Gracious Savior, Grant Your Blessing

Among the hymns that we sang at my daughter's wedding was #860 in Lutheran Service Book, "Gracious Savior, Grant Your Blessing."  We sang it as the opening hymn of the service after the processional, so stanza one was slightly altered for use at that point in the worship service. (From a purely practical standpoint, placement of this hymn after the processional enabled me to change into my alb in the vestry so that I could proceed to marry Sarah and Justin.) The text was originally written to the tune, JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING; it was included in LSB to the tune HYFRYDOL.  Even though the processional was "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," I still decided to go with HYFRYDOL as the tune for the text. The Hymnody Committee got it right in choosing HYFRYDOL over JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING, which is perhaps more suitable for a choir or a soloist than a congregation. The words of the hymn remain our prayer for our daughter and new son-in-law.

1.  Gracious Savior, grant Your blessing

        To this husband and this wife,       To this couple gathered here,

            That it peace they live together

        In Your love throughout their life.    And Your holy Name revere.

    Christ, defend them from the tempter

        And from all that would destroy

            Love's foundation You have laid here,   Love's foundation that You lay here,

       And its threshold paved with joy.

2.  Lord, if You are not the builder,

         Then the house is built in vain,

             For a home without Your presence

         Shall without true love remain.

     Yet when You within a marriage

         Come and dwell with grace divine,

             There You fill the empty vessels,

         Changing water into wine.

3.  Cana's guest, this union hallow;

         Tenderly embrace this pair.

             Clothe this couple with the garments

         They will daily need to wear:

      Patience, kindness, and compassion,

          Gentleness, humility;

              Robe them, Lord, with love to bind them

          In a perfect unity.

4.  Make their love a living picture

         Showing how You loved Your bride:

             When You gave Yourself to cleanse her,

         When for her You bled and died.

     Jesus, You have made her holy,

         Pure and fair her radiant train;

             To Yourself Your Church presenting,

         Without wrinkle, spot, or stain.

5.  Father, You created Adam

         Crafted Eve, and made them one;

             Jesus, from their sin You saved us,

         As God's true incarnate Son;

     Holy Spirit, You forgive us;

         From our sins we are released.

             Bring us, Lord, at last to heaven,

         To the endless wedding feast.