Hymns

Day 43

I am thankful for Hymns.  I couldn't figure out why I was singing/humming "Songs of Thankfulness and Praise" all week.  It turns out that there is an Epiphany version to a familiar Thanksgiving melody and we, at our church, tend to use it in services every year during Epiphany.  This year was fortuitous as the theology in the hymn dovetails with the sermon series on 1 John.

Familiar hymns and anthems can bring me instantly into joy, give me "aha" moments, let me relax, wake up my sleepy Sunday morning brain, and stay with me for the rest of the week teaching and reminding me.  In this case, though I didn't look it up, it stayed with me in anticipation of this week.  I am thankful for the gift of music.  I am thankful for those with the knowledge and foresight to preserve it.  

So, here it is:

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise, text and music public domain, published in Lutheran Service Book (LCMS) 2006 #394 Text: C. Wordsworth, Tune: G.J. Elvey

The other Hymn to this melody from the same Hymnal is Come, Ye Thankful People Come

Songs of Thankfulness and Praise,
Jesus, Lord to Thee we raise.
Manifested by the star
To the sages from afar.
Branch of Royal David's stem
In Thy birth at Bethlehem:
Anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
And at Cana wedding guest
In Thy God-head manifest;
Manifest in power divine
Changing water into wine;
Anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Manifest in making whole
Palsied limbs and fainting soul;
Manifest in valiant fight,
Quelling all the devil's might;
Manifest in gracious will,
Ever bringing good from ill,
Anthems be to thee addressed,
God in man made manifest.

Sun and moon shall darkened be,
Stars shall fall, the heavens flee;
Christ will then like lightening shine,
All will see his glorious sign;
All will then the trumpet hear,
All will see the judge appear;
Thou by all wilt be confessed,
God in man made manifest.

Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,
Present in Thy holy Word-
Grace to imitate Thee now
And be pure as pure art Thou;
That we may become like Thee
At Thy great epiphany
And may praise thee, ever blest,
God in man made manifest.

Choir sang "Uncreated One", one of my favorites.  Another time for those words.  They may be somewhere in my previous blog but I'm not going hunting tonight.