Thursday, January 22, 2009

Rise, Shine, You People

Ronald Klug wrote this hymn at the request of Wilson Egbert of Augsburg Publishing House for a 1973 series of bulletin inserts featuring new hymns.  This Epiphany text was inspired by one of Klug's favorite Epiphany texts, Isaiah 60:1  "Rise, shine, for  your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you."  The publisher sent Klug's text to Dale Wood so that the text could be published with a new tune.  Wood named his newly-written tune WOJTKIEWIECZ (voyd-KEV-itch), the original Polish family name that was simplified by the immigration official to Wood.

1.  Rise, shine, you people!  Christ the Lord has entered
     Our human story; God in Him is centered.
          He comes to us, by death and sin surrounded,
          With grace unbounded.

2.  See how He sends the pow'rs of evil reeling;
     He brings us freedom, light and life and healing.
          All men and women, who by guilt are driven,
          Now are forgiven.

3.  Come, celebrate, your banners high unfurling,
     Your songs and prayers against the darkness hurling.
          To all the world go out and tell the story
          Of Jesus' glory.

4.  Tell how the Father sent His Son to save us.
     Tell of the Son, who life and freedom gave us.
          Tell how the Spirit calls from ev'ry nation
          His new creation.

2 comments:

Harriet and Rich said...

Anyone know what the original hymn tune was to which Klug wrote these words?

river song said...

I believe Dale Wood's "Wojtkiewiecz" is the only tune ever connected to Ron Klug's text.