Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

German Text (published in 1571) by Paul Eber (1511-1569)

English Translation (1907) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  To God the anthem raising,

Sing, Christians, great and small;

Sing out, His goodness praising,

Oh, thank Him, one and all!

Behold how God this year,

Which now is safely ended,

Hath in His love befriended,

His children far and near.

2.  Let us consider rightly

His mercies manifold,

And let us not think lightly

Of all His gifts untold.

Let thankfulness recall

How God this year hath led us,

How He hath clothed and fed us,

The great ones and the small.

3.  The Church and State He granted

His peace in every place,

His vineyard He hath planted

Among us by His grace.

His ever bounteous hand

Prosperity hath given

And want and famine driven

From this our native land.

4.  His Father heart is yearning

To take us for His own

When, our transgressions mourning,

We trust in Christ alone;

When in His name we pray

And humbly make confession,

He pardons our transgression

And is our faithful Stay.

5.  Our God hath well defended,

Hath kept us through His grace;

But if He had contended

With us our sins to trace

And given us our meed,

We all would then be lying

In sin and sorrow, dying,

Each one for his misdeed.

6.  O Father dear in heaven,

For all Thy gifts of love

Which Thou to us hast given

We lift our thanks above.

In Jesus’ name we here,

To Thee our prayers addressing,

Still ask Thee for Thy blessing:

Grant us a joyful year.

Above:  Icon of Christ the Merciful

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Original Danish Text (1823) by Michael Frederik Liebenberg (1767-1828)

English Translation (1910) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  Jesus, Master! at Thy word

I will work whate’er betide me,

And I know Thou wilt, O Lord,

By Thy word and Spirit guide me;

At Thy word my faith shall see

All things work for good to me.

2.  Though my toil may seem unblest,

And my lot appointed dreary,

When at eve I go to rest,

From my labor faint and weary;

At Thy word I will each morn

To my work with joy return.

3.  Though I be of joys bereft,

And by sorrows overtaken,

Yet I know a solace left:

I am not by Thee forsaken;

Jesus, Thou canst aid afford.

Fraught with comfort is Thy word.

4.  At Thy word in faith I press

Onward through this vale of sadness;

By Thy grace I shall possess

Victor-palms in heavenly gladness;

To my latest hour, O Lord,

I will trust Thee at Thy word.

Above:  Icon of Christ in Majesty

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1913/1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Original Texts (1676 and 1700) by Jodocus van Lodenstein (1620-1677) and Bartholomaus Crasselius (1667-1724), respectively

English Translation (1907) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  Holy Jesus! Fountain streaming

Of holiness and grace redeeming,

As clear as crystal, pure and free;

Cherubim in robes of whiteness

And seraphim in all their brightness

Are darkness when compared with Thee;

Be Thou my pattern bright,

My glory and delight,

Holy Savior!

O teach Thou me, that I may be

All pure and holy, like to Thee.

2.  Gentle Jesus! self-denying,

And with Thy Father’s will complying,

Yea, even unto death resigned;

Let me e’er, Thy way pursuing,

Be guided by Thy gentle mind;

Like Thee may I be mild

And gentle as a child,

Gentle Savior!

O teach Thou me, that I may be

Meek and obedient, like to Thee.

3.  Loving Jesus! Thou my treasure,

Whose love to man no thought can measure,

Conform me to Thine image bright;

Send Thy Spirit, grace bestowing,

That I, in every virtue growing,

May ripen for the realms of light;

O draw me after Thee,

Forever Thine to be,

Loving Savior!

Thou givest rest to souls distressed,

And all who learn of Thee are blest.

Above:  De Profundis

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Original Text (1557) by Clement Marot (1497-1544)

English Translation (1907) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  O Lord, hear Thou my calling,

Out of the deep I cry;

O make my prayer prevailing;

With aid to me draw nigