Sing to the Lord

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This first stanza can sound a little bit like doubting, obstinate Peter - “Lord, this should never happen to you!” Instead of joining with Peter, it recognizes the “surpassing value” of knowing Christ as Lord - that heaven itself would be empty without God’s promise. In this Word, we place all our trust.

Stanza 2 // Because God gives everything we have, we can [and should] praise God in all times and places, even as we are reminded of this weekly in the context of Holy Communion. As Peter’s rebuke shows, we need to pray these words: “Give strength and patience unto me to follow!” This means, behind, after our Lord. When Peter wants to tell Jesus where to go, Christ puts him in his place - a follower - to death and resurrection.

Stanza 3 // This glorious picture of heaven pairs especially well with this weekend’s first reading from Genesis, and is itself a glorious picture of the place to which we follow our Lord! When Christ hears and attends to this prayer - we are assured a place in Abraham’s bosom and all the faithful - and know complete joy in Christ, the One we follow through death to life.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 750 -  Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart // ʜᴇʀᴢʟɪᴄʜ ʟɪᴇʙ

ELW 667 - Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said - BOURBON

ELW 750 - Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart - HERZLICH LIEB

ELW 799 - Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake - MACHS MIT MIR, GOTT

ELW 802 - Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus - LASSET UNS MIT JESU ZIEHEN

ELW 803 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - HAMBURG

ELW 806 - O God, My Faithful God - O GOTT, DU FROMMER GOTT

ELW 811 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - DER AM KREUZ

LBW 102 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - DER AM KREUZ

LBW 325 - Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart - HERZLICH LIEB

LBW 398 - “Take Up Your Cross,” the Savior Said - NUN LASST UNS DEN LEIB BEGRABEN

LBW 455 - “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake - MACHS MIT MIR, GOTT

LBW 482 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - ROCKINGHAM OLD

LBW 487 - Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus - LASSET UNS MIT JESU ZIEHEN

LBW 504 - O God, My Faithful God - WAS FRAG ICH NACH DER WELT

LSB 422 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - DER AM KREUZ

LSB 425/426 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - HAMBURG // ROCKINGHAM OLD

LSB 685 - Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus - LASSET UNS MIT JESU ZIEHEN

LSB 688 - “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake - MACHS MIT MIR, GOTT

LSB 696 - O God, My Faithful God - O GOTT, DU FROMMER GOTT

LSB 708 - Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart - HERZLICH LIEB

RH 52 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - DER AM KREUZ

RH 132 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - HAMBURG

RH 238 - O God, My Faithful God - O GOTT, DU FROMMER GOTT

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // As much as we hear of Christ’s temptation and might admire his fortitude, this stanza is a challenge, that across the forty days of Lent, we might turn toward our Lord, who comes to free us from all temptation and deliver us from all evil.

Stanza 2 // Christ’s battle with Satan is not over trite temptations, but includes the allure of twisting God’s Word to suit His own needs. The second half of this stanza - a prayer that we would put our trust in God’s Word - exists that we would put our trust in what God has said about us rather than what the world or others may tempt us to believe.

Stanza 3 // In what can sound like we need to deny ourselves Dove chocolate or our favorite dish across forty days, this is a prayer to fix our mind not on earthly matters, but on the gifts Christ gives from above - water and Word, bread, wine, body, and blood. This is denial of self that we might have a new identity - one forgiven by God.

Stanza 4 // This hymn helps us sing and look beyond this particular day on the Church calendar, and even beyond Lent. God is with us in all temptation, all trial, and all difficulty - even death - that when the “final Easter” dawns, we will praise Christ with all the saints in heaven.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 319 -  O Lord, throughout These Forty Days // ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

ELW 321 - Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church - ᴏʟᴅ 124ᴛʜ
ELW 325 - I Want Jesus to Walk with Me - SOJOURNER

ELW 503/504 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - ᴇɪɴ ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴇ ʙᴜʀɢ
ELW 517 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
ELW 618 - Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
ELW 624 - Jesus, Still Lead On - SEELENBRÄUTIGAM
ELW 629 - Abide with Me - EVENTIDE
ELW 705 - God of Grace and God of Glory - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
ELW 769 - If You But Trust in God to Guide You - WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT
ELW 796 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

LBW 99 - O Lord, throughout These Forty Days - CAITHNESS
LBW 228/229 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - ᴇɪɴ ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴇ ʙᴜʀɢ
LBW 230 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
LBW 272 - Abide with Me - EVENTIDE
LBW 308 - God the Father, Be Our Stay - GOTT DER VATER WOHN UNS BEI
LBW 343 - Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
LBW 415 - God of Grace and God of Glory - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
LBW 450 - Who Trusts in God, a Strong Abode - WAS MEIN GOTT WILL
LBW 453 - If You But Trust in God to Guide You - WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT
LBW 507 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ 

LSB 418 - O Lord, throughout These Forty Days - CAITHNESS
LSB 424 - O Christ, You Walked the Road - SOUTHWELL
LSB 655 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
LSB 656/657 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - ᴇɪɴ ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴇ ʙᴜʀɢ
LSB 718 - Jesus, Lead Thou On - SEELENBRÄUTIGAM
LSB 728 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
LSB 750 - If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee - WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT
LSB 850 - God of Grace and God of Glory - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
LSB 878 - Abide with Me - EVENTIDE
LSB 918 - Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ

RH 62 - Abide with Me - EVENTIDE
RH 71 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
RH 169/170 - A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - ᴇɪɴ ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴇ ʙᴜʀɢ
RH 191 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
RH 221 - Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
RH 222 - If You Will Trust in God to Guide You - WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT
RH 237 - Jesus, Still Lead On - SEELENBRÄUTIGAM

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The first stanza sings of a strange glory. It is one we “share” as the Church - but a glory we have a difficult time describing or explaining! Instead, we share in the glory of a Savior who speaks that we might listen - he will rise from the dead for our sake.

Stanza 2 // The contrast in this short stanza is more than a retelling of Scriptural events. Instead, this places Christ above all those who came before - both those who gave the Law and spoke as prophets. The Lord [who can have casual conversation with such dignitaries] is the beloved Son of God.

Stanza 3 // If we wonder what purpose the Transfiguration of Our Lord serves each year, it is to know the indescribable glory God has prepared for us in Christ! Jesus “deigns” - that is, stoops down and comes to us today - that we might know His promise of “joy…in [the] perfect love of God.”

Stanza 4 // Perhaps this stanza is a commentary on our worship of Almighty God. Sometimes, whether musician, pastor, or Sunday school teacher, we can feel a need to have all the answers, when God knows we struggle to find the proper words! We see this in Peter’s babbling about dwellings, when Christ has much more important work to accomplish. Instead, this stanza acknowledges the mystery of this story - and we respond in song.

Stanza 5 // These words of prayer are sung in the light of those who live knowing the Lord as One who was raised from the dead. The glory we sing of in this stanza is not that we would experience the Transfiguration again, but that God would grant us to see the glory of Christ risen for our salvation.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 316 -  Oh, Wondrous Image, Vision Fair // ᴅᴇᴏ ɢʀᴀᴄɪᴀꜱ

ELW 308 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
ELW 315 - How Good, Lord, to Be Here! - ᴘᴏᴛꜱᴅᴀᴍ

ELW 317 - Jesus on the Mountain Peak - ʙᴇᴛʜᴏʟᴅ
ELW 318 - Alleluia, Song of Gladness - ᴘʀᴀɪꜱᴇ, ᴍʏ ꜱᴏᴜʟ
ELW 553 - Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies - ʀᴀᴛɪꜱʙᴏɴ
ELW 631 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ

ELW 838 - Beautiful Savior - ꜱᴄʜöɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ

LBW 76 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
LBW 80 - O Wondrous Type! Oh, Vision Fair - ᴅᴇᴏ ɢʀᴀᴄɪᴀꜱ
LBW 89 - How Good, Lord, to Be Here! - ᴘᴏᴛꜱᴅᴀᴍ
LBW 265 - Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies - ʀᴀᴛɪꜱʙᴏɴ
LBW 315 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ
LBW 518 - Beautiful Savior - ꜱᴄʜöɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ

LSB 395 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
LSB 414 - ‘Tis Good, Lord, to Be Here - ᴘᴏᴛꜱᴅᴀᴍ
LSB 415 - Jesus on the Mountain Peak - ꜱᴇᴡᴀʀᴅ
LSB 416 - Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory - ʟᴏᴠᴇ’ꜱ ʟɪɢʜᴛ
LSB 417 - Alleluia, Song of Gladness - ʟᴀᴜᴅᴀ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀ
LSB 537 - Beautiful Savior - ꜱᴄʜöɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ
LSB 700 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ
LSB 873 - Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies - ʀᴀᴛɪꜱʙᴏɴ

RH 14 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - ʜʏꜰʀʏᴅᴏʟ
RH 129 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
RH 164 - Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies - ʀᴀᴛɪꜱʙᴏɴ
RH 252 - Beautiful Savior - ꜱᴄʜöɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Brief accounts of Scripture heard during this time of year can sound like interesting past events, miracles Jesus performed for people in a certain time and place. And, this hymn can sound like a listing of such events! The key phrase in this stanza is the third:  “Praise the One who preached the Gospel, healing ev’ry dread disease.” Christ’s healing of “every disease” comes through the preaching of the Gospel, giving hope beyond disease, death, and all earthly affliction.

Stanza 2 // This stanza continues a listing of Jesus’ miraculous work, including a reference to our Lord who “drove out demons…” In this way, we direct praise and thanksgiving for Christ’s past action proclaimed in this weekend’s Gospel text, giving thanks for all of the ways our Lord has shown himself to have power over all powers and circumstances we cannot overcome.

Stanza 3 // If some have referred to John 3:16 as the “Gospel in a nutshell” this final stanza provides the same in the form of a hymn. This too begins as a past event, calling Jesus’ the One who “suffered [and rose] in our place.” But, this stanza will not leave us in past events! Because of our Lord’s work, we know God’s favor, and sing for “joy and gladness.” In this promise, we are united as baptized and forgiven sinners in our Lord’s death and resurrection. 

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 843 - Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness // ɴᴇᴛᴛʟᴇᴛᴏɴ

ELW 308 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
ELW 332 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴍᴏᴅᴇ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʏ
ELW 607 - Come, Ye Disconsolate - ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛᴏʀ

ELW 611 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ᴋɪɴɢꜱꜰᴏʟᴅ
ELW 617 - We Come to You for Healing, Lord - ᴍᴀʀᴛʏʀᴅᴏᴍ

LBW 76 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
LBW 497 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ᴋɪɴɢꜱꜰᴏʟᴅ

LSB 395 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
LSB 699 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ꜱᴀʀᴀʜ-ᴇʟɪᴢᴀʙᴇᴛʜ
LSB 849 - Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness - ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ ꜱᴘʀɪɴɢ

RH 129 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
RH 185 - Come, Ye Disconsolate - ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛᴏʀ

RH 241 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ᴋɪɴɢꜱꜰᴏʟᴅ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This paraphrase of Psalm 72 helps us answer the question present at the conclusion of this weekend’s Gospel:  “What is this new teaching with authority?” Just as Christ demonstrates in the synagogue, He comes today to “break oppression, set captives free, take away transgression, and rule in equity.”

Stanza 2 // As perplexed as those in this weekend’s Gospel reading appear, they have one thing right! They recognize Jesus’ “authority” in the world. This stanza points out the equally shocking way in which our Lord uses the authority he possesses. He comes to “rescue” all who suffer, to “help the poor and needy” and give strength to the weak. In Christ, we have “songs” in the midst of “sighing,” our “darkness” is turned to “light,” and our “condemned and dying souls” are called “precious” in the eyes of God.

Stanza 3 // In what can sound like a poetic description of spring, this hymn gently announces the true authority of Christ! When the One with “all authority” arrives, life is given! In this life, “peace” is announced, and “righteousness” flows freely to those in need.

Stanza 4 // During this Time after Epiphany, the fourth stanza places this weekend’s account of authority and healing in the context of Christ as a revelation to all people. When Christ comes with authority to forgive, rulers of the world [with only worldly authority] bring gifts, powerful nations of the world bow in adoration, and God’s people lift their voice in song! In contrast to the kingdoms and powers of the world, our Lord’s reign and authority knows no end. As those who live in this kingdom, this is good news for us today!

