Sing to the Lord

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn wastes little time defining the conundrum of this weekend’s Scripture passage. “All that we have” belongs to God! Stewardship praises God with everything we have - because everything belongs to our Lord.

Stanza 2 // There are two helpful pictures to consider in this stanza. First, we sing words of a prayer, that we might receive what God gives as blessing from the Almighty. It is easy to walk through day-to-day life unaware of where God is at work. Our prayer in this hymn is that - as God’s people - we might see God’s blessing in our lives. The image of first fruits is also instructive - that we give what God bestows for the work of the Church.

Stanza 3 // It would be easy to ask the question: “why give back to God what God gives to us? Doesn’t God want us to have it?” We give of what God bestows because God has power to “release the captive, bring home the lost, and teach life and peace” to those who do not know this great blessing! This is the same liturgical image we celebrate in communion - that the gifts of bread and wine given by God are returned to our Lord that we might be fed with the new life Christ promises. 

Stanza 4 // The final stanza speaks of trust in God’s Word - though we may see evidence to the contrary all around us! - and references our Lord’s words in St. Matthew’s Gospel: “...Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 686 - We Give Thee but Thine Own - ʜᴇᴀᴛʜ
• ELW 580 - How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord - ʀᴇᴘᴛᴏɴ
• ELW 663 - Spread, Oh, Spread, Almighty Word - ɢᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴇɪ ᴅᴀɴᴋ
• ELW 685 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ
• ELW 695 - As Saints of Old - ꜰᴏʀᴇꜱᴛ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ
• ELW 757 - All My Hope on God Is Founded - ᴍɪᴄʜᴀᴇʟ
• ELW 871 - Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ɪʜʀ
• ELW 877 - Praise the Almighty! - ʟᴏʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ᴏ ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇ
• LBW 379 - Spread, Oh, Spread, Almighty Word - ɢᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴇɪ ᴅᴀɴᴋ
• LBW 404 - As Saints of Old - ʀᴇɢᴡᴀʟ
• LBW 406 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ
• LBW 539 - Praise the Almighty - ʟᴏʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ᴏ ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇ
• LBW 542 - Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ɪʜʀ
• LSB 783/784 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ // ʜᴇɴᴅᴏɴ
• LSB 797 - Praise the Almighty - ʟᴏʙᴇ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ᴏ ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇ
• LSB 819 - Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ɪʜʀ
• LSB 830 - Spread the Reign of God the Lord - ɢᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴇɪ ᴅᴀɴᴋ
• LSB 853 - How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord - ʀᴇᴘᴛᴏɴ
• RH 233 - Take My Life, That I May Be - ᴘᴀᴛᴍᴏꜱ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The banquet to which we are invited is founded by the King - Christ, our Lord. For all of the imagery sung in the first part of this stanza - a “soul adorned with gladness” - the “daylight’s splendor” - the true miracle of God’s banquet is expressed at the conclusion. Though Christ dwells in heaven - “high and holy/apart from us” - in this feast, our Lord comes to dwell with the lowly - those who consider themselves good for something and good for nothing!

Stanza 2 // In contrast to this weekend’s text, this stanza encourages our attendance at the banquet be “eager and glad.” The invitation is Christ’s own - He “founds” the banquet, “knocks at the door” and “unlocks the gate.” The latter half of this stanza holds Christ to the promise He gives:  In mercy, our Lord will not forsake His people. We have his promise!

Stanza 3 // The banquet to which God invites is for our “consolation and salvation.” The souls fed at this table are countless - perhaps a helpful picture thanks to our own attempts to keep others from receiving the body and blood of Christ.

Stanza 4 // We sing a word heard in this weekend’s Scripture passage: “Worthily let me receive you, and, so favored, never leave you.” As we learn from Jesus’ own recounting of the story, those who were deemed “unworthy” were replaced with “good and bad” people! What matters at this banquet is the One who gives the invitation - who chooses His guests! When we come to Christ’s table - whether good or bad in the world’s eyes - Christ sees us for what we are, and bestows his favor upon those who receive His promise of forgiveness, new life, and salvation.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 488 - Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• ELW 531 - The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing - ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴇᴀꜱᴛ ɪꜱ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ
• ELW 462 - Now We Join in Celebration - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• ELW 827 - Arise, My Soul, Arise! - ɴʏᴛ ʏʟöꜱ, ꜱɪᴇʟᴜɴɪ
• ELW 362 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ
• LBW 203 - Now We Join in Celebration - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• LBW 210 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ
• LSB 633 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ
• LSB 636 - Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• RH 150 - At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing - ꜱᴏɴɴᴇ ᴅᴇʀ ɢᴇʀᴇᴄʜᴛɪɢᴋᴇɪᴛ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // In God’s vineyard [from which tennants come and go] stands the “tree of all wisdom, knowledge, compassion, and beauty.” This tree is Christ’s cross, which stands at the center of the Church. Despite our rejection of the Son, God is determined to bring beauty out of death, and knowledge of God’s mercy to all people.

Stanza 2 // The cross has power because of the One we crucified - “Jesus” [the one who saves] is “our Savior!” 

Stanza 3 // The thorns [nails] this stanza references are the sins of humanity - our “greed” and “despite” - which “choked” the life of Christ and killed the Son God sends. This stanza supports a reading of this weekend’s text which places the chief priests and Pharisees at the heart of the passage, but fails to recognize the reality of this parable - Christ takes our sin to the cross. We killed the Son. The second half of this stanza tells us something else about this cross - Christ lives! Nothing will consume the life God desires to give to His people.

Stanza 4 // The One we crucified reaches not only with metaphorical branches in welcome, but actually has something to say: “Come to me, you weary!” Though we crucified the Son of God in greed, our Lord gladly takes our “sickness” and “sorrow” and in their place, gives blessing - rest from all earthly strife.

Stanza 5 // All our searching comes to an end in the cross of Christ. While it is easy to hear these words as Christ on the cross - “Into your hands, Lord, I commit my Spirit” - this is the result of those who have our Lord’s promise. All we need in life is found in the cross of Christ, for the One we reject comes with the promise of resurrection!

Stanza 6 // All people and nations receive the “healing, strength, and pardon” Christ freely gives. The result here is a beautiful picture - heaven and earth are joined to sing together in praise of the One who suffered on the cross and lives now that we might have life and freedom.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 342 - There in God’s Garden - ꜱʜᴀᴅᴇꜱ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴ
• ELW 645 - Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴍɪɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴀʙʙᴇʏ
• ELW 803 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - ʜᴀᴍʙᴜʀɢ
• ELW 343 - My Song Is Love Unknown - ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ
• ELW 727 - Lord Christ, When First You Came to Earth - ᴍɪᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇɴ ᴢᴀʀᴛ
• ELW 796 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
• LBW 94 - My Song Is Love Unknown - ʀʜᴏꜱʏᴍᴇᴅʀᴇ
• LBW 367 - Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - ᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴄʜᴜʀᴄʜ
• LBW 482 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - ʀᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢʜᴀᴍ ᴏʟᴅ
• LBW 507 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
• LSB 425/426 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - ʜᴀᴍʙᴜʀɢ // ʀᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢʜᴀᴍ ᴏʟᴅ
• LSB 430 - My Song Is Love Unknown - ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ
• LSB 531 - Hail, Thou Once-Despised Jesus - ᴏ ᴅᴜʀᴄʜʙʀᴇᴄʜᴇʀ
• LSB 728 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
• LSB 909 - Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴍɪɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴀʙʙᴇʏ
• RH 132 - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - ʜᴀᴍʙᴜʀɢ
• RH 191 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn is a prayer, with each stanza addressing a member of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Just as the authorities question Christ’s authority in this weekend’s Gospel reading, so this first stanza helps us pray that the kingdom Christ has won might prevail over all “deceit” and “sword” of the world. The power of God’s Word is in what “[God’s Son] has done” for us.

Stanza 2 // The power [or authority] of Christ is His mercy and forgiveness - an authority the world and “lords” of this world do not know and cannot give. This prayer in defense of the Church is that we might sing praise to our Lord forever, and that this Word might have authority in the Church in preaching and song.

Stanza 3 // This stanza - a prayer to the Holy Spirit - is not simply a stanza about peace and unity, but one that speaks to the “authority” of God’s Word - one that accomplishes what all other words given through history by religious leaders and scholars cannot. It is a Word that leads us “out of death to life” - where we live forever under the gracious authority of a loving and merciful Lord. In this good news, we have peace.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 517 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
• ELW 311 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed - ꜰʀᴇᴜᴛ ᴇᴜᴄʜ, ɪʜʀ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ
• ELW 416 - At the Name of Jesus - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴏɴ
• ELW 600 - Out of the Depths - ᴀᴜꜱ ᴛɪᴇꜰᴇʀ ɴᴏᴛ
• ELW 604 - O Christ, Our Hope - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
• ELW 776 - What God Ordains Is Good Indeed - ᴡᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴛᴜᴛ
• ELW 806 - O God, My Faithful God - ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰʀᴀɢ ɪᴄʜ ɴᴀᴄʜ ᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴇʟᴛ
• LBW 87 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed - ꜰʀᴇᴜᴛ ᴇᴜᴄʜ, ɪʜʀ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ
• LBW 179 - At the Name of Jesus - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴏɴ
• LBW 230 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
• LBW 295 - Out of the Depths - ᴀᴜꜱ ᴛɪᴇꜰᴇʀ ɴᴏᴛ
• LBW 300 - O Christ, Our Hope - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
• LBW 446 - What God Ordains Is Good Indeed - ᴡᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴛᴜᴛ
• LBW 504 - O God, My Faithful God - ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰʀᴀɢ ɪᴄʜ ɴᴀᴄʜ ᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴇʟᴛ
• LSB 398 - Hail to the Lord’s Anointed - ꜰʀᴇᴜᴛ ᴇᴜᴄʜ, ɪʜʀ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ
• LSB 512 - At the Name of Jesus - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴏɴ
• LSB 553 - O Christ, Our Hope - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
• LSB 607 - From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee - ᴀᴜꜱ ᴛɪᴇꜰᴇʀ ɴᴏᴛ
• LSB 655 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
• LSB 696 - O God, My Faithful God - ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰʀᴀɢ ɪᴄʜ ɴᴀᴄʜ ᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴇʟᴛ
• LSB 760 - What God Ordains Is Good Indeed - ᴡᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴛᴜᴛ
• RH 71 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ
• RH 127 - At the Name of Jesus - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴏɴ
• RH 238 - O God, My Faithful God - ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰʀᴀɢ ɪᴄʜ ɴᴀᴄʜ ᴅᴇʀ ᴡᴇʟᴛ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn poignantly mirrors the story of workers at various points in the day. Like those in the story, we pray for God’s “bliss, strength, love, and peace” no matter the time of day or - perhaps more importantly - stage in life. God’s mercy is for all people at all times. In this stanza, we pray Christ would be present with us at “our waking” - as we begin life in the world. We ask for the trust of a child - without care - and free to hear and enjoy the “bliss” of Christ’s promise.

Stanza 2 // Our new birth in the waters of Baptism does not leave us in bliss. As we work in the world and labor for the Lord, we pray for God’s “strength” through the “faith” we have in Christ. It may seem strange to sing about working for the Lord when we know God is unfair, but this weekend’s Gospel reading also says Jesus gives those who work for him “whatever is right.” To Christ, what is right is giving Himself for sinners! We pray to one who has lived the “labors” of this life as we must.

Stanza 3 // When work is done, we return home. Whether life dictates the work we do must end or earthly strength fails as we age, we rejoice in the “welcoming, embracing” arms of Christ, who speaks a word of love and hope at the eve of the day or the eve of life.

Stanza 4 // This is a [semi-rare] occasion where a hymn should conclude in a gentle, contemplative fashion, mirroring the text sung. After we live and work, we long to hear our Lord’s voice - where we know true peace.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 765 -  Lord of All Hopefulness - ꜱʟᴀɴᴇ
• ELW 590 - Salvation unto Us Has Come - ᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴅᴀꜱ ʜᴇɪʟ
• ELW 589 - All Depends on Our Possessing - ᴀʟʟᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴀɴ ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇꜱ ꜱᴇɢᴇɴ
• ELW 669 - Rise Up, O Saints of God - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
• ELW 688 - Lord of Light - ᴀʙʙᴏᴛ’ꜱ ʟᴇɪɢʜ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn begins with a quotation from the Lord’s Prayer - and is itself a prayer! “Forgive our sins as we forgive” is a portion of the fifth petition. In the context of this weekend’s Gospel reading, it is also an honest assessment of our situation! Christ’s instruction to forgive to an outlandish extent - whether “seventy-seven times” or “seventy times seven” means even as we seek to forgive others, we need God’s forgiveness daily! Only in God’s grace - his constant forgiveness - can we begin to live these words.

Stanza 2 // The second stanza confronts us with the reality of those who “brood on wrongs and will not let old bitterness depart.” God’s pardon cannot reach those who 

Stanza 3 // The “blazing light” of the cross reveals the mercy Christ has given to us, who owed a debt we could never repay! It also the many questions that arise from this parable. We forgive those who sin against us as many times as necessary - not out of fear of “torture” or eternal damnation, but because we recognize the difficulties we have with a brother or sister in the Church are “trifling.” If God has said he forgives all, who are we to withhold this gift from another? 

