Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A Chosen, Precious Cornerstone

Written to the glory of God for the 50th anniversary of Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri. The tune CORNERSTONE was composed by Carl Schalk for this anniversary hymn.

1.  A chosen, precious cornerstone
     In Zion laid, as flesh and bone,
     Incarnate God Most High;
     This stone the builders would reject,
     God’s will obeyed as God’s Elect—
     For us ordained to die!

2.  This stone was set for all to see,
     As jewel of that sacred tree,
     A gem of priceless worth;
     So faith and hope could rest secure
     Upon such love, so rare and pure,
     Love bridging heav’n and earth!

3.  For Jesus is that saving Name
     The One of worth to rightly claim
     Redemption gained for all:
     Fulfilling God the Father’s plan,  
     Christ came to earth as God and man,
     Undoing Adam’s Fall.

4.  All those once lost, condemned, alone,
     God’s grace would claim and make His own:
     Washed clean, renewed, restored;
     As living stones, born from above,
     Built on that Name whose name is Love,
     On Jesus Christ our Lord.

5.  Now none who trust Christ’s holy Name
     Shall stumble or be put to shame—
     They walk in wondrous light!
     Made royal priests, a chosen race,  
     A people for the praise of grace
     That called them out of night.

6.  To God the Father, who is known
     Through God the Son, true Cornerstone,
     All laud and praise afford,
     With God the Spirit honor be,
     The Three in One, the One in Three—
     Thrice-holy, gracious LORD!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Grace is God's Love Undeserved, Yet Abounding

Written to the glory of God for the 60th anniversary of Grace Lutheran Church in Columbus, Indiana, October 4, 2015, to the tune JESUS IST KOMMEN, GRUND EWIGER FREUDE.

1.  Grace is God's love undeserved, yet abounding,
     Wealth of love lavished upon our poor race,
     Mercy toward sinners, all reason confounding,
     God deemed us worthy to save by His grace!
     Deep this rich kindness the earth still is sounding--
     God's love is grace not deserved, but abounding!

2.  Grace is God's love we are shown in Christ Jesus:
     God in the flesh took our sin and our shame.
     Death-conqu'ring life of our Lord truly frees us,
     Faced our foes for us, His triumph we claim!
     Good news now soars on God's Spirit-wrought breezes--
     God's love is grace all are shown through Christ Jesus! 

3.  Grace is God's love bringing peace beyond measure,
     Peace none can find in the Law's harsh demand,
     Guarding our hearts in Christ Jesus, our Treasure,
     Peace far surpassing what we understand;
     Peace, a sweet foretaste of heaven's pure pleasure--
     God's love is grace that brings peace none can measure!

4.  Grace is God's love here in time and forever.
     God's work begun in us He will complete!
     Nothing in life from this grace can us sever;
     Nothing in death brings God's children defeat.
     Grace, timely love for God's timeless endeavor--
     God's love is grace for all time, yes, forever!