Fight, Work, Pray!

I completed this text requested by a deaconess at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne for a hymn based on Luther's meditation and writing on the relationship between the Lord's Supper and works of mercy and care for our fellow human beings. ("Fight, Work, Pray!" is a pamphlet published by LCMS World Relief and Human Care with a preface by the Executive Director, Rev. Matthew C. Harrison.  The pamphlet reprints from Luther's Works, Vol. 35: "The Blessed Sacrament of the Holy and True Body of Christ, and the Brotherhoods" [1519] ).  The hymn text seeks to highlight aspects and benefits of the Sacrament empowering us to serve as Christ to the world today.  The meter, 3 4 9  3 4 6, matches the deeply moving tune by Amanda Husberg, CHILDREN OF PEACE.

1.  Fight, work, pray!
     Precious indeed
     Are all the masses huddled in need.
     Christ sends us
     Out with His love,
     For the life of the world.

2.  "Flesh and blood
     Given and shed
     Once on the cross so you may be fed;
     I in you,
     You now in Me
     For the life of the world."

3.  Mystery!
     How can it be?
     Saint bound to saint in true unity!
     One in Christ,
     One as His Church
     For the life of the world.

4.  Strengthen us,
     Lord, as we live:
     Pardoning others as You forgive.
     Bless our faith
     Active in love
     For the life of the world.

5.  I, Your guest,
     Frail though I be,
     Yet here Your life I taste and I see,
     As You give
     Heavenly gifts
     For the life of the world.

6.  All my debt
     You, Lord, have paid
     When on the cross atonement You made.
     Faith receives
     All You have done
     For the life of the world.

7.  What can I
     Render to You?
     True thanks and praise in all that I do;
     Fear, love, trust,
     Serve and obey,
     For the life of the world.

8.  Mercy known,
     Mercy received,
     Mercy now lived by all who believe.
     We are Christ's
     Body and voice
     For the life of the world!

Thine the Amen

I had the distinct privilege and honor of meeting Herbert Brokering in the fall of 2008 at Camp Arcadia on Lake Michigan for a worship forum led by Herb and Carl Schalk and Robert Rimbo.  Herb was energetic, witty and a true delight.  He approached hymn writing in a totally different way than I had ever thought of the craft and we had an opportunity to visit a few times at the forum in that lovely setting at Camp Arcadia.  He shared some of the tunes written by his late wife, Lois, one of which in particular, a tune written for Herb's text, EVERYTHING IS ONE, made a deep impression on me.  Probably my favorite text by Dr. Brokering is "Thine the Amen."  We sang it as our closing hymn this past All Saints' Day.  It is a "stream of consciousness" text with little punctuation.  Herb now sees his Savior face to face in the "wonder full surprise" of the eternal wedding banquet of the Lamb.  Thank you, Lord, for Herb!

Thine the amen

    Thine the praise

        alleluias

            angels raise

Thine the

    everlasting head

        Thine the breaking

            of the bread

Thine the glory

    Thine the story

        Thine the harvest

            then the cup

Thine the vineyard

    then the cup is

        lifted up

            lifted up.

Thine the life

    eternally

        Thine the promise

            let there be

Thine the vision

    Thine the tree

        all the earth

            on bended knee

Gone the nailing

    gone the railing

        gone the pleading

            gone the cry

Gone the sighing

    gone the dying

        what was loss

            lifted high.

Thine the truly

    Thine the yes

        Thine the table

            we the guest

Thine the mercy

    all from Thee

        Thine the glory

            yet to be

Then the ringing

    and the singing

        then the end

            of all the war

Thine the living

    Thine the loving

        evermore

            evermore.

Thine the kingdom

    Thine the prize

        Thine the wonder

            full surprise

Thine the banquet

    then the praise

        then the justice

            of Thy ways

Thine the glory

    Thine the story

        Then the welcome

            to the least

Then the wonder

    all increasing

        at Thy feast

            at Thy feast.

Thine the glory

    in the night

        no more dying

            only light

Thine the river

    Thine the tree

        Then the Lamb

            eternally

Then the holy

    holy holy

        celebration

            jubilee

Thine the splendor

    Thine the brightness

        only Thee

            only Thee.

O God of Light

This is a great text by Sarah Taylor, (1883-1954).  It was first introduced in Hymnal Supplement 98 and has appeared again in Lutheran Service Book.  It is set to the tune ATKINSON...a fine and strong tune but a challenging melodic line in the third musical phrase, which covers the whole lower and upper range and gets there by a series of jumps.   It keeps things interesting, that's for sure!

O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing,

    Shall pierce the darkness of our earthbound way

And show Your grace, Your plan for us unveiling,

    And guide our footsteps to the perfect day.

From days of old, through blind and willful ages,

    Though we rebelled, You gently sought again

And spoke through saints, apostles, prophets, sages,

    Who wrote with eager or reluctant pen.

Undimmed by time, those words are still revealing

    To sinful hearts Your justice and Your grace;

And questing spirits, longing for Your healing,

    See Your compassion in the Savior’s face.

To all the world Your summons You are sending,

    Through all the earth, to ev’ry land and race,

That myriad tongues, in one great anthem blending,

    May praise and celebrate Your gift of grace.