Stanza 4 // It is the “Lord” who will “cleanse our souls,” drive away all “resentment,” and show “mercy” to all that God’s peace might be known in the world. This is the Church’s prayer - that God’s mercy might lead all people in the Church and the world to know the peace of Christ.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 605 -  Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive - ᴅᴇᴛʀᴏɪᴛ
• ELW 587/588 - There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy - ꜱᴛ. ʜᴇʟᴇɴᴀ // ʟᴏʀᴅ, ʀᴇᴠɪᴠᴇ ᴜꜱ
• ELW 604 - O Christ, Our Hope - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
• ELW 871 - Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ɪʜʀ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // We are gathered together “by Christ’s love” - and in this love, we sing and are bound together. The love we know in Christ comes because two things are true: we are sinners in need of forgiveness, and God has shown us love “while we were still sinners!” Out of all the reasons we might think to gather together as Church, God’s love in Christ gives us purpose. In this, Jesus’ words of forgiveness and reconciliation begin to take shape.

Stanza 2 // “Grateful joy” and “holy fear” can sound like good theological talk, but these are the result of confession and forgiveness. We enter God’s presence in “holy fear” as sinners - unfit to stand before Almighty God. In “grateful joy” we hear God’s Word of forgiveness, and know God as He wants to be known - in Christ, our Savior.

Stanza 3 // The Church is made one body in Christ, because each member needs the forgiveness Christ brings. 

Stanzas 4 and 5 // These final stanzas sound like suggestions from our hymn-writer, much like Jesus’ words in this weekend’s Gospel reading:  “Let strife among us be unknown…let us forgive each other’s faults…” In St. Matthew’s Gospel [and in this hymn] Jesus does not make a simple request to apologize to another, but to reconcile and repair relationship, just as “in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself.” We gather in our Lord’s name knowing the glory and  peace of Christ’s forgiveness is all we seek and need in life.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 359 -  Where Charity and Love Prevail - ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ꜰᴏᴜʀᴛʜ
• ELW 452 - Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death - ᴀᴢᴍᴏɴ
• ELW 603 - God, When Human Bonds Are Broken - ᴍᴇʀᴛᴏɴ
• ELW 615 - In All Our Grief - ꜰʀᴇᴅᴇʀɪᴄᴋᴛᴏᴡɴ
• ELW 653 - Where True Charity and Love Abide - ᴜʙɪ ᴄᴀʀɪᴛᴀꜱ
• ELW 864/865 - Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven - ʟᴀᴜᴅᴀ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Throughout the first three stanzas, Christ is speaking to us - we only sing [or preach] his words to one another. It may be helpful for another voice [solo or choir - apart from the congregation] to sing these words. If not, other ways of musically separating the first three stanzas from the fourth helps to sing this hymn with understanding and purpose. The first stanza can sound like a divine to-do list - much like this weekend’s passage: “No matter what comes in life, bear the cross.” It even suggests Christ is our example! In one sense, this is true - there is no other human being who has taken up the cross the way our Lord did! The key word in this stanza is “deny yourself” - this is not about candy, chocolate, or soda. It is about denial of self - knowing we do not belong to this world or ourselves - but that Christ’s cross is all we need for life.

Stanza 2 // The second stanza begins to show us what it means to live in the light of Christ’s cross. As the stanza says: “[Christ is the light” - we only follow. When it says our Lord “displays a godly life” it is easy to hear this in the context of self-denial. It is far more helpful to hear these words as God-in-the-flesh for us. Christ comes to show us how far God is willing to go to “keep our feet from straying” - to the cross! Because of this, we “sojourn here below” with difficulties and death surrounding us - but with a promise! Christ is “the way” - the truth, and the life, and our light in every challenge life brings.

Stanza 3 // Jesus’ words of losing our “life” [or soul] are given meaning here when Christ names Himself the “refuge of the soul” by which we are “led to heaven.” Christ says we “save our life/soul” when we “lose it.” The third stanza tells us how this happens. Jesus will teach us how to “shun and flee” all things harmful to salvation by giving “freedom from sin and temptation.” In Christ’s cross, our soul has refuge, and we are given the gift of heaven today!

Stanza 4 // The fourth stanza suggests we “follow Christ…and take the cross!” This does not mean inventing ways to suffer in life, but “clinging to [Jesus’] Word” when difficulties come in life. We “bear the battle’s strain” - what Christ won for us on the cross - in baptism. We are marked with the cross of Christ, and made members of His kingdom. The “crown of heavenly life” belongs to those who follow this Lord!

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 799 - Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake - ᴍᴀᴄʜꜱ ᴍɪᴛᴛ ᴍɪʀ, ɢᴏᴛᴛ
• ELW 667 - Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said - ʙᴏᴜʀʙᴏɴ
• ELW 750 - Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart - ʜᴇʀᴢʟɪᴄʜ ʟɪᴇʙ
• ELW 783 - Praise and Thanks and Adoration - ꜰʀᴇᴜ ᴅɪᴄʜ ꜱᴇʜʀ
• ELW 802 - Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus - ʟᴀꜱꜱᴇᴛ ᴜɴꜱ ᴍɪᴛ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ ᴢɪᴇʜᴇɴ

Stanza 1 // Christ’s Church is built on the rock of faith, calling all “distressed souls” to receive “life everlasting [and] rest” in our Lord. Even when buildings collapse, membership declines, or congregations close - these things do not make the Church!

Stanza 2 // It may sound strange to sing words telling us God does not dwell in “God’s house, but this is the crumbling, insufficient nature of the temples we build in this world. Instead, this hymn rejoices that God chooses to “abide with us in love” and “make our bodies his temples.” This is a great promise from God - wherever we are in life, God promises to make his home with us.

Stanza 3 // If we wonder what it means to be “temples of God” this stanza tells us God dwells in our hearts, and grants us “life and salvation.”

Stanza 4 // The start of this stanza can sound like God blesses adults and “the children.” But the Spirit’s work [to give faith to those dead in sin] assures us of the promise God gives: We are His beloved children - His Church - and belong to His kingdom, regardless of what we endure in this life.

Stanza 5 // As long as “Church bells are ringing” we ask God to bring others to “hear God’s Word” by which faith is given. This means we hear Jesus’ speak a promise of comfort, even as the world around us crumbles - we know the voice of Christ and will see His face.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 652 -  Built on a Rock - ᴋɪʀᴋᴇɴ ᴅᴇɴ ᴇʀ ᴇᴛ ɢᴀᴍᴍᴇʟᴛ ʜᴜꜱ
• ELW 420 - By All Your Saints - ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʟʏɴɴ
• ELW 645 - Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - ᴡᴇꜱᴛᴍɪɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴀʙʙᴇʏ
• ELW 654 - The Church’s One Foundation - ᴀᴜʀᴇʟɪᴀ
• ELW 812 - Faith of Our Fathers - ꜱᴛ. ᴄᴀᴛʜᴇʀɪɴᴇ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Though we perceive God’s mercy as limiting [and it sometimes appears in Scripture Jesus sets a temporary limit to His mercy], this stanza tells us God’s mercy has no boundaries. Our sorrow and failings are met with mercy - undeserved forgiveness.

Stanza 2 // The mercy of God welcomes sinners [as Christ “welcomed sinners and ate with them]. We see this mercy in the blood of Christ, who died while we were “still sinners” as St. Paul says.

Stanza 3 // While this hymn has much to say about God’s mercy, we sing in this stanza of our reaction to the undeserved forgiveness Christ gives. Criticism of the Church’s “strictness”, unwillingenss to change, and manipulation of the mercy God gives may often be warranted, but the good news of this stanza is sung at the conclusion. God owns none of the limits we place on His mercy and love.

Stanza 4 // At first, this stanza can sound like we “owe” God something back for the great mercy bestowed on us as Christian people. But, it is helpful to hear and sing these words as the result of mercy - we can give [or repeat] to Christ [and others] only what He has first given us:  “Greater good [and] larger mercy.” Because of evil [or sin] Christ gives us the goodness and mercy of God! Our lives are lived in thanksgiving when we take our Lord at His Word of mercy:  “You are forgiven.”

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 587/588 -  There’s a Wideness In God’s Mercy - ꜱᴛ. ʜᴇʟᴇɴᴀ // ʟᴏʀᴅ, ʀᴇᴠɪᴠᴇ ᴜꜱ
• LBW 303 - When in the Hour of Deepest Need - ᴡᴇɴɴ ᴡɪʀ ɪɴ ʜöᴄʜꜱᴛᴇɴ ɴöᴛᴇɴ ꜱᴇɪɴ
• LBW 310 - To You, Omniscient Lord of All - ᴠᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴜɴꜱᴇʀ
• ELW 434 - Jesus Shall Reign - ᴅᴜᴋᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ
• ELW 517 - Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word - ᴇʀʜᴀʟᴛ ᴜɴꜱ, ʜᴇʀʀ