OTHER SUGGESTIONS: 

ELW 311 -  Hail to the Lord’s Appointed // ꜰʀᴇᴜᴛ ᴇᴜᴄʜ, ɪʜʀ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ

ELW 434 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ

ELW 757 - All My Hope on God Is Founded - ᴍɪᴄʜᴀᴇʟ

ELW 811 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - ᴅᴇʀ ᴀᴍ ᴋʀᴇᴜᴢ

ELW 877 - Praise the Almighty! - ʟᴏʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ᴏ ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇ

ELW 880 - O God beyond All Praising - ᴛʜᴀxᴛᴇᴅ

ELW 886 - Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - ᴀᴢᴍᴏɴ

LSB 87 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed - ꜰʀᴇᴜᴛ ᴇᴜᴄʜ, ɪʜʀ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ

LBW 102 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - ᴅᴇʀ ᴀᴍ ᴋʀᴇᴜᴢ

LBW 530 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ

LBW 539 - Praise the Almighty! - ʟᴏʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ᴏ ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇ

LBW 559 - Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - ᴀᴢᴍᴏɴ

LSB 422 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - ᴅᴇʀ ᴀᴍ ᴋʀᴇᴜᴢ

LSB 797 - Praise the Almighty! - ʟᴏʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ᴏ ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇ

LSB 398 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed - ꜰʀᴇᴜᴛ ᴇᴜᴄʜ, ɪʜʀ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ

LSB 528 - Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - ᴀᴢᴍᴏɴ

LSB 832 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ

RH 30 - Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing - ᴀᴢᴍᴏɴ

RH 52 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - ᴅᴇʀ ᴀᴍ ᴋʀᴇᴜᴢ

RH 268 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Our Lord’s call comes not only to disciples in this weekend’s Gospel reading, but “daily” to those burdened by the toils of the world. This means his call is for today! Christ’s word to “follow” sounds over the “wild, restless” sea. This is not simply a reference to those who find their employment in the fishing business, but speaks to Jesus’ call over our daily difficulties. 

Stanza 2 // When Christ’s call to follow came to Andrew, Scripture says he “immediately” left his net and followed the Lord. This stanza points out everything disciples leave behind: “home” [family], “toil” [work], and “kindred” [friends], for the sake of God’s call. While we might espouse similar priorities in day-to-day life, those writing hymns know we need to pray these words together as Christian people, that the good news of Christ might have priority over all other things.

Stanza 3 // If we are wondering where “home, toil, and kindred” rank on God’s flow chart of priorities, this stanza calls each of these and all worldly treasures “vain” [or empty] idols - those things which keep us from hearing Christ’s call to follow. 

Stanza 4 // The first three stanzas might give us the idea the call of the Christian is one to misery, but this stanza acknowledges the truth of life. We live with “joys, concerns, work, leisure, cares, and pleasures.” Jesus’ word to “follow [or love] me” comes in the midst of these, that we might do the work God gives each day with the love our Savior freely gives.

Stanza 5 // Whether an account of Scripture or today, we hear Christ’s call to follow because Jesus has “mercy!” Stanza-by-stanza, this hymn points out our daily failings to love Christ more than family, friends, work, financial success, and other worldly concerns. The good news in this hymn is found between these often unfulfillable demands. As we struggle and sin daily, Jesus comes with a call to follow each day, forgiving in mercy, that we might be freed to serve and love our Lord.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 696 -  Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult - ɢᴀʟɪʟᴇᴇ
ELW 420/421 - By All Your Saints - ᴋᴜᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴇ // ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʟʏɴɴ
ELW 665 - Rise, Shine, You People! - wᴏᴊᴛᴋɪᴇᴡɪᴇᴄᴢ
ELW 669 - Rise Up, O Saints of God! - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
ELW 685 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ
ELW 799 - Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake - ᴍᴀᴄʜꜱ ᴍɪᴛᴛ ᴍɪʀ, ɢᴏᴛᴛ
ELW 825 - You Servants of God - ʟʏᴏɴꜱ

LBW 177/178 - By All Your Saints in Warfare - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʟʏɴɴ
LBW 252 - You Servants of God - ʟʏᴏɴꜱ
LBW 383 - Rise Up, O Saints of God! - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
LBW 393 - Rise, Shine, You People! - wᴏᴊᴛᴋɪᴇᴡɪᴇᴄᴢ
LBW 406 - Take My Life, that I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ
LBW 455 - “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake - ᴍᴀᴄʜꜱ ᴍɪᴛᴛ ᴍɪʀ, ɢᴏᴛᴛ
LBW 494 - Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult - ɢᴀʟɪʟᴇᴇ

