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Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done. For created light we thank Thee, While Thine ordered seasons run. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness, Dark as night and deep as death, Broke the light of Thy salvation, Breathed Thine own life-breathing breath. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous; Bright with Thine own holiness, Glorious now, we press toward glory, And our lives our hopes confess. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! From the cross Thy wisdom shining Breaketh forth in conqu’ring might; From the cross forever beameth All Thy bright redeeming light. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end! Give us lips to sing Thy glory, Tongues Thy mercy to proclaim, Throats that shout the hope that fills us, Mouths to speak Thy holy name. Alleluia, alleluia! May the light which Thou dost send Fill our songs with alleluias, Alleluias without end! God the Father, light-creator, To Thee laud and honor be. To Thee, Light of Light begotten, Praise be sung eternally. Holy Spirit, light-revealer, Glory, glory be to Thee. Mortals, angels, now and ever Praise the holy Trinity! Text: Martin H. Franzmann, 1907–76
Text: © 1969 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005066 Light is such a rich figure of speech found in the Scriptures, pointing to Jesus the light of the world. “Thy Strong Word,” uses this image throughout the text, comparing His word to the light. On October 7, 1954 Martin Franzmann’s new hymn was first sung as a procession for the St. Louis Seminary Commencement, based upon the seminary’s motto, “Light from Above” (Matthew 4:16.) It was sung as a processional hymn at seminary commencement exercises every year from 1955-1997. Verses 3 and 6 were added in 1959 because the hymn wasn’t long enough for a commencement processional. In the first stanza, the light breaks the physical darkness as God creates the world with the spoken word. In stanza 2 and 3, the light, Jesus, the light of the world, sees us in our sin and gives us life through His holiness. I love the image in stanza 4. Light is shining from the cross. It is shining God’s wisdom – God’s redemption. We are all in darkness, without hope in a dark world, and the cross brings light to us, bringing the only way to heaven. Stanza 5 reminds us that even singing praise to Christ from the heart is only done by the Holy Spirit. He fills our tongues with that light, sharing it with others. This Sunday, as we celebrate Reformation and sing a powerful arrangement of “Thy Strong Word” with the Choir and brass (arranged by Carl Schalk), we praise God for His living Word that draws us to Himself. We Praise Jesus Christ for shining in the darkness. Praise the Holy Trinity! In Christ’s Service, Jennifer Rasch Music Director St. Paul Lutheran Church You have turned my mourning to dancing Ps 30:11 Berger, David Lutheran Service Book Companion to the Hymns Vol 1, CPH
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“Serve the Lord with gladness!” It is He alone Who redeemed us sinners, Guides us as His own To enjoy the blessings Of His love and grace, Will at last in glory Meet us face to face. Onward, then, for Jesus! Let this be our aim: “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Glorify His name. “Serve the Lord with gladness!” He gave us command To proclaim His Gospel Now in every land So that fellow sinners May, like us, be blest. Leading them to Jesus, We can serve Him best. Onward, then, for Jesus! Let this be our aim: “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Glorify His name! “Serve the Lord with gladness!” There’s no greater joy Than to serve the Master, Work in His employ. As we build His kingdom Angels, too, rejoice Over every sinner Brought to hear His voice. Onward, then, for Jesus! Let this be our aim: “Serve the Lord with gladness!” Glorify His name! Tune: 662 LSB, 518 LW, 658 TLH Prof. Ernest Lewerenz This week at St. Paul Lutheran Church, we celebrate LWML (Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League) Sunday, celebrating women in mission here in the US and around the world. We are a part of a global network of Lutheran women who serve the Lord with gladness, and this hymn, sung to the tune of “Onward Christian Soldiers,” is our theme song. Although it is a song for women, it can easily be sung by all Christians who are ready to praise the Lord and serve Him in their daily lives.
