Thursday, January 22, 2009

Now Let Us All in Hymns of Praise

This text is found in the new WELS hymnal supplement, Christian Worship Supplement.  The text was written by Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000) and the tune OPEN DOOR, to which this text is wed in CWS, was written by Roy Hopp (b. 1951).  (If you have not yet had the opportunity to take at look at the new WELS hymnal supplement, I would recommend you to do so.  While a large percentage of its contents may be familiar to LC-MS Lutherans from Lutheran Service Book, it contains some wonderful new texts and tunes, of which this text is an example.)

1.  Now let us all in hymns of praise, bear witness with one voice
     To God's redeeming work in Christ and bid the world rejoice.
         Today we call to mind the things that time cannot erode:
         What God, Creator of the world, is doing for our good.

2.  What changes, challenges, and tests the Church of Christ survives!
     How rich the records left to us of dedicated lives!
         Still must the Church proclaim to all, both now and evermore,
         God's house to be an open house, and Christ the open door.

3.  Of all our labors who can say what harvest there shall be
     When time, that limits and distorts, becomes eternity?
         Then shall our hymns, rehearsed below, be perfect praise above,
         As face-to-face, we fully know the truth that God is love.

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