Above:  Pentecost Dove

Scan by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Original Text (1591) by Bartholomaus Ringwaldt (1532-1599)

Translation #1 (1693) by Soren Jonasson

Translation #2 (1909) by Oluf Hanson Smeby (1851-1929)

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), U.S. Norwegian Lutherans

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1.  O Holy Spirit, grant us grace

That we our Lord and Saviour

In faith and fervent love embrace,

And truly serve Him ever,

So that when death is drawing nigh,

We to His open wounds may fly,

And find in them salvation.

2.  Help us that we Thy saving word

In faithful hearts may treasure;

Let e’er that bread of life afford

New grace in richest measure;

Yea, let us die to ev’ry sin,

For heav’n create us new within,

That fruits of faith may flourish.

3.  And when our earthly race is run,

Death’s bitter hour impending,

Then may Thy work, in us begun,

Continue till life’s ending;

Until we gladly may commend

Our souls into our Savior’s hand,

To rest in peace eternal.

Above:  Dawn on River

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Henry N. Hendrickson (1869-1953)

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), U.S. Norwegian Lutherans

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1.  Father, source of life and light,

Who has kept us through the night,

Sheltered ‘neath Thy mighty wing,

Thee our morning praise we bring.

Shine upon us from above

With the radiance of Thy love.

2.  Savior, Master, in Thy way

Guide our erring steps today;

In temptation’s trying hour

Touch us with Thy quickening pow’r.

Richest gift Thy grace can give,

Teach us, Master, how to live.

3.  Holy Spirit, ever near,

Keep our hearts from guilty fear.

Strengthen us for each our task

More than we know how to ask.

Sanctified, redeemed, and free,

Humbly let us walk with Thee.

Above:  Good Shepherd

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Carl Olof Rosenius (1816-1868)

Translated by Ernst W. Olson (1870-1958)

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), U.S Norwegian Lutherans

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1.  With God and His mercy,

His Spirit, and word,

And loving communion at altar and board,

We meet with assurance the dawn of each day:

The Shepherd is with us,

The Shepherd is with us,

To lead and protect us, and teach us the way.

2.  In perilous times, amid tempest and night,

A band presses on through the gloom toward light;

Though humble, and meek, and disowned by the world,

They follow the Savior,

They follow the Savior,

And march on to glory, with banners unfurled.

3.  While groveling worldlings with dross are content,

And ever on sin and transgression are bent,

I follow, victorious hosts, at your word,

And march on to glory,

And march on to glory,

We march on to glory, our captain the Lord.

4.  The sign of the cross we triumphantly bear,

Though none of my kindred that emblem may wear;

I joyfully follow the champions of right,

Who march on to glory,

Who march on to glory,

Who march on to glory, with weapons of might.

5.  O Shepherd, abide with us, care for us still,

And feed us and lead us, and teach us Thy will;

And when in Thy heavenly folds we shall be,

Our thanks and our praises,

Our thanks and our praises,

Our thanks and our praises we’ll render to Thee.

Above:  Mountain Morning

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), Norwegian-American Lutheran

Original Words by Wilhelm Andreas Wexels (1797-1866)

English Translation (1931) by Oscar R. Overby (1892-1964)

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1.  One radiant morn the mists will all surrender,

And life’s uncertain shadows pass away;

When light celestial breaks in dazzling splendor

To lead my step into eternal day.

2.  One radiant morn the mysteries I ponder,

And leave unsolved on all my quests abroad,

Shall be construed for me in fullness yonder

When I awake to sense the ways of God.

3.  One radiant morn when hearts bowed down in sorrow

Are comforted and reconciled above,

All pain and tears I here in anguish borrow

Shall be dissolved in fountain-rays of love.

4.  One radiant morn with eyes unveiled before Him,

I’ll see the One my faith and hope embrace;

Within the holy realms I’ll praise, adore Him,

And kneel to thank my Savior face to face.

5.  One radiant morn when sinless souls assemble,

Where each desire is born in purity,

No more the thought of wrong shall make me tremble,

But, ransomed, I shall live forever free.

6.  One radiant morn in halls of home supernal,

I’ll meet again the friend I here esteem,

In glory speak with him of life eternal,

And of the life that vanished like a dream.

7.  O Jesus, stir within my heart of sadness

This vision fair whene’er I grieve forlorn,

That it may turn all bitter tears to gladness,

And lead my spirit to that radiant morn.

Above:  Lake Dusk

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal: A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), Norwegian-American Lutheran

Original Text by Hans J. Himmerich (1681-1735)

Norwegian Translation by Wilhelm Andreas Wexels (1797-1866)

English Translation (1929) by Vigleik E. Boe (1872-1953)

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1.  The day is fast declining

And night is drawing near;

Thy mercy, Lord, is shining,

Dispelling all our fear.

Our sins forgive, O Father,

Protect us great and small,

Thy holy angels gather

To watch around us all.

2.  When darkness earth has blinded

And day has passed from sight,

We are, O Lord, reminded

Of death’s approaching night.

Illumine Thou our passage,

O Jesus, dearest Friend,

Send us Thy gladsome message,

Grant us a blessed end.

Above:  St. James Episcopal Church, Cedartown, Georgia

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Words (1928) by Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe (1889-1941)

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), U.S. Norwegian Lutheran

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1.  Eternal God, our Father,

In Jesus’ name we gather

To praise and worship Thee.

Let hymns of adoration

And prayers of supplication

Like incense sweet arise to Thee.

2.  Thy grace in Christ confession,

We come to seek the blessing

Thy holy word imparts.