Just as Psalm 100: 2 calls us to “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing,” Prof. Lewerenz reminds us in this hymn to serve, not in drudgery, but with a joyful spirit not because of how great we are, but because He has “redeemed us sinners and guides us as his own.” He generously gives his children love and grace, and someday we will meet him face to face in Heaven. Jesus gave the command to proclaim the Gospel in every land so that other sinners may also be blessed. We share that Gospel in our words, in our actions, and in our mission support, partly in LWML mites. There is no greater joy than to serve the Master, building His kingdom. We can do so many things that seem to bring us happiness, but God brings us true lasting joy when we are working with Him in His kingdom. I have this picture in my head of a little boy walking along with his Daddy, pulling and tugging so hard on a heavy bucket of water. His Daddy is carrying the water, and the little boy is enjoying helping his Dad. When we work in the kingdom, God is doing the work. He is carrying the bucket. We can’t take the credit, but God has invited us to serve with him. We have true joy in serving with him. Serve the Lord with gladness! In Christ’s Service, Jennifer Rasch Music Director St. Paul Lutheran Church He has turned my mourning into dancing Ps 30:11 In the darkness we were waiting Without hope without light Till from Heaven You came running There was mercy in Your eyes To fulfil the law and prophets To a virgin came the Word From a throne of endless glory To a cradle in the dirt Praise the Father Praise the Son Praise the Spirit three in one God of Glory Majesty Praise forever to the King of kings To reveal the kingdom coming And to reconcile the lost To redeem the whole creation You did not despise the cross For even in Your suffering You saw to the other side Knowing this was our salvation Jesus for our sake You died Praise the Father Praise the Son Praise the Spirit three in one God of Glory Majesty Praise forever to the King of kings And the morning that You rose All of heaven held its breath Till that stone was moved for good For the Lamb had conquered death And the dead rose from their tombs And the angels stood in awe For the souls of all who'd come To the Father are restored And the Church of Christ was born Then the Spirit lit the flame Now this Gospel truth of old Shall not kneel shall not faint By His blood and in His Name In His freedom I am free For the love of Jesus Christ Who has resurrected me Praise th Father Praise the Son Praise the Spirit three in one God of Glory Majesty Praise forever to the King of kings Praise forever to the King of kings Text: Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Scott Ligertwood
Text: © 2019 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes. Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910 Worship Leader Brook Ligertwood, along with her husband, Scott Ligertwood, and Jason Ingram wrote this meaningful song “King of Kings” that we will sing September 24, going through Jesus birth as a baby, his sacrifice on the cross, resurrection, and the birth of the church on Pentecost. Quoting Ligertwood, “It is deeply rooted in scripture and packed full of theology….We hope and we pray that the song articulates the heart of the Gospel and the story of the church…and then placing ourselves within that story with the birth of the Church and our salvation stories.” She paints a picture of our brokenness without Christ, waiting for Him in the dark without hope. We don’t have our own inner light. Instead, we wait for His light. Such a beautiful picture, the eyes of Jesus showing mercy as he runs to us from heaven, fulfilling the law and fulfilling the promises spoken over and over by the prophets. He gave up his throne of endless glory to a human form, and a cradle- a manger- in the dirt. He reconciled himself to us on the cross, saving us even though he had the power to walk away from it all. In the morning, when he rose, “All of heaven held its breath” … “for the Lamb had conquered death.” And because of this, all who trust in Jesus were restored to the Father. When the Spirit was poured out, the Church of Christ was born. More and more people boldly were telling the great news of Jesus’ Resurrection who also resurrects us. Praise the Gather, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit three in one! God of Glory Majesty. Praise forever to the King of Kings! In Christ’s Service Jennifer Rasch St. Paul Lutheran Church Denton, TX Music Director Music@splcdenton.org He has turned my mourning into dancing Ps30:11 https://www.songfacts.com/facts/hillsong-worship/king-of-kings Who breaks the power of sin and darkness Whose love is mighty and so much stronger The King of Glory the King above all kings Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder The King of Glory the King above all kings This is amazing grace This is unfailing love That You would take my place That You would bear my cross You laid down Your life That I would be set free Oh Jesus I sing for all that You've done for me Who brings our chaos back into order Who makes the orphan a son and daughter The King of Glory the King of Glory Who rules the nations with truth and justice Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance The King of Glory the King above all kings This is amazing grace This is unfailing love That You would take my place That You would bear my cross You laid down Your life That I would be set free Oh Jesus I sing for all that You've done for me Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy, worthy, worthy This is amazing grace This is unfailing love That You would take my place That You would bear my cross You laid down Your life That I would be set free Oh Jesus I sing for all that You've done for me All that You've done for me Text: Phil Wickham, Jeremy Riddle and Josh Farro Text: © 2012 Bethel Music Publishing. Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910 Text: © 2012 WB Music Corp. Phil Whickham Music/Seems Like Music/ Sing My Songs/ . Used by permission: CCLI no. 11180910 Who is Jesus; who is our mighty God who loves us? “This is Amazing Grace” by Phil Whickham attempts to answer that question. It starts with some questions: “Who breaks the power of sin and darkness? Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?” Answer: The King of Glory, the King above all kings. We continue to see that Jesus, our King of Kings is almighty, shaking the whole earth with thunder, and yet he is filled with amazing grace and unfailing love, taking our place on the cross, laying his life down so that we would be set free. Just as Paul stated in Philippians 2:6-11 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Because sin has come into the world, we have been brought into chaos. Jesus broke the bonds of death and brings order back into our lives. When we meet him face to face, that order will be perfected, and the chaos will be no more. Without him, we are orphans, not receiving any inheritance, not under any protection. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Gal 4:6-7 Here we sing of Jesus power and his sacrifice. He is the king of glory who rules the nations with truth and justice. He is also the Lamb who was slain. Just as spotless lambs were offered as sacrifices in the Old Testament to atone for the sins of the people, Jesus willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins on the cross to wipe away our sins. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! Can you imagine the love it took to offer himself for us? He gave up so much for us! O, Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me!
Jennifer Rasch Music Director St. Paul Lutheran Church Psalm 30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing. My soul, now praise your Maker! |
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