Nearer, My God, to Thee

Sarah Flower Adams' (1805-1848) pastor asked her and her sister to help him prepare a hymnal, and the two responded eagerly, writing thirteen texts and sixty-two new tunes!  As the sisters were completing their work, their pastor mentioned he was planning a sermon on Jacob's dream of a ladder ascending to heaven and he needed an appropriate hymn.  Adams soon completed the five stanzas of "Nearer, My God, to Thee."  Her own life was a difficult one which included many losses, not the least of which was her own mother who died when Sarah was only five years old.  She learned, as we have learned, that our steps along life's path, even those steps which are difficult or painful or filled with loss, only draw us nearer to God as He carries us through such times, also ministering to us with His holy angels who strengthen us in our weakness.  "For are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?"  (Hebrews 1:16)

1.  Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

     E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

     Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

2.  Though like a wanderer, the sun gone down,

     Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

     Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

3.  There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;

     All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;

     Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

4.  Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

     Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise;

     So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

5.  Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,

     Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,

     Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

     Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee.

In the Hour of Trial

In the 18th chapter of John, we read of Jesus' trial before the high priest and before Pilate.  We also read about Peter's denial of the Lord.  The rooster is seen on the church steeples of some Episcopalian churches as a reminder for the parishioners of Peter's denial.  The hymn "In the Hour of Trial" was written by James Montgomery (1771-1854).  He faced a number of trials in his own life, even at a young age.  His parents were missionaries and they died when he was only twelve years old.  Soon afterward, he was asked to leave school for not turning in his assignments on time.  After working at a couple of bakeries, he left for London, where he thought he might be able to sell his poetry.  Instead, he got a job at the newspaper.   After the editor fled England to avoid persecution, Montgomery took that job when he was twenty-three years old.  After he commemorated the fall of the Bastille, he was fined, imprisoned, and labeled a "wicked, malicious and seditious person."  In time, James Montgomery was ultimately honored by the British government for his outspoken advocacy of humanitarian causes, especially the abolition of slavery.

1.  In the hour of trial,

       Jesus plead for me

    Lest by base denial

       I depart from Thee.

    When Thou see'st me waver,

       With a look recall

    Nor for fear or favor

       Suffer me to fall.

2.  With forbidden pleasures

        Should this vain world charm

    Or its tempting treasures

        Spread to work me harm,

    Bring to my remembrance

        Sad Gethsemane

    Or, in darker semblance,

       Cross-crowned Calvary.

3.  Should Thy mercy send me

        Sorrow, toil, and woe,

     Or should pain attend me

        On my path below.

     Grant that I may never

        Fail Thy hand to see;

     Grant that I may ever

        Cast my care on Thee.

4.  When my last hour cometh,

        Fraught with strife and pain,

     When my dust returneth

        To the dust again,

     On Thy truth relying,

        Through that mortal strife,

     Jesus, take me, dying,

        To eternal life.

Our Father, Who from Heaven Above

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." (John 16:23)  Luther's great catechetical hymn on the Lord's Prayer is rich for our personal reflection and devotion. 

Introduction to the Lord's Prayer

1.  Our Father, who from heav'n above

     Bids all of us to live in love

        As members of one family

        And pray to You in unity,

     Teach us no thoughtless words to say

     But from our inmost hearts to pray.

First Petition

2.  Your name be hallowed.  Help us, Lord,

     In purity to keep Your Word,

        That to the glory of Your name

        We walk before You free from blame.

     Let no false teaching us pervert;

     All poor deluded souls convert.

Second Petition

3.  Your kingdom come.  Guard Your domain

     And Your eternal righteous reign.

        The Holy Ghost enrich our day

        With gifts attendant on our way.

    Break Satan's pow'r, defeat his rage;

    Preserve Your Church from age to age.

Third Petition 

4.  Your gracious will on earth be done

     As it is done before Your throne,

        That patiently we may obey

        Throughout our lives all that You say.

     Curb flesh and blood and ev'ry ill

     That sets itself against Your will. 

Fourth Petition 

5.  Give us this day our daily bread

     And let us all be clothed and fed.

        Save us from hardship, war, and strife;

        In plague and famine, spare our life,

     That we in honest peace may life,

     To care and greed no entrance give.

Fifth Petition

6.  Forgive our sins, Lord, we implore,

     That they may trouble us no more;

        We too will gladly those forgive

        Who hurt us by the way they live.

     Help us in our community

     To serve each other willingly.

Sixth Petition

7.  Lead not into temptation, Lord,

     Where our grim foe and all his horde

        Would vex our souls on ev'ry hand.

        Help us resist, help us to stand

     Firm in the faith, a mighty host,

     Through comfort of the Holy Ghost.

Seventh Petition

8.  From evil, Lord, deliver us;

     The times and days are perilous.

        Redeem us from eternal death,

        And, when we yield our dying breath,

     Console us, grant us calm release,

     And take our souls to You in peace.

Conclusion to the Lord's Prayer

9.  Amen, that is, so shall it be.

     Make strong our faith in You that we

        May doubt not, but with trust believe

        That what we ask we shall receive.

     Thus in Your name and at Your Word

     We say, "Amen, O hear us, Lord!"