Grant us through Thy blest Spirit

In fervent love to bear it,

And keep it in believing hearts.

3.  Thy Son, our risen Savior,

Hath gained for us Thy favor,

The curse of law He bore.

In Shepherd love He sought us,

With His own blood He bought us,

To grant us life forevermore.

4.  Heirs of Thy free salvation,

May we bring consolation

To those in need and pain.

True to our Lord and Savior,

May we as Christians ever

Unspotted from the world remain.

5.  Thy word our hearts sustaineth:

Its shining light remaineth

Our guide to realms above.

6.  There we shall praise and bless Thee,

With angel hosts confess Thee,

And evermore extol Thy love.

Above:  Roses, Between 1900 and 1905

Image Publisher = Detroit Publishing Company

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-det-4a20684

Original Danish Words by Hans Adolf Brorson (1694-1764)

English Translation by Jens Christian Aaberg (1877-1970)

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal:  A Hymnal for Church, School and Home (1932), Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church

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1.  Now found is the fairest of roses,

‘Mongst briars it sweetly reposes;

My Jesus is so precious and holy

Abode among sinners so lowly.

2.  Since man his Creator deserted

And wholly His image perverted,

The world like a desert was lying,

And all in transgression were dying.

3.  But God, as His promise had granted,

A Rose in the desert has planted,

Which now is with sweetness endowing

The race that in evil was growing.

4.  All men should with gladness forever

Give praises to God for His favor,

But many have ne’er comprehended

The Rose to the world has descended.

5.  My Jesus, Thou ever remainest

My glory and crown, who sustainest

My heart in the fullness of pleasure;

Thy sweetness alone I will treasure.

6.  The world may of all thins bereave me,

Its thorns may annoy and aggrieve me,

The foe may affliction engender,

My rose I will never surrender.

Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal (1932), U.S. Lutheran

Original German Words (1833) by Carl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859)

English Translation by Sarah Borthwick Findlater (1823-1907)

I found the name of the translator in Service Book and Hymnal (1958).  The Concordia Hymnal (1932) and its sort-of successor, The Ambassador Hymnal for Lutheran Worship (1994), list Spitta as author but do not identify the translator.

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1.  O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest,

Thou loving Friend and Savior of our race,

And where among the guests there never cometh

One who can hold such high and honored place!

2.  O happy home, where little ones are given

To Thee, O Lord, in humble faith and pray’r,

To Thee, their Friend, who from the heights of heaven

Guides them, and guards with more than mother’s care!

3.  O happy home, where each one serves Thee lowly,

Whatever his appointed work may be,

Till ev’ry common task seems great and holy,

When it is done, O Lord, as unto Thee!

4.  O happy home, where Thou art not forgotten

When joy is overflowing, full and free,

O happy home, where ev’ry wounded spirit

Is brought, Physician, Comforter, to Thee.

5.  And when at last all earthly toil is ended,

All meet Thee in the blessed home above,

From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,–

Thine everlasting home of peace and love.

Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal (1932), U.S. Lutheran

Original Words by Aurelius Ambrose (340-397), according to tradition

Original Words by Elisabet Cruciger (Circa 1500-1535), according to the companion volume (1985) to The Covenant Hymnal (1973), The Evangelical Covenant Church of America

Swedish Translation by Olavus Petri (1493-1552)

English Translation by Ernst W. Olson (1870-1958)

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1.  Now hail we our Redeemer,

Eternal Son of God,

Born in the flesh to save us,

And cleanse us in His blood.

The Morning Star ascendeth,

Light to the world He lendeth,

Our Guide in grief and gloom.

2.  A man, of God begotten,

Brought in the age of grace;

Lo, all the earth is radiant

With light, and hope, and peace.

Our prison He demolished,

Death’s power He abolished,

And opened heaven’s gate.

3.  O Jesus, grant us mercy,

And grace on us bestow,

To walk by Thine own guidance,

Thy saving truth to know.

For Thee our hearts are yearning,

From worldly pleasures turning

Unto Thy righteousness.

4.  Into Thy hand the Father

Gave all, that we might be

In bonds of faith united;

And dedicate to Thee

A people through Thy merit

Entitled to inherit

Thy realm eternally.

Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal (1932), U.S. Lutheran

Original Words by Georg Weissel (1590-1635)

English Translation (1919) by Professor Peter Andrew Sveeggen (1881-1959)

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1.  Make wide the door, unbar the gate!

The King of Glory comes in state,

His banner o’er the earth unfurled;

He is the Savior of the world.

2.  He comes to earth in righteousness,

All men with peace and joy to bless;

In kindness is His purpose shown;

He reigns in mercy o’er His own.

3.  He heralds forth a gracious day,

And takes our sin and guilt away;

And hence from longing hearts shall sound

A hymn of praise the world around.

4.  O well for ev’ry hearth and home,

Where Jesus rears His kingly dome!

O well for ev’ry heart and mind,

Where Christ as King may entrance find.

5.  For then a heavenly joy will greet

Our souls from God’s own mercy-seat;

In Him, the Son of God, is light

That makes our deepest darkness brigt.

6.  Make wide the door, remove all bars;

Give room to Him who rules the stars;

For then the King of Glory will

The wondrous work of God fulfill.

7.  My heart I open now to Thee;

Come, Jesus, and abide with me;

And in Thy mercy make it so,

That I Thy depths of love may know.

8.  O let Thy Spirit more and more,

From day to day make wide the door,

That Christ alone our King may be,

And Savior through eternity!