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"In Peace and Joy I Now Depart" | First Sunday of Christmas
ZACHARY'S NOTES:
Stanza 1 // This is a fascinating text [and hymn] with which to end the Christmas season on Sunday morning. It appears again each year on February 2 as the Gospel text and recommended hymn for the Presentation of Our Lord, when Christians remember and give thanks for these same words of Simeon. This particular hymn is Martin Luther’s setting of the Nunc dimittis - one of the canticles - or Biblical songs of the Church.
Like Simeon, Luther begins his paraphrase of this song stripping death of its power. As Scripture references, in Christ death is “but a slumber” and so Simeon’s words of departure are surrounded by the peace and joy of our Lord.
Stanza 2 // This particular translation says: “Christ Jesus makes a way for me” as Savior. While this is true, another more helpful version suggests “Christ Jesus brought this gift to me.” This is the gift of death as slumber. In faith, this is God’s favor for us. The final phrase of this stanza sings the truth of life: apart from Christ, we have no hope; in Christ, God’s embrace is our hope in death.
Stanza 3 // While still quoting this weekend’s Scripture reading, the final stanza continues to deliver God’s promise of salvation to those singing today. “The Lord is health and saving light for every nation.” We conclude the celebration of Christmas properly by naming the Christchild what he is: “our treasure, joy, and glory!”
OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
ELW 440 - In Peace and Joy I Now Depart - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅ
ELW 286 - Your Little Ones, Dear Lord - ʜᴇʀ ᴋᴏᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀʀᴍᴇ ꜱᴍÄ
ELW 287 - Let All Together Praise Our God - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
ELW 313 - O Lord, Now Let Your Servant - ᴋᴜᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴇ
LBW 52 - Your Little Ones, Dear Lord - ʜᴇʀ ᴋᴏᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀʀᴍᴇ ꜱᴍÄ
LBW 47 - Let All Together Praise Our God - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
LBW 339 - O Lord, Now Let Your Servant - ᴋᴜᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴇ
LBW 349 - I Leave, As You Have Promised, Lord - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅ
LSB 389 - Let All Together Praise Our God - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
LSB 938 - In Peace and Joy I Now Depart - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅ
RH 112 - Your Little Ones, Dear Lord - ʜᴇʀ ᴋᴏᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀʀᴍᴇ ꜱᴍÄ
RH 56 - Lord, Now Let Your Servants Depart
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By Luther House of Study
5
55 ratings
ZACHARY'S NOTES:
Stanza 1 // This is a fascinating text [and hymn] with which to end the Christmas season on Sunday morning. It appears again each year on February 2 as the Gospel text and recommended hymn for the Presentation of Our Lord, when Christians remember and give thanks for these same words of Simeon. This particular hymn is Martin Luther’s setting of the Nunc dimittis - one of the canticles - or Biblical songs of the Church.
Like Simeon, Luther begins his paraphrase of this song stripping death of its power. As Scripture references, in Christ death is “but a slumber” and so Simeon’s words of departure are surrounded by the peace and joy of our Lord.
Stanza 2 // This particular translation says: “Christ Jesus makes a way for me” as Savior. While this is true, another more helpful version suggests “Christ Jesus brought this gift to me.” This is the gift of death as slumber. In faith, this is God’s favor for us. The final phrase of this stanza sings the truth of life: apart from Christ, we have no hope; in Christ, God’s embrace is our hope in death.
Stanza 3 // While still quoting this weekend’s Scripture reading, the final stanza continues to deliver God’s promise of salvation to those singing today. “The Lord is health and saving light for every nation.” We conclude the celebration of Christmas properly by naming the Christchild what he is: “our treasure, joy, and glory!”
OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
ELW 440 - In Peace and Joy I Now Depart - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅ
ELW 286 - Your Little Ones, Dear Lord - ʜᴇʀ ᴋᴏᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀʀᴍᴇ ꜱᴍÄ
ELW 287 - Let All Together Praise Our God - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
ELW 313 - O Lord, Now Let Your Servant - ᴋᴜᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴇ
LBW 52 - Your Little Ones, Dear Lord - ʜᴇʀ ᴋᴏᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀʀᴍᴇ ꜱᴍÄ
LBW 47 - Let All Together Praise Our God - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
LBW 339 - O Lord, Now Let Your Servant - ᴋᴜᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴇ
LBW 349 - I Leave, As You Have Promised, Lord - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅ
LSB 389 - Let All Together Praise Our God - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
LSB 938 - In Peace and Joy I Now Depart - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅ
RH 112 - Your Little Ones, Dear Lord - ʜᴇʀ ᴋᴏᴍᴍᴇʀ ᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀʀᴍᴇ ꜱᴍÄ
RH 56 - Lord, Now Let Your Servants Depart