Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior

"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD; my soul shall exalt in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."  (Isaiah 61:10)

1.  Thee we adore, O hidden Savior, Thee,

     Who in Thy Sacrament art pleased to be;

          Both flesh and spirit in Thy presence fail,

          Yet here Thy presence we devoutly hail.

2.  In this memorial of Thy death, O Lord,

     Thou dost Thy body and Thy blood afford:

          O may our souls forever feed on Thee,

          And Thou, O Christ, forever precious be.

3.  Thou, like the pelican to feed her brood,

     Didst pierce Thyself to give us living food;

          Thy blood, O Lord, one drop has pow'r to win

          Forgiveness for our world and all its sin.

4.  Fountain of goodness, Jesus, Lord and God:

     Cleanse us, unclean, with Thy most cleansing blood;

          Increase our faith and love, that we may know

          The hope and peace which from Thy presence flow.

5.  O Christ, whom now beneath a veil we see,

     May what we thirst for soon our portion be:

          To gaze on Thee unveiled and see Thee face to face,

          The vision of Thy glory, and Thy grace.   Amen.

(Stained glass window is from the chapel at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bay City, Michigan.)

Prepare the Royal Highway

"The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  It is written in Isaiah the prophet: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way'--'a voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him." '  And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."  (Mark 1:1-4)  

1.  Prepare the royal highway;

     The King of kings is near!

     Let ev'ry hill and valley

     A level road appear!

     Then greet the King of Glory

     Foretold in sacred story:

          Hosanna to the Lord, 

          For He fulfills God's Word!

2.  God's people see Him coming:

     Your own eternal king!

     Palm branches strew before Him!

     Spread garments!  Shout and sing!

     God's promise will not fail you!

     No more shall doubt assail you!

          Hosanna to the Lord,

          For He fulfills God's Word!

3.  Then fling the gates wide open

     To greet your promised king!

     Your king, yet ev'ry nation

     Its tribute too should bring.

     All lands, bow down before Him!

     All nations, now adore Him!

          Hosanna to the Lord,

          For He fulfills God's Word!

4.  His is no earthly kingdom;

     It comes from heav'n above.

     His rule is peace and freedom

     And justice, truth, and love.

     So let your praise be sounding

     For kindness, so abounding:

         Hosanna to the Lord,

         For He fulfills God's Word!  

O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide

"Oh, that You would rend the heavens!  That You would come down!  That the mountains might shake at Your presence--as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil--to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!"  (Is. 64:1-2)

1.  O Savior, rend the heavens wide;

     Come down, come down with mighty stride;

     Unlock the gates, the doors break down;

     Unbar the way to heaven's crown.

2.  O Father, light from heaven send;

     As morning dew, O Son, descend.

     Drop down, you clouds, the life of spring:

     To Jacob's line rain down the King.

3.  O earth, in flow'ring bud be seen;

     Clothe hill and dale in garb of green.

     Bring forth, O earth, a blossom rare,

     Our Savior, sprung from meadow fair.

4.  O Fount of hope, how long, how long?

     When will You come with comfort strong?

     O come, O come, Your throne forego;

     Console us in our vale of woe.

5.  O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,

     When will our hearts behold Your dawn?

     O Sun, arise; without Your light

     We grope in gloom and dark of night.

6.  Sin's dreadful doom before us lies;

     Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.

     O come, lead us with mighty hand

     From exile to our promised land.

7.  There shall we all our praises bring

     And sing to You, our Savior King;

     There shall we laud You and adore

     Forever and forevermore.

Now Thank We All Our God

"Now Thank We All Our God" was written by Martin Rinckart who lived in the town of Eilenberg, Germany in the early 1600's during the Thirty Years' War.  Eilenberg was a walled city and as such it became a haven for fugitives from both far and near.  Because of the overcrowding and poor sanitation, it became a breeding ground for disease and death.  After the other two pastors died, Pastor Rinckart was left alone to bury the dead and minister to the dying and console the grieving as best he could.  He buried an average of 40 people a day; and the end of the whole ordeal, he had buried a total of 4,480 people, among whom was his own wife.  Twice the city was overrun by foreigners.  Yet in spite of all these severe adversities that would be enough to challenge anyone's faith, Pastor Rinckart trusted God and praised God's goodness and grace, even in the face of such difficult circumstance with the words of this hymn:

1.  Now thank we all our God

         With hearts and hands and voices,

             Who wondrous things has done,

         In whom His world rejoices;

     Who from our mother's arms

         Has blest us on our way

             With countless gifts of love

         And still is ours today.

2.  Oh, may this bounteous God

         Through all our life be near us,

             With ever joyful hearts

         And bles-sed peace to cheer us

     And keep us in His grace

         And guide us when perplexed

             And free us from all ills

         In this world and the next.

3.  All praise and thanks to God

         The Father now be given,

             The Son, and Him who reign

         With them in highest heaven,

     The one eternal God,

         Whom earth and heav'n adore;

     For thus it was, is now,

          And shall be evermore.

The Day of Christ's Return

Carl Schalk's tune CHEOPS was the inspiration for this text based on the passage from 2 Peter 3:3-15a (NASB):  "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?  For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."  For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction by ungodly men.  But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements destroyed with intense heat, and the earth at its works will be burned up.    Since all these things are to be destroyed this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  But according to His promise we are looking for a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless and regard the patience of the Lord as salvation..."  Even so, Lord, come quickly!

1.  The day of Christ's return is still denied

     By skeptics, who in unbelief deride:

          "Where is this coming of your Lord?"

     Their darkened minds are blinded by their pride.

2.  Yes, in the human heart rebellion grows,

     Forgetting what the Scripture clearly shows:

           A thousand years within God's sight

     Are like a day that quickly comes and goes.

3.  The gracious reason why our Lord delays

     Reflects His patience, born of endless days:

          For God would have the world repent

     And turn from futile, selfish, empty ways.

4.  For soon the heav'ns will vanish with a roar;

     The earth laid bare by fire will be no more!

          What kind of people ought we be

     As we await the One whom we adore?

5.  Live godly lives of holiness and peace;

     By word and deed the reign of Christ increase;

          Look forward to and speed that day

     When all will be made new and never cease.