days to be,
Our praise shall rise, O Lord, to Thee,
Whom all the angel hosts adore
With grateful songs forevermore.”  Lutheran Service Book #522

Hymn of the Day–“Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”

“Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;
Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Your Son
And bring to naught all He has done.

Lord Jesus Christ, Your pow’r make known,
For You are Lord of lords alone;
Defend Your hold Church that we
May sing Your praise eternally.

O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth;
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death to life.” Lutheran Service Book #655

Hymn of the Day–“God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It”

“God’s own child, I gladly say it:
I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it,
Gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth’s treasures many?
I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free
Lasting to eternity!

Sin, disturb my soul no longer:
I am baptized into Christ!
I have comfort even stronger:
Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.
Should a guilty conscience seize me
Since my Baptism did release me
In a dear forgiving flood,
Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood?

Satan, hear this proclamation:
I am baptized into Christ!
Drop your ugly accusation,
I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I’ve traveled,
All your might has come unraveled,
And, against your tyranny,
God, my Lord unites with me!

Death, you cannot end my gladness:
I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness
To inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes
Faith’s assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine
To make life immortal mine.

There is nothing worth comparing
To this lifelong comfort sure!
Open eyed my grave is staring:
Even there I’ll sleep secure.
Though my flesh awaits its raising,
Still my soul continues praising:
I am baptized into Christ:
I’m a child of paradise!” Lutheran Service Book #594

Hymn of the Day–“Built on the Rock”

When I was typing out the words to this hymn last night, I had no idea that this was going to be today’s hymn of the day in church this morning–I simply thought the words were apropos to the last Sunday of worship in St. John Wheaton’s old Sanctuary. So, when I saw the hymn number in the bulletin this morning, I realized that it’s just one of those funny moments where I’m pleasantly surprised by God’s timing!

“Built on the Rock the Church shall stand
Even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land;
Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the souls distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.

Surely in temples made with hands
God, the Most High, is not dwelling;
High above earth His temple stands,
All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He who dwells in heav’n above
Chooses to live with us in love,
Making our bodies His temple.

We are God’s house of living stones,
Built for His own habitation.
He through baptismal grace us owns
Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell
With all His grace and His favor.

Here stands the font before our eyes,
Telling how God has received us.
The altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same.
And evermore, our Redeemer.

Grant, then, O God, Your will be done,
That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come
Where Christ His message is bringing:
‘I know My own; My own know Me.
You, not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you. Amen.'” Lutheran Service Book #645 

Childhood Memories

We sang “Earth and All Stars” in church this morning. It’s just one of those hymns that instantly transports me back to my childhood–specifically, opening services at my Lutheran day school, because I’m certain we sang it almost every, if not every, year.

I realize that the verses of this hymn cover a wide variety of topics–creation, weather, vocation, eternal life, etc. But in my memory, only one verse stands out, and that verse makes this the “Lutheran Education Hymn:”

“Classrooms and labs!
Loud boiling test tubes!
Sing to the Lord a new song!
Athlete and band!
Loud cheering people!
Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things.
I too will praise Him with a new song!” Lutheran Service Book #817, verse 5

Looking at it, I realized that I’ve also always thought of this hymn as the “exclamation point hymn,” and with good reason. I’m pretty sure there is no other hymn in the hymnal with that many exclamation points in it!

Hymn of the Day–“I Leave All Things to God’s Direction”

“I leave all things to God’s direction;
He loves me both in joy and woe.
His will is good, sure His affection;
His tender love is true, I know.
My fortress and my rock is He:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

God knows what must be done to save me;
His love for me will never cease.
Upon His hands He did engrave me
With purest gold of loving grace.
His will supreme must ever be:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

My God desires the soul’s salvation;
My soul He, too, desires to save.
Therefore with Christian resignation
All earthly troubles I will brave.
His will be done eternally:
What pleases God, that pleases me.

My God has all things in His keeping;
He is the ever faithful friend.
He gives me laughter after weeping,
And all His ways in blessings end.
His love endures eternally:
What pleases God, that pleases me.” Lutheran Service Book #719