Find Hymn of the Month sheets in your worship folder on the first Sunday of each month, at the church information counter, and here on St. Paul's Music webpage.

Hymns used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 1700055

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Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty | LSB 901

September 2024

Stanza 1

Open now thy gates of beauty;

Zion, let me enter there,

Where my soul in joyful duty

Waits for Him who answers prayer.

Oh, how blessèd is this place,

Filled with solace, light, and grace!

When we come to St. Paul’s for worship, know this, God Himself has thrown the doors wide open. We joyfully sing and pray, and our Lord joyfully answers our prayers. He says to us, “Come to Me and I will comfort your soul, I will be your light, and clothe you in grace.”

Stanza 2

Gracious God, I come before Thee;

Come Thou also unto me.

Where we find Thee and adore Thee,

There a heav’n on earth must be.

To my heart, O enter Thou;

Let it be Thy temple now!

When we step through the doors for worship, two things happen. We come to meet Him and He is there to greet us. In this place—St. Paul's—heaven and earth meet. So we pray that as we enter the Divine Service, He would make our hearts His temple.

Stanza 3

Here Thy praise is gladly chanted;

Here Thy seed is duly sown.

Let my soul, where it is planted,

Bring forth precious sheaves alone,

So that all I hear may be

Fruitful unto life in me.

Here His Word is beautifully sung. Here His Word in our hearts is sown. We pray that all we hear and sing blossoms to a fruitful life in us.

Stanza 4

Thou my faith increase and quicken;

Let me keep Thy gift divine,

Howsoe’er temptations thicken;

May Thy Word still o’er me shine

As my guiding star through life,

As my comfort in all strife.

In the Divine Service, our Father gives us all we need to strengthen and sustain our faith—because Satan does all he can to “thicken” temptations. So our Lord daily gives us His strong Word as a light for our paths and a comfort in our sufferings.

Stanza 5

Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee;

Let Thy will be done indeed.

May I undisturbed draw near Thee

While Thou dost Thy people feed.

Here of life the fountain flows;

Here is balm for all our woes.

Here, in the last stanza, we pray—we cry out—Speak to us, O God! Let Thy perfect will be done in our lives. Bring us to the table where You feed our souls. Bring us to the fountain of life and wipe away all our tears.

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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty | LSB 790

October 2024

Stanza 1

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
    Let all who hear
    Now to His temple draw near,
Joining in glad adoration!

Prepare yourselves; this is a big hymn! You can expect Kantor Gerhardt to pull out all the stops on the organ. In this hymn we sing with all the saints who’ve gone before us, with all the Hosts in heaven, and with Christians worldwide.

We can sing with all our hearts because “God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). And because the Father “raised Him [Jesus] from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come” (Ephesians 1:20–21). 

Stanza 2

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning
And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.
    Have you not seen
    All that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?

Our Lord reigns over us and sustains us. He’s done this from the beginning. He chose Abraham to be the father of Israel. He placed Joseph in Egypt to save His people from famine. He used Moses to bring His people home. He raised up David to shepherd His people. And in the fullness of time He gave us His only begotten Son, so that all who believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus now sustains us with this promise: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17). 

Stanza 3

Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously, made you,
Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you.
    What need or grief
    Ever has failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade you.

"For you formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13–14). And even when health fails, which it will until Jesus returns, He promises to raise our bodies—whole and strong—on the last day. Jesus keeps His promises! 

Stanza 4

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
    Ponder anew
    What the Almighty can do
As with His love He befriends you.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). What is the “work” He has created you to do? Our work is to love our Lord and our neighbor with all our hearts. He befriended and created us in Christ, who strengthens us for this great work. 

Stanza 5

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
    Let the Amen
    Sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him!

Look closely! There are FOUR!!!! exclamation points in this last stanza!  Today we sing with the angels! 

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders and the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ “ (Revelation 5:11-14). 

SING!

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Jerusalem, My Happy Home | LSB 673

November 2024

Stanza 1

Jerusalem, my happy home,

When shall I come to thee?

When shall my sorrows have an end?

Thy joys when shall I see?

In this hymn, we sing of coming home to the end of our sorrows and to a life in joy. We sing, When shall I come to thee? This is just like our kids in the car pleading, “Are we there yet?!!!” But will the New Jerusalem really be our home?

Jesus says yes: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that were I am you may be also (John 14:2-3).”

The writer of Hebrews says yes: "But you have come [even now] to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22)."

Even now, through faith in Jesus and the gifts of our Baptism, we have arrived — even as we ask, “Are we there yet?” Our place is guaranteed by Jesus. The “New Jerusalem” is the place where the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit fully and forever dwell with us — in joy.

Stanza 2

O happy harbor of the saints,

O sweet and pleasant soil!

In thee no sorrow may be found,

No grief, no care, no toil.

O happy harbor of the saints: Our journey here on earth is full of storms. But Jesus is bringing us to a harbor full of joy. He is bringing us to a pleasant home that is free of sorrow, grief, anxiety, and endless toil.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:4-5)."

Stanza 3

Thy gardens and thy gallant walks

Continually are green;

There grow such sweet and pleasant flow’rs

As no-where else are seen.

Stanza 3 unfolds the beauty of our new home. This home is the complete fulfillment of God's promises to His people. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:1–3).” The New Jerusalem will be green, fruitful, and beautiful, with complete healing for our souls.

"On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands (Ezekiel 20:6)." There grow such sweet and pleasant flow’rs as no-where else are seen.

Stanza 4

There trees for-ever-more bear fruit

And ever-more do spring;

There ever-more the angels dwell

And ever-more do sing.

When Jesus takes us to this safe harbor, to this glorious and beautiful home, we will not be alone. There, an extraordinary choir of angels invites us to join their song.

Stanza 5

Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there

Around my Savior stand;

And soon my friends in Christ below

Will join the glorious band.

But wait! There’s more! The apostles, the martyrs, the prophets, and our friends will join the choir.

And there’s still more! “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain’ ... And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ (Revelation 5:11-13).”

Stanza 6

O Christ, do Thou my soul prepare

For that bright home of love

That I may see Thee and adore

With all Thy saints above.

In the last stanza, we pray to Jesus, “Prepare my soul for our bright home of love. Prepare me to see and adore You with all your saints.” How does Jesus prepare us? He prepares us in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s as we sing the song of the church, as we receive and live in the gifts of His Word, our Baptism, and The Lord’s Supper.

That I may see Thee and adore with all Thy saints above.

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Savior of the Nations, Come | LSB 332

December 2024

Stanza 1

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.  

In this hymn we sing in wonder — marveling — at the birth of Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father. We marvel that He was born of a virgin. We marvel with all of heaven and earth that His birth came out of God’s will and love for us. 

Stanza 2

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.

Gabriel told Mary, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.” Mary said, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Gabriel went on, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy — the Son of God" (Luke 1:31–35).

Jesus was truly His mother’s son. He was also fully the Word of God made flesh. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Jesus is truly and fully God’s gift to us.

Stanza 3

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.  

God was there upon His throne. How could the womb of Mary be the throne of God? Was Mary a holy vessel? Before the incarnation, Mary was a young woman like any other, concerned with the daily routines and relationships of life. Mary’s womb became the throne of God because Jesus was there.

Stanza 4

Then stepped forth the Lord of all

From His pure and kingly hall;

God of God, yet fully man,

His heroic course began. 

In this stanza, we sing of blessed impossibilities. 

1: We sing “Then stepped forth the Lord of all,” but what we see is a helpless newborn.

2: We sing “From His pure and kingly hall,” but what we see is a young family, exhausted and lying in a filthy animal shelter.

3: We sing “God of God, yet fully man,” but what we see is a fragile newborn.

4: We sing “His heroic course began,” but He lived in poverty and suffering. His ministry of teaching and healing came to a shameful death just outside of Jerusalem.

But look again at the grace of God; this infant was indeed Lord of all. But look again at the grace of God; the animal shelter was indeed a kingly hall because the King Himself was there. But look closely at the wonder; this newborn is fully God. But look, His heroic course went through the cross to His resurrection from the dead. And through this, He won salvation for all who call on His name.  

