Sing to the Lord

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // For those who think it is our job to invite others to see Christ or be part of our Lord’s Church, we join in celebration at Christ’s command and invitation. The joy and wonder of the Sacrament is found in the presence of Almighty God, who feeds us not only with bread and wine, but with the promise of new life.

Stanza 2 // When God invites His people to this feast, we are united not simply because we each subscribe to the same teaching [as some Christians might suggest], but because in this Holy Supper we possess Christ - crucified and risen. Our Lord is present that we might have a foretaste of the feast to come - where we are gathered with Christians of every time and place around the gracious forgiveness of Christ.

Stanza 3 // Those who receive the Sacrament have forgiveness and new life. We are “one family of God’s children” becuase of the reconcilation our Lord brings to sinners. In this forgiveness, we know what real love looks like - grace and mercy extended to all - “both friends and strangers” - until our Lord returns in glory.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 347 - Go to Dark Gethsemane - ɢᴇᴛʜꜱᴇᴍᴀɴᴇ
• ELW 462 -  Now We Join in Celebration - ꜱᴄʜᴍüᴄᴋᴇ ᴅɪᴄʜ
• ELW 468 - Around You, O Lord Jesus 
• ELW 476 - Thee We Adore, O Savior
• ELW 488 - Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness 

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Refrain // The refrain we repeat ascribes glory, laud, and honor to the Redeemer. This is the One who is crucified and raised to life for us! The “sweet hosannas” from the mouths of children were sweet to Christ because they “called forth praise” of Almighty God. What the religious people of Jesus’ day could not see [and what so many often miss] is what the children sang - “Hosanna!” - meaning “Save us, we beg!” Christ rides to Jerusalem to face death, that we might know him as Savior and King.

Stanza 1 // The second half of this stanza recalls words of the Sanctus. Christ is the “blessed One, who comes in the name of the Lord.” He comes with power and might, to conquer death for us, that we might know the glory of God.

Stanza 2 // Our singing and praise is not a nostalgic memory of Palm Sunday. Instead, we join our singing with the “company of angels…in reply.” In a way, this is better than singing with the company of heaven. Instead, hearing the song of heaven - “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” - we reply with confidence that this One has come in Christ to save.

Stanza 3 // Just as people spread palms before Christ on this day, we present Christ with those things the Church offers each time we gather - “praise…prayer and anthems.” Such offerings are presented as a testament to the work of Christ - our redeemer and King.

Stanza 4 // The rousing refrain and festive nature of this day cannot obfuscate the truth of this celebration. Christ rode in triumph to his Passion - his suffering and death, and so we sing today to the one who suffered for our sake, and now reigns over all things.

Stanza 5 // The final stanza is a prayer. The hymn says Christ “accepted” the prayers of those present on Palm Sunday. What does the poet know about the heart of Christ? First, we know Christ voiced approval to the children’s singing of “hosanna” in the temple courts. But, more than this, the prayer offered by the crowd that Palm Sunday was a specific one. “Hosanna!” is a one-word prayer meaning: “Save us, we beg!” Christ accepted their prayers - and even more - he answered them, going to the cross, taking their sin, and forgiving the same crowd who would later crucify him. Today, Christ hears this same prayer, and promises to save and forgive all who call upon his name.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 344 -  All Glory, Laud, and Honor - ᴠᴀʟᴇᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ɪᴄʜ ᴅɪʀ ɢᴇʙᴇɴ
• ELW 342 - There In God’s Garden - ꜱʜᴀᴅᴇꜱ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴ
• ELW 343 - My Song Is Love Unknown - ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴜɴᴋɴᴏᴡɴ
• ELW 346 - Ride On, Ride On in Majesty - ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴɢ’ꜱ ᴍᴀᴊᴇꜱᴛʏ
• ELW 347 - Go to Dark Gethsemane - ɢᴇᴛʜꜱᴇᴍᴀɴᴇ
• ELW 637 - Holy God, Holy and Glorious - ɴᴇʟꜱᴏɴ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Because Christ lives, we have a defense against death, and a Savior from all that troubles us. This does not mean anxiety and trouble will not come. God knows they will, and he weeps with us in such times. More than this, he arrives to give us a hope that will not waver, even in the face of death.

Stanzas 2 and 3 // The promise the “resurrection and the life” speaks in today’s Gospel reading is for us today! Stanza two acknowledges the questions which come around death: “Shall I fear? Would Christ leave members of His body dead?” Stanza three answers these in bold confidence:  No! In faith, we are bound to Christ forever. Nothing will separate us from God’s love in Christ.

Stanza 4 // The fourth stanza acknowledges the reality we each face in the world - we are flesh, and will return to dust. Because we know Christ - the resurrection and the life - his death is our death to sin. His resurrection assures our resurrection.

Stanza 5 // As God’s people, we are cherished because Christ has promised “we will hear his voice.” This promise stirs the grave, and gives comfort in the midst of death, leading us to rejoice in the Word Christ speaks. We we will die, we will never perish.

Stanza 6 // On earth, we follow in Christ footsteps and seek what he imparts. This means we follow with him through death and into resurrection and eternal life. We no longer set our hearts on the vain, hollow, empty matters of life, but instead on the promise that lasts beyond the fleeting things of this world.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 621 -  Jesus Lives, My Sure Defense // ᴊᴇꜱᴜꜱ, ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ᴢᴜᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴄʜᴛ
• ELW 321 - Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church - ᴏʟᴅ 124ᴛʜ
• ELW 339 - Christ, the Life of All the Living - ᴊᴇꜱᴜ, ᴍᴇɪɴᴇꜱ ʟᴇʙᴇɴꜱ ʟᴇʙᴇɴ
• ELW 452 - Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death - ᴀᴢᴍᴏɴ
• ELW 621 - Jesus Lives, My Sure Defense - ᴊᴇꜱᴜꜱ, ᴍᴇɪɴᴇ ᴢᴜᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴄʜᴛ
• ELW 629 - Abide with Me - ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴅᴇELW 750 - Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart - ʜᴇʀᴢʟɪᴄʜ ʟɪᴇʙ

ELW 673 -  God, Whose Almighty Word // ɪᴛᴀʟɪᴀɴ ʜʏᴍɴ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn is a prayer to the Trinity, that the light of Christ might be made known to all people. The first stanza recalls God speaking at creation, where chaos and darkness “took their flight.”

Stanza 2 // Referencing this weekend’s Gospel text, Christ came to “redeem, bringing healing and sight.” This is not simply a reference to the blind man, but - later in the same stanza - also to those bound by the “illusions” of the Law, who see their salvation in their own work.

Stanza 3 // This prayer to the Spirit asks that God’s favor might be seen in the darkest places of the earth, where Christ’s Word is not heard, and where questions and doubt dominate.

Stanza 4 // The light for which we pray repeatedly in this hymn is given context in the “glory” of the Trinity - creating, redeeming, sustaining all things with God’s Word of light. In contrast to the light of creation, God’s Word brings boundless, full light to all the world.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 520 - Dearest Jesus, at Your Word - ʟɪᴇʙꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ, ᴡɪʀ ꜱɪɴᴅ ʜɪᴇʀ
• ELW 673 - God, Whose Almighty Word - ɪᴛᴀʟɪᴀɴ ʜʏᴍɴ
• ELW 776 - What God Ordains Is Good Indeed - ᴡᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴛᴜᴛ
• ELW 779 - Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound - ɴᴇᴡ ʙʀɪᴛᴀɪɴ
• ELW 793 - Be Thou My Vision - ꜱʟᴀɴᴇ

ELW 777 - Come to Me, All Pilgrims Thirsty - ʙᴇᴀᴄʜ ꜱᴘʀɪɴɢ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Stanzas are written to be sung by a voice other than the congregation, or at the very least, shared between voices in the congregation, so that the refrain is heard as a response to Christ’s naming us “thirsty, weary, burdened, and sinners.” The first stanza quotes Jesus’ words in this weekend’s Gospel text, placing Christ’s words in the present for those in worship.

Stanza 2 // Just as Christ was weary [and the woman clearly tired from her own need to hide her sin] so this second stanza addresses those singing as “weary trav’lers” in need of rest Christ offers. Specifically, this stanza points to communion and the “cup of life” at our Lord’s table.

Stanza 3 // The living water Christ offers is also for “burdened believers” - those who have heard God’s Word, and yet those who the world nevertheless questions.

Stanza 4 // Christ’s compassion is not for those who arrive without sin, but for those whose sin has been named - that Jesus might forgive! Divine compassion is for God to know everything about us, call out our sin in broad daylight, and yet offer forgiveness and living water to quench our thirst.

Stanza 5 // The gift Jesus offers is for the distressed and needy - those who recognize their own efforts leave them without hope. The woman arrives at the well in need of water - Christ knows she is in need of forgiveness and water that will never run out. This living water is the gift Jesus offers in the promise of Baptism.

Stanza 6 // The woman in this weekend’s Gospel text has no home - no husband, no place in society - and yet Christ offers her living water apart from all the expectations of the world. Those the world abandons are those whom Jesus seeks. 

Refrain // The refrain is a prayer, both asking for the water to quench our thirst, while also acknowledging the joy Christ offers - the gift of new life in the Savior of the world.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 328 - Restore in Us, O God - ʙᴀʏʟᴏʀ
• ELW 332 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴍᴏᴅᴇ ᴍᴇʟᴏᴅʏ
• ELW 419 - For All the Faithful Women - ᴋᴜᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴇ [Stanzas 1, 2, 8, and Last]
• ELW 607 - Come, Ye Disconsolate - ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛᴏʀ
• ELW 609 - Chief of Sinners Though I Be - ɢᴇᴛʜꜱᴇᴍᴀɴᴇ
• ELW 611 - I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say - ᴋɪɴɢꜱꜰᴏʟᴅ
• ELW 658 - O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts - ᴡᴀʟᴛᴏɴ
• ELW 663 - Spread, Oh, Spread, Almighty Word - ɢᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴇɪ ᴅᴀɴᴋ

ELW 323 -  God Loved the World // ʀᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢʜᴀᴍ ᴏʟᴅ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This is John 3:16, but with a twist! God loved the world - so that he gave! We have no part in God’s decision. God’s love leads to divine action in Jesus Christ, that the lost might be found and have eternal life.

Stanza 2 // This stanza tells more about God’s “only Son.” Christ was given [made flesh] to suffer death. Those who confide - that is, trust - in Christ alone, build on what His death and resurrection have accomplished:  everlasting life.

Stanza 3 // Here, we are told how and where to use this well-known passage of Scripture. When we “are ill, when death draws near” the truth of Christ’s suffering/God’s giving of His Son rescues us from death. Faith in Christ is not something to simply quote - we cling to Christ for life in the midst of death.

Stanza 4 // Baptism appears to recieve a random shoutout in this stanza, but it links directly with the first portion of this weekend’s Gospel text. The everlasting life of Christ we sing about in stanza one is given in the waters of Baptism, where we are born again of water and the Holy Spirit, forgiven and justified in God’s sight.

Stanza 5 // Though this might appear a somewhat generic Trinitarian stanza, it is an acknowledgement of the Trinity at work in this portion of Scripture. “God” [the Father] loved the world; the “Son” [Christ Jesus] was given, and the “Spirit” [in baptism] brings us the life our Lord promises. John 3:16 is God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - at work for you! Such goodness means we sing forever - eternally - around the throne of the Lamb.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS

• ELW 321 - Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church - ᴏʟᴅ 124ᴛʜ
• ELW 442 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized - ᴇꜱ ɪꜱᴛ ᴅᴀꜱ ʜᴇɪʟ
• ELW 451 - We Are Baptized in Christ Jesus - ᴏᴜɪᴍᴇᴛᴛᴇ
• ELW 456 - Baptized in Water - ʙᴜɴᴇꜱꜱᴀɴ
• ELW 660 - Lift High the Cross - ᴄʀᴜᴄɪꜰᴇʀ

ELW 769 - If You But Trust in God to Guide You - ᴡᴇʀ ɴᴜʀ ᴅᴇɴ ʟɪᴇʙᴇɴ ɢᴏᴛᴛ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The first stanza can sound like the devil! “If you but trust in God…” But, the stanza is not making a suggestion. Instead, it tells us what God promises regardless of our own doubt or inacation. God stands beside us with an unchanging promise. When crosses come in trying days, God suffers with us and gives us hope beyond death.

Stanza 2 // God’s favor is known in his promise, not our lack of anxiety, trouble, or sorrow. When temptation and trials come, we turn to the cross, where - because of the promise Christ speaks -  an instrument of death is for us the means of salvation.

Stanza 3 // When we are restless, God holds our hearts in the promise He has given. As God’s chosen people, we are not removed from the temptations of this world, but have a promise to trust in the midst of fear.

Stanza 4 // As we sing and pray together, and “perform our duties faithfully” - in such mundane, less tempting, moments of life - we trust the Word heaven has given. God’s Word is our hope, because it will not fail. When Christ speaks, the devil and powers of this world flee, and we are left only with angels - those who carry the good news of resurrection.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 319 - O Lord, throughout These Forty Days - ᴄᴏɴꜱᴏʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
• ELW 321 - Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church - ᴏʟᴅ 124ᴛʜ
• 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 - ꜱᴇᴇʟᴇɴʙʀäᴜᴛɪɢᴀᴍ
• ELW 629 - Abide with Me - ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴅᴇ
• ELW 705 - God of Grace and God of Glory - ᴄᴡᴍ ʀʜᴏɴᴅᴅᴀ
• ELW 796 - How Firm a Foundation - ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

ELW 838 - Beautiful Savior // ꜱᴄʜöɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʀʀ, ᴊᴇꜱᴜ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // Like this weekend’s Gospel reading, the first stanza of this hymn tells us where the beauty of Christ is to be found - Jesus is our Savior - the light of our soul and our joy. We can sing these words only because Jesus Christ is God’s Son in flesh to be crucified and raised for us.

Stanza 2 // The second and third stanzas are a study in contrast. The beauty of creation is God’s work, but not to be seen as greater than Jesus Christ, whose forgiveness and mercy give us cause to sing together as Christians. As Peter looked to the glory of the Transfiguration, so we often look to the splendor of nature - the “meadows, woodlands, flow’rs” made by our Creator - but Christ is better than all. In the midst of sorrow [sometimes brought on by the nature we praise] Jesus gives us reason to sing.

Stanza 3 // As printed, the third stanza reads as though the poet has more to say about creation and its relationship to Christ. While it is not improper to sing Jesus “shines brighter/purer” [than the stars], the original text puts these elements of creation in their proper place and reads this way. “Be ashamed, O sun! Be ashamed, O moon! Be ashamed, all ye stars! Jesus is more splendid, Jesus is purer than all the angels together!”

Stanza 4 // The final stanza generically gives glory and honor to Christ above all things. Originally, the final stanza was much more specific - it was a prayer pointing to Christ in the Sacrament. Pastors, musicians, and congregations would find benefit in knowing the original intent of this hymn, as it reminds those singing why we sing words with such assurance.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 308 - How Morning Star, How Fair and Bright - ᴡɪᴇ ꜱᴄʜöɴ ʟᴇᴜᴄʜᴛᴇᴛ
• ELW 315 - How Good, Lord, to Be Here! - ᴘᴏᴛꜱᴅᴀᴍ
• ELW 316 - O Wondrous Image, Vision Fair - ᴅᴇᴏ ɢʀᴀᴄɪᴀꜱ
• ELW 317 - Jesus on the Mountain Peak - ʙᴇᴛʜᴏʟᴅ
• ELW 318 - Alleluia! Song of Gladness - ᴘʀᴀɪꜱᴇ, ᴍʏ ꜱᴏᴜʟ
• ELW 867 - In Thee Is Gladness - ɪɴ ᴅɪʀ ɪꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴜᴅᴇ

ELW 596/597 - My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less - ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏʟɪᴅ ʀᴏᴄᴋ // ᴍᴇʟɪᴛᴀ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // The only hope for lost and confused sinners [Christians and all people] is “Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Resting on our own merit, we are hopeless. We lean on Jesus’ name because he is the “One who save.” He came not because we showed great hope or promise, but because our situation was hopeless.

Stanza 2 // In this weekend’s Gospel reading, our Lord describes some of life’s most difficult situations - cases of murder, adultery, divorce. In such times, it can appear the “darkness” of this world has “veiled the face” of Christ. In such circumstances, we turn to the “unchanging grace” and forgiveness of our Savior. Jesus has torn the veil between heaven and earth, and is our anchor in the midst of the storm.

Stanza 3 // Christ’s promise outside the Law is the “oath” or “covenant” that sustains us in the difficult [or seemingly impossible] situations of life - what the hymn calls a “raging flood.” The “washing away of all supports” is the reality of which this week’s text speaks - our supposed storehouse of good works are futile in the eyes of God, and we are driven to Christ as our only hope.

Stanza 4 // The final stanza is a prayer, directing our attention to the benefits Christ promises. Jesus’ promise is outside the laws, rules, and regulations of this world - and speaks a Word to those caught dead in sin who turn to our Lord in faith. When the “trumpet sounds,” we ask that we might be found “clothed in [Christ’s] righteousness” - for all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Refrain // Throughout, Christ is the “solid rock” on which all people stand. Jesus as solid ground stands in contrast to the support we fashion on our own - that which is washed away by one word of accusation.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 599 - Lord Jesus, Think On Me - ꜱᴏᴜᴛʜᴡᴇʟʟ
• ELW 600 - Out of the Depths I Cry to You - ᴀᴜꜱ ᴛɪᴇꜰᴇʀ ɴᴏᴛ
• ELW 604 - O Christ, Our Hope - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
• ELW 609 - Chief of Sinners Though I Be - ɢᴇᴛʜꜱᴇᴍᴀɴᴇ
• ELW 615 - In All Our Grief - ꜰʀᴇᴅᴇʀɪᴄᴋᴛᴏᴡɴ
• ELW 772 - Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways - ᴇᴠᴀɴ
• ELW 811 - On My Heart Imprint Your Image - ᴅᴇʀ ᴀᴍ ᴋʀᴇᴜᴢ

ELW 675 - O Christ, Our Light, O Radiance True // ᴏ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇ, ᴡᴀʜʀᴇꜱ ʟɪᴄʜᴛ

ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn is a prayer to Christ, our light. In this first stanza [and throughout] it may sound like we pray for those outside of the Church. While is this true, these words are also a confession, that sinners “estranged from [Jesus]” might be brought to a place where their delight rests only in Christ - a place this hymn calls our “home.”

Stanza 2 // Here is a petition for all people obsessed with following God’s Law to perfection. This stanza calls such work a “deep delusion.” To be in a “maze of error” is to be lost and yet constantly wandering and searching for the righteous path, where we are continually haunted and bound by our own inability to “be the salt and light” of the world.

Stanza 3 // Those lost, wandering, and in delusion rely on God to speak a Word of hope into a hopeless situation. This is a prayer to Christ, but specifically in this stanza, to God the Holy Spirit, that our ears might be opened to hear God speaking today. The second half of this stanza can sound like we would be faithful if given the opportunity, but “trembling” to “express” or confess the Gospel is the reality of all who hear this good news, and know the world crucified Christ in the flesh.

Stanza 4 // The light of Christ is His mercy. It shines “gently” on those who have “strayed” from the promises God has given. When God gives His mercy, it shines a light on the open door of heaven, where all wounded by the sting of death are offered a door opened by the Word of forgiveness Jesus gives.

Stanza 5 // In the final stanza, we pray that the first four stanzas of prayer would have a specific result. With Christ as our light, “all people” would be brought to know the “boundless grace” of God - a grace in which we are made righteous and rejoice forever.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 511 - Thy Strong Word - ᴇʙᴇɴᴇᴢᴇʀELW 663 - Spread, Oh Spread, Almighty Word - ɢᴏᴛᴛ ꜱᴇɪ ᴅᴀɴᴋ
• ELW 665 - Rise, Shine, You People - wᴏᴊᴛᴋɪᴇᴡɪᴇᴄᴢ
• ELW 669 - Rise Up, O Saints of God! - ꜰᴇꜱᴛᴀʟ ꜱᴏɴɢ
• ELW 673 - God, Whose Almighty World - ɪᴛᴀʟɪᴀɴ ʜʏᴍɴ
• ELW 675 - O Christ Our Light, O Radiance True - ᴏ ᴊᴇꜱᴜ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇ, ᴡᴀʜʀᴇꜱ ʟɪᴄʜᴛ
• ELW 677 - This Little Light of Mine - ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴊᴏʏ
• ELW 688 - Lord of Light - ᴀʙʙᴏᴛ’ꜱ ʟᴇɪɢʜ