Wide Open Stand the Gates

This translation by Herman Stuempfle of Wilhelm Loehe's communion text is a wonderful addition to Lutheran Service Book! 

Wide open stand the gates adorned with pearl,

    While round God’s golden throne

The choirs of saints in endless circles curl,

    And joyous praise the Son!

They watch Him now descending

    To visit waiting earth.

The Lord of Life unending

    Brings dying hope new birth!

He speaks the Word the bread and wine to bless:

    “This is My flesh and blood!”

He bids us eat and drink with thankfulness

    This gift of holy food.

All human thought must falter—

    Our God stoops low to heal,

Now present on the altar,

    For us both host and meal!

The cherubim, their faces veiled from light,

    While saints in wonder kneel,

Sing praise to Him whose face with glory bright

    No earthly masks conceal.

This sacrament God gives us

    Binds us in unity,

Joins earth with heav’n beyond us,

    Time with eternity!

Mark How the Lamb of God's Self-Offering

This text is by Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b. 1944), former president of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.  In the first stanza, Daw points the worshiper to Christ's baptism in the Jordan.  In stanza 2, he points to what took place after the Jesus' baptism, when the Spirit led our Lord to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days. Halfway through the second stanza, Daw transitions to application for the life of the Christian and then concludes the hymn with a prayer for the baptismal life of the Christian in the third stanza.  This hymn is 600 in Lutheran Service Book.

Mark how the Lamb of God’s self-off’ring

    Our human sinfulness takes on

In the birthwaters of the Jordan

    As Jesus is baptized by John.

Hear how the voice from heaven thunders,

    “Lo, this is My beloved Son.”

See how in dovelike form the Spirit

    Descends on God’s Anointed One.

From this assurance of God’s favor

    Jesus goes to the wilderness,

There to endure a time of testing

    That readied Him to teach and bless.

So we, by water and the Spirit

    Baptized into Christ’s ministry,

Are often led to paths of service

    Through mazes of adversity.

Grant us, O God, the strength and courage

    To live the faith our lips declare;

Bless us in our baptismal calling;

    Christ’s royal priesthood help us share.

Turn us from ev’ry false allegiance,

    That we may trust in Christ alone:

Raise up in us a chosen people

    Transformed by love to be Your own.

We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth

This Christmas hymn from Lutheran Service Book is a translation of Luther's text (st. 2-7) (Stanza 1 is German c. 1380.)  Multiple translators worked in this text for Lutheran Service Book (LSB 382) including Gregory Wismar, st. 1, 6;  F. Samuel Janzow, st. 2, 4;  Lutheran Service Book st, 3, 5, 7.  The tune is GELOBET SEIST DU from Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbeuchlein, Erfurt, 1524.

1.  We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth;
     Clothed in flesh You came to earth.
          The virgin bears a sinless boy
          And all the angels sing for joy.
               Alleluia!

2.  Now in the manger we may see
     God's Son from eternity,
          The gift from God's eternal throne
          Here clothed in our poor flesh and bone.
               Alleluia!

3.  The virgin Mary's lullaby
     Calms the infant Lord Most High.
          Upon her lap content is He
          Who keeps the earth and sky and sea.
               Alleluia!

4.  The Light Eternal, breaking through,
     Made the world to gleam anew;
          His beams have pierced the core of night,
          He makes us children of the light.
               Alleluia!

5.  The very Son of God sublime
     Entered into earthly time
          To lead us from this world of cares
          To heav'ns courts as blessed heirs.
               Alleluia!

6.  In poverty He came to earth
     Showing mercy by His birth;
          He makes us rich in heav'nly ways
          As we, like angels, sing His praise.
               Alleluia!

7.  All this for us our God has done
     Granting love through His own Son.
          Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice
          And sing His praise with endless voice.
               Alleluia!

The Holly and the Ivy

This is one of my favorite English traditional Christmas carols.  I like how the writer ties in images of the Passion in this text.  Thus, the reason for Christ's coming is still in the background at the celebration of His birth...still preaching Christ crucified "to do poor sinners good."

1.  The holly and the ivy,
     When they are both full grown,
     Of all the trees that are in the wood,
     The holly bears the crown.
        O, the rising of the sun,
        And the running of the deer,
        The playing of the merry organ,
        Sweet singing in the choir.


2.  The holly bears a blossom
     As white as the lily flower;
     And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
     To be our sweet Savior.
        O, the rising of the sun,
        And the running of the deer,
        The playing of the merry organ,
        Sweet singing in the choir.


3.  The holly bears a berry
     As red as any blood;
     And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
     To do poor sinners good.
        O, the rising of the sun,
        And the running of the deer,
        The playing of the merry organ,
       Sweet singing in the choir.


4.  The holly bears a prickle
     As sharp as any thorn;
     And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
     On Christmas Day in the morn.
        O, the rising of the sun,
        And the running of the deer,
        The playing of the merry organ,
        Sweet singing in the choir.


5.  The holly bears a bark
     As bitter as any gall;
     And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
     For to redeem us all.
        O, the rising of the sun,
        And the running of the deer,
        The playing of the merry organ,
        Sweet singing in the choir.        

How, Before All Time Began

This Advent/Christmas/Epiphany text was written in 2005 and inspired by the tune ANGELUS AD VIRGINEM to which it is set.

1.  How, before all time began,
     Before the world's creation,
     Could the Lord conceive His plan
     Of mercy and salvation?
     Yet, from that high and timeless place,
     God chose to save our death-bound race:
     Emmanuel--as prophets tell the story
     In Scripture as we know,
     Would veil in flesh His glory
     And dwell with us below!

2.  To the darkness of our light
     And to our need descending,
     Came the Word as Light of Light
     Beyond our comprehending--
     Radiant within the virgin's womb;
     Dawning as day upon our gloom.
     Hail, Jacob's Star!  For all You are now shining
     Your beam of grace on earth,
     Your royal might confining
     Within such humble birth.

3.  As the presence of a king
     Brings honor to a city,
     Bethlehem, be glad and sing
     Your Sov'reign's tender pity;
     Join all the angels who rejoice;
     Let ev'ry creature raise its voice--
     Sing "Glory be to God!" For He is solely
     The God who comes to save
     And to our world unholy,
     The Prince of Peace He gave.

4.  Tarshish lords from distant shore,
     Come pay your tribute to Him;
     Kings of Sheba, kneel before
     The One with worship due Him.
     Rise up, O nations!  See!  Your Lord!
     Long may He live and be adored!
     Oh, may His fame and holy name, transcending
     Each name upon this sphere,
     Be sung with praise unending
     For love so pure and near!