Stanza 5

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.

Jesus began His course from the Father. For God so loved the world that He sent His Son — for us. The holy course of Jesus had a holy purpose — to redeem us from sin, death, and the devil.  

“Into hell His road went down.” — Jesus was not sentenced to punishment in hell. Rather, after His resurrection and before His appearance to all, He preached to those in prison and boldly pronounced His victory over evil (1 Peter 3:18–22). At the culmination of His earthly course, Jesus returned to the Father as shepherd of a new flock, which no one can take from the Father’s hand. Now, on His throne, He sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us.         

Stanza 6

For You are the Father’s Son

Who in flesh the vict’ry won.

By Your mighty pow’r make whole

All our ills of flesh and soul.  

The Father’s Son did something for us no one else could do, or would do. The Small Catechism says it beautifully: Jesus “purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.”  

“By Your mighty pow’r make whole All our ills of flesh and soul” — He is now working for us to heal our deepest wounds of soul and flesh. Jesus will complete this work when He returns for us.  

Stanza 7

From the manger newborn light

Shines in glory through the night.

Darkness there no more resides;

In this light faith now abides.

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4).

“And Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ ” (John 8:12).

The light of Jesus was first shown in Bethlehem. He now shines in every corner where darkness seeks to overcome Him.   

Stanza 8

Glory to the Father sing,

Glory to the Son, our king,

Glory to the Spirit be

Now and through eternity.  

Stanza 8 is the exclamation point to this hymn!

We sing glory to the Father, our creator.

We sing glory to the Son, our savior.

We sing glory to the Holy Spirit, our sustainer.

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God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It | LSB 594  

January 2025

Erdmann Neumeister wrote this hymn for his congregation in the early 1700s — because they needed it. He also wrote it for us in the 21st century because we need it — daily.  Every generation of Christians needs to remember that we belong to Jesus. Neumeister says to us: remember who you are and sing it, “God’s own child I gladly say it, I am baptized into Christ.”

Stanza 1

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!

Life on earth offers endless pleasures and treasures, each promising to replace Jesus and give us all we need. But none of them compares with the treasures Jesus has given us. He redeemed us. He forgave our sins. He gave His life for ours. And He gave us a living treasure worth more than anything — our Baptism.  

When the world's treasures and pleasures work to separate us from Christ, we can sing, “God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!” I belong to Jesus!

Stanza 2

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?

Christians sin. Honestly, we sin every day, and Satan knows it. He grabs every sin and attacks, “See, you’re not all that you say you are!” and he starts grinding our consciences to dust. 

But Jesus has a comfort even stronger than our guilt: His cleansing sacrifice and forgiveness. Jesus daily delivers these comforts in our Baptism. So when Satan starts the accusations, we can sing, “Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ!”

Stanza 3

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!

Satan is a tyrant. He hates us, tempts us, entices us, and accuses us every day. But we can speak first, “Listen Satan, before you say a word, I want you to hear this; I am baptized into Christ. I BELONG TO JESUS!” In our Baptism, Satan’s might comes unraveled.  

A little story. Norman Nagel, a beloved and sainted professor at Concordia Seminary taught his students how to get in the first word of the day. He ended one of his sermons saying, “When the alarm goes off in the morning, take your arm out from under the warm blanket and turn it off, then before anything else, bring your hand back to your forehead and heart making the sign of the cross saying, ‘In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.’ ” This habit has helped me for decades to start each day with “God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!”

Stanza 4

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.

On November 2, 2024, we celebrated All Saints’ Day at St. Paul’s. We read the names of 28 family members and friends who died this year. Death is heartbreaking, often painful, and our enemy. But for us, Jesus has written a new song. Because we are baptized into Christ, we can sing, “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.”

Stanza 5

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!

There is nothing worth comparing, nothing worth trading, nothing worth compromising for our lifelong comfort of  Baptism. Baptism is active every day of our lives. It is the promise of our forgiveness and redemption. It is the promise that just as Christ has been raised from the dead, we too have been raised to life with Christ. It is the daily promise that we belong to Jesus. It gives our souls a song of praise, even as our bodies rest in the grave waiting for the resurrection.