LSB 517/518 - By All Your Saints in Warfare - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʟʏɴɴ
LSB 688 - “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake - ᴍᴀᴄʜꜱ ᴍɪᴛᴛ ᴍɪʀ, ɢᴏᴛᴛ
LSB 783 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ // ʜᴇɴᴅᴏɴ
LSB 825 - Rise, Shine, You People! - wᴏᴊᴛᴋɪᴇᴡɪᴇᴄᴢ

RH 184 - Jesus Calls Us; o'er the Tumult - ɢᴀʟɪʟᴇᴇ
RH 233 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // While the invitation we hear this week from Philip to Nathaniel is that he “come and see” Christ, this brief hymn delivers our Lord’s promise of life - a continual invitation - to know the Lord. It is a prayer - that in leaving the altar and Holy Communion - God would bring us to see “greater things.” In one sense, this hymn prays for the joys of heaven, where the celestial chorus sings the praise of Christ for all eternity. This is a wonderful picture about which to sing! But, the hymn also prays that God’s peace would remain with us today in those God has made His people.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 501 -  Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus - ᴡᴇʀᴅᴇ ᴍᴜɴᴛᴇʀ
ELW 308 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
ELW 309 - The Only Son from Heaven - ʜᴇʀʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛ, ᴅᴇʀ ᴇɪɴɪɢ ɢᴏᴛᴛꜱ ꜱᴏʜɴ
ELW 310 - Songs of Thankfulness and Praise - ꜱᴀʟᴢʙᴜʀɢ 
ELW 314 - Arise, Your Light Has Come - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
ELW 665 - Rise, Shine, You People - wᴏᴊᴛᴋɪᴇᴡɪᴇᴄᴢ
ELW 799 - Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake - ᴍᴀᴄʜꜱ ᴍɪᴛᴛ ᴍɪʀ, ɢᴏᴛᴛ

LBW 76 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
LBW 86 - The Only Son from Heaven - ʜᴇʀʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛ, ᴅᴇʀ ᴇɪɴɪɢ ɢᴏᴛᴛꜱ ꜱᴏʜɴ
LBW 90 - Songs of Thankfulness and Praise - ꜱᴀʟᴢʙᴜʀɢ
LBW 219 - Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus - ᴊᴇꜱᴜ, ᴊᴏʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴀɴ’ꜱ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀɪɴɢ 
LBW 393 - Rise, Shine, You People - wᴏᴊᴛᴋɪᴇᴡɪᴇᴄᴢ
LBW 455 - Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake - ᴍᴀᴄʜꜱ ᴍɪᴛᴛ ᴍɪʀ, ɢᴏᴛᴛ
LSB 395 - O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
LSB 402 - The Only Son from Heaven - ʜᴇʀʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛ, ᴅᴇʀ ᴇɪɴɪɢ ɢᴏᴛᴛꜱ ꜱᴏʜɴ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Baptism is God’s gift, worth more than all the treasures of earth. This is not hymn hyperbole, but the blessing of the Sacrament. In it, we have salvation given freely to sinners, and a promise lasting to eternity.

Stanza 2 // Baptism is not only a gift to be remembered and celebrated each year around this time, but a gift to be used! The latter portion of the stanza is a rhetorical question: “Should a guilty conscience seize me?” The response is Luther’s own: “I am baptized!”

Stanza 3 // The promise of Baptism is not only one given to sinners, but one sinners can speak [or in this case] sing directly to Satan! Where St. Paul’s words may be confusing and tongue-twisting, this hymn echoes the promise Paul and Christ repeat: “Against [Satan’s tyranny] God unites with us in our Lord’s death and resurrection.

Stanza 4 // Though stanzas two and three tell us to use this gift of Baptism in life, the promise God gives is that the same gift can be used in death! When we can longer speak, God’s Word speaks for us and [as this stanza says], faith’s “assurance brightly flashes” giving us life beyond death and immortality to a mortal body.

Stanza 5 // In Christ, we “sleep secure” with the promise of our Lord. Washed in water and God’s Word, the refrain of this hymn is our hope: “I am baptized into Christ! I am a child of paradise!”

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• LSB 594 - God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It - ʙᴀᴄʜᴏꜰᴇɴ
• ELW 305 - When Jesus Came to Jordan - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʟʏɴɴ
• ELW 442 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized - ᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴅᴀꜱ ʜᴇɪʟ
• ELW 447 - O Blessed Spring - ʙᴇʀɢʟᴜɴᴅ
• ELW 448 - This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now - ʟᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ʀᴇꜱᴛ
• ELW 449 - We Know That Christ Is Raised - ᴇɴɢᴇʟʙᴇʀɢ
• ELW 450 - I Bind unto Myself Today - ꜱᴛ. ᴘᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴋ’ꜱ ʙʀᴇᴀꜱᴛᴘʟᴀᴛᴇ
• ELW 454 - Remember and Rejoice - ꜱᴛ. ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀꜱ
• ELW 456 - Baptized in Water - ʙᴜɴᴇꜱꜱᴀɴ
• ELW 458 - Praise and Thanksgiving Be to God - ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇ ꜱᴀɴᴄᴛᴏʀᴜᴍ
• LBW 79 - To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord - ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛ, ᴜɴꜱᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ
• LBW 188 - I Bind unto Myself Today - ꜱᴛ. ᴘᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴋ’ꜱ ʙʀᴇᴀꜱᴛᴘʟᴀᴛᴇ
• LBW 189 - We Know That Christ Is Raised - ᴇɴɢᴇʟʙᴇʀɢ
• LBW 191 - Praise and Thanksgiving Be to God - ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇ ꜱᴀɴᴄᴛᴏʀᴜᴍ
• LBW 192 - Baptized into Your Name Most Holy - ᴏ ᴅᴀꜱꜱ ɪᴄʜ ᴛᴀᴜꜱᴇɴᴅ ᴢᴜɴɢᴇɴ ʜÄᴛᴛᴇ
• LBW 194 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized - ᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴅᴀꜱ ʜᴇɪʟ
• LBW 195 - This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now - ʟᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ʀᴇꜱᴛ
• LSB 404 - Jesus, Once with Sinners Numbered - ᴍɪꜱꜱɪꜱꜱɪᴘᴘɪ
• LSB 405 - To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord - ᴡɪɴᴄʜᴇꜱᴛᴇʀ ɴᴇᴡ
• LSB 600 - Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering - ʀᴇɴᴅᴇᴢ À ᴅɪᴇᴜ
• LSB 601 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized - ᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴅᴀꜱ ʜᴇɪʟ
• LSB 595 - O Blessed Spring - ᴏ ᴡᴀʟʏ ᴡᴀʟʏ
• LSB 591 - This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now - ᴅᴀᴍᴀꜱᴄᴜꜱ ʀᴏᴀᴅ
• LSB 603 - We Know That Christ Is Raised - ᴇɴɢᴇʟʙᴇʀɢ
• LSB 604 - I Bind unto Myself Today - ꜱᴛ. ᴘᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴋ’ꜱ ʙʀᴇᴀꜱᴛᴘʟᴀᴛᴇ
• RH 75 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized - ᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴅᴀꜱ ʜᴇɪʟ

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

ZACHARY'S NOTES:

Stanza 1 // The first stanza is a reference not only to the Word made flesh, but to God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 55. God’s Word will accomplish its purpose. We certainly have a sense of this power from this weekend’s Gospel text - this Word was in the beginning, came to earth, and comes to us now! The first stanza lists the blessings of this “living rain” - it brings “faith, hope, and love” unending. This is not our faith, hope, or love, but what God gives. In this context, we can properly understand our posture toward the Word - reverence for its power, and a plea that this Word would be given to us today.

Stanza 2 // The second stanza most closely aligns with this weekend’s Gospel text, outlining in simple language the Word we continue to celebrate throughout these 12 Days of Christmas. The same Word that brought creation to life comes “from heaven to die” - not only to be born! This hymn will not leave us comfortably in the season of Christmas, but recognizes the baby we celebrate has something to say - and when he speaks, we know God’s forgiveness and love poured out for the world, restoring all people.

Stanza 3 // While the first two stanzas are a prayer that God’s Word would be given to us today, the final stanza tells us where we can hear this Word. Here, we do not sing of past events - creation, birth, life, death, or resurrection - but of the Spirit “dwelling” with God’s people today, the Word of “truth” given to sinners in preaching, and a Word of “life” given in Holy Communion.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

ELW 510 -  Word of God, Come Down on Earth - ʟɪᴇʙꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ, ᴡɪʀ ꜱɪɴᴅ ʜɪᴇʀ

ELW 267 - Joy to the World - ᴀɴᴛɪᴏᴄʜ
ELW 268 - From Heaven Above - ᴠᴏᴍ ʜɪᴍᴍᴇʟ ʜᴏᴄʜ
ELW 270 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - ᴍᴇɴᴅᴇʟꜱꜱᴏʜɴ
ELW 276 - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly - ᴡ żłᴏʙɪᴇ ʟᴇżʏ
ELW 283 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - ᴀᴅᴇꜱᴛᴇ ꜰɪᴅᴇʟᴇꜱ
ELW 295 - Of the Father’s Love Begotten - ᴅɪᴠɪɴᴜᴍ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴜᴍ
ELW 296 - What Child Is This - ɢʀᴇᴇɴꜱʟᴇᴇᴠᴇꜱ
ELW 288 - Good Christian Friends, Rejoice - ɪɴ ᴅᴜʟᴄɪ ᴊᴜʙɪʟᴏ

LBW 39 - Joy to the World - ᴀɴᴛɪᴏᴄʜ
LBW 40 - What Child Is This - ɢʀᴇᴇɴꜱʟᴇᴇᴠᴇꜱ
LBW 42 - Of the Father’s Love Begotten - ᴅɪᴠɪɴᴜᴍ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴜᴍ
LBW 44 - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly - ᴡ żłᴏʙɪᴇ ʟᴇżʏ
LBW 45 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - ᴀᴅᴇꜱᴛᴇ ꜰɪᴅᴇʟᴇꜱ
LBW 51 - From Heaven Above - ᴠᴏᴍ ʜɪᴍᴍᴇʟ ʜᴏᴄʜ
LBW 55 - Good Christian Friends, Rejoice - ɪɴ ᴅᴜʟᴄɪ ᴊᴜʙɪʟᴏ
LBW 60 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - ᴍᴇɴᴅᴇʟꜱꜱᴏʜɴ

LSB 358 - From Heaven Above - ᴠᴏᴍ ʜɪᴍᴍᴇʟ ʜᴏᴄʜ
LSB 370 - What Child Is This - ɢʀᴇᴇɴꜱʟᴇᴇᴠᴇꜱ
LSB 379 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - ᴀᴅᴇꜱᴛᴇ ꜰɪᴅᴇʟᴇꜱ
LSB 380 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - ᴍᴇɴᴅᴇʟꜱꜱᴏʜɴ
LSB 384 - Of the Father’s Love Begotten - ᴅɪᴠɪɴᴜᴍ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴜᴍ
LSB 386 - Now Sing We, Now Rejoice - ɪɴ ᴅᴜʟᴄɪ ᴊᴜʙɪʟᴏ
LSB 387 - Joy to the World - ᴀɴᴛɪᴏᴄʜ
LSB 393 - Infant Holy, Infant Lowly - ᴡ żłᴏʙɪᴇ ʟᴇżʏ
LSB 545 - Word of God, Come Down on Earth - ʟɪᴇʙꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ, ᴡɪʀ ꜱɪɴᴅ ʜɪᴇʀ

RH 104 - From Heaven Above - ᴠᴏᴍ ʜɪᴍᴍᴇʟ ʜᴏᴄʜ
RH 106 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - ᴍᴇɴᴅᴇʟꜱꜱᴏʜɴ
RH 113 - What Child Is This - ɢʀᴇᴇɴꜱʟᴇᴇᴠᴇꜱ
RH 119 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - ᴀᴅᴇꜱᴛᴇ ꜰɪᴅᴇʟᴇꜱ

RH 120 - Of the Father’s Love Begotten - ᴅɪᴠɪɴᴜᴍ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴜᴍ
RH 123 - Joy to the World - ᴀɴᴛɪᴏᴄʜ