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The Only Son from Heaven | LSB 402

February 2025

Stanza 1

The only Son from heaven,
    Foretold by ancient seers,
By God the Father given,
    In human form appears.
No sphere His light confining,
No star so brightly shining
    As He, our Morning Star.

The first two stanzas of this hymn are musical renditions of the second article of the Apostles’ Creed. The Creed tells us that Jesus, the only Son of God, was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Isaiah said, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). On that dark night of Jesus' birth, we see a bright wonder. While nestled in His mother’s arms, Jesus was the morning star: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Stanza 2

O time of God appointed,
    O bright and holy morn!
He comes, the king anointed,
    The Christ, the virgin-born,
Grim death to vanquish for us,
To open heav’n before us
    And bring us life again.

Timing is everything. Our Father knew exactly when to act for our greatest good. "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (Galatians 4:4). Jesus was not your average boy from Nazareth; He was Christ, the anointed King. This king did what no other king could do, or would do. He destroyed death; He opened heaven and gave us life — through His own death and resurrection.

Stanza 3

O Lord, our hearts awaken
    To know and love You more,
In faith to stand unshaken,
    In spirit to adore,
That we, through this world moving,
Each glimpse of heaven proving,
    May reap its fullness there. 

And now we pray: "Dear Father, please wake us up to see and receive Your love. Please warm our hearts to adore You. Please give us faith to stand secure and unshaken. We move through a world full of distractions and grief. Our eyes wander to endless distractions. Please open our eyes to Jesus and bring us safely to His side. Amen."

Stanza 4

O Father, here before You
    With God the Holy Ghost
And Jesus, we adore You,
    O pride of angel host:
Before You mortals lowly
Cry, “Holy, holy, holy,
    O blessèd Trinity!”

And now we sing with all of heaven. We began this hymn singing the Apostles' Creed. As we sing this last stanza, we are not alone. We are singing with all of heaven. Now, on our feet, we cry with all the angels, “Holy, holy, holy, O blessèd Trinity!”

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We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died | LSB 429

March 2025

Stanza 1

We sing the praise of Him who died,
    Of Him who died upon the cross.
The sinner’s hope let all deride;
    For this we count the world but loss.

Once a year Americans sing the praises of the newest Super Bowl champion, especially last year when the Kansas City Chiefs won! But Christians sing a different song. We sing praises to a man who died — broken, tortured, hanging naked on a cross, abandoned by friends and even by His Father. Why?! Because in His death He redeemed us, lost and condemned people; He purchased and won us from all our sins, from death and the power of the devil. He didn’t do this with money, but rather, with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. In other words — His life for ours. 

"But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"(Galatians 6:14).

Stanza 2

Inscribed upon the cross we see
    In shining letters, “God is love.”
He bears our sins upon the tree;
    He brings us mercy from above.

Pontius Pilate hung an insult over Jesus’ head; it read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” He was calling the man on the cross a pathetic king and the Jews a pathetic people. But the resurrection of Jesus translated Pilate’s sign for us. It now shouts, "God is love.” We sing the praise of Jesus because Pilate’s violence was God’s mercy. 

"In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

Stanza 3

The cross! It takes our guilt away;
    It holds the fainting spirit up;
It cheers with hope the gloomy day
    And sweetens ev’ry bitter cup.

Our guilt, Jesus removes. Our fainting spirits, Jesus lifts. In the midst of gloom, Jesus gives hope. The bitter cups of suffering, Jesus sweetens.

How does Jesus do this?! In our Baptism, Jesus gives us His resurrection life, His forgiveness, strength, and hope — and replaces cups of bitterness with “rivers of living water.”

Stanza 4

It makes the coward spirit brave
    And nerves the feeble arm for fight;
It takes the terror from the grave
    And gilds the bed of death with light;

None of us are superheroes. So where do we find bravery and strength for the fight? St. Paul tells us,"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:35-37).

Because of Jesus and His resurrection, even our graves are gilded with light. 

Stanza 5

The balm of life, the cure of woe,
    The measure and the pledge of love,
The sinner’s refuge here below,
    The angels’ theme in heav’n above.

Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).

Stanza 6

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
    By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
    Forever and forevermore.

In the Divine Service, we raise our voices with all "the living creatures and the elders [and] the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!' " (Revelation 5:11-12).

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A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth | LSB 438

April 2025

Stanza 1

A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,
  The guilt of sinners bearing
And, laden with the sins of earth,
  None else the burden sharing;
Goes patient on, grows weak and faint,
To slaughter led without complaint,
  That spotless life to offer,
He bears the stripes, the wounds, the lies,
The mockery, and yet replies,
  “All this I gladly suffer.”

Our hymn opens with Jesus walking toward Golgotha  — broken, bleeding, and dragging His own cross. What the crowd didn’t see was Jesus dragging their guilt and laden with their sins. They couldn’t yet know that Jesus was about to offer His spotless life for ours.

Long before the cross, while Mary carried Jesus in her womb to Bethlehem, Jesus was bearing our guilt. Long before the cross, Jesus came up from His Baptism dripping with the sins of earth. Jesus knew where His journey would end, and we hear Him say, “All this I gladly suffer.”

Stanza 2

This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great friend,
  The Lamb of God, our Savior,
Whom God the Father chose to send
  To gain for us His favor.
“Go forth, My Son,” the Father said,
“And free My children from their dread
  Of guilt and condemnation.
The wrath and stripes are hard to bear,
But by Your passion they will share
  The fruit of Your salvation.”

When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he said, “Behold! the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

When Paul Gerhardt, the writer of our hymn, looks at Jesus, he says, "Look, the soul’s great friend!" When we look at Jesus, we sing, “The Lamb of God is our greatest friend!”

When our Heavenly Father looks at Jesus, He says, “My dear Son — go forward. Your journey will be hard and will end in desperate pain. But Your deep suffering will free My children from their dread of guilt and condemnation.” This is why you and I can sing, “The Lamb of God is my deepest friend!”

Stanza 3

“Yes, Father, yes, most willingly
  I’ll bear what You command Me.
My will conforms to Your decree,
  I’ll do what You have asked Me.”
O wondrous Love, what have You done!
The Father offers up His Son,
  Desiring our salvation.
O Love, how strong You are to save!
You lay the One into the grave
  Who built the earth’s foundation.

In stanza 2, the Father says, “Go forth, My Son,” and we see clearly what it will cost Jesus. And now, in stanza 3, we hear Jesus respond, “Yes, Father, yes, most willingly I’ll bear what You command Me. My will conforms to Your decree, I’ll do what You have asked Me.”

And now, in awe, we say, "Father! What have You done!? What did you just do!?" "O Love, how strong You are to save! You lay the One into the grave who built the earth’s foundation." Jesus, the one who built the foundations of creation, was laid into the grave for you and me. All this, because of the Father’s love for us.

Stanza 4

Lord, when Your glory I shall see
  And taste Your kingdom’s pleasure,
Your blood my royal robe shall be,
  My joy beyond all measure!
When I appear before Your throne,
Your righteousness shall be my crown;
  With these I need not hide me.
And there, in garments richly wrought,
As Your own bride shall we be brought
  To stand in joy beside You.

Father, when we stand before Your throne and glory, our royal robes will be made pure by the blood and sufferings of your Son. We will stand before You crowned with the righteousness of Jesus. We will stand in heavenly pleasure and holy joy. 

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Hymns of the Month for Eastertide 2025: 

Christ Is Arisen | LSB 459  and   With High Delight Let Us Unite | LSB 483

Christ Is Arisen | LSB 459

Stanza 1

Christ is arisen

From the grave’s dark prison.

    So let our joy rise full and free;

    Christ our comfort true will be. Alleluia!

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Holy Spirit, Light Divine | LSB 496

June 2025

Stanza 1

Holy Spirit, light divine,

Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away,

Turn the darkness into day.

In this hymn we pray for the work and blessing of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We pray with assurance because we pray for what God has already promised. We pray as Jesus taught us, “Thy will be done” — in me.

In the first stanza we pray that the same Holy Spirit who brought creation from darkness to light would dwell in us so that we may see and live in the light of Jesus. When the shades of night come, these promises from God are for you.

"In the beginning … the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. And God saw that the light was good" (Genesis 1:1-4a).

In the fullness of time, God sent His Son, who said to us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Stanza 2

Let me see my Savior’s face,

Let me all His beauties trace;

Show those glorious truths to me

Which are only known to Thee.

In this hymn we sing and pray, “Let me see Him in the manger, in His life, His love, His suffering, His cross, His resurrection, His ascension. Let me see Him in His Word. Let me see Him in my Baptism. Let me see Him in the bread and wine. Let me see Him in the lives of the saints. Let me see Him in all His fullness and beauty.”

Let me see Him and be transformed.

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18).

Stanza 3

Holy Spirit, pow’r divine,

Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

In Thy mercy pity me,

From sin’s bondage set me free.

A forgiven and clean heart is a joy. It is a gift and a promise from God. With a clean heart, we step into our days with joy and hope.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:10-12).

Stanza 4

Holy Spirit, joy divine,

Cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Yield a sacred, settled peace,

Let it grow and still increase.

When we pray, “Father, please fill my troubled heart with joy and grant me a sacred, settled peace,” our Father says, "Yes!" 

Jesus knows how often we are drained of peace and joy, so He gave us this promise: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

Stanza 5

Holy Spirit, all divine,

Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down ev’ry idol throne,

Reign supreme, and reign alone.

The last petition may be the hardest. Our sinful nature loves idols. We collect them, create them, and cling to them. What is an idol? Anything and everything that we fear, love, and trust above all things.

When we sing this last stanza, we are asking the Holy Spirit to “break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature…” and we are asking the Holy Spirit to “keep us firm in God’s Word and faith until we die” (Luther's Small Catechism).

Losing our idols is painful, but Jesus is worth it.

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24).

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Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay | LSB 505

July 2025

Triune God, Be Thou Our Stay is an ancient hymn written for processions and pilgrimages. Over time the hymn included prayers to Mary and many of the saints. Martin Luther kept the hymn but redirected our prayers solely to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Luther also reminded us that all of our life is a pilgrimage. We don’t find God on long pilgrimages to “holy” sites. Rather, we find Him where He promises to be found — in His Word, His Sacraments, and the assembly of believers. Our “pilgrimages” include going to work, loving our colleagues, preparing supper for our families, driving to church, and even mowing the lawn. 

In other words, we walk with Jesus in the ordinary moments of life, yet our days are often filled with trials and suffering. In this hymn, we sing and pray to our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier. We pray for what He has promised to give. So we sing, “Amen, amen! This be done; So sing we, ‘Alleluia!’ ”

Triune God, be Thou our stay;

God the Father, be our stay;

Jesus Christ, be Thou or stay;

Holy Spirit, be our stay;

Be Thou our stay;
O let us perish never!
Cleanse us from our sins, we pray,
And grant us life forever.

To this our Lord says, “Yes.” 

"In You, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me! Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For You are my rock and my fortress; and for Your name’s sake You lead me and guide me" (Psalm 31:1-3).

Keep us from the evil one;
Uphold our faith most holy,
And let us trust Thee solely
With humble hearts and lowly.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil.” So we pray the words of the Small Catechism with confidence “that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.” The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit keep promises and answer prayers! (Small Catechism, The Lord’s Prayer, seventh petition.)

Let us put God’s armor on,
With all true Christians running
Our heav’nly race and shunning
The devil’s wiles and cunning.
 

We are all running a heavenly race, and the devil is forever throwing stumbling blocks in the way. So we sing, “Let us put God’s armor on.” Our Lord has given us a full closet of running gear. Put on truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit — which is the Word of God. You will find this “closet” in Ephesians 6:10-18. Jump in — enjoy the clothes. 

So we sing, “Amen, amen! This be done; So sing we, ‘Alleluia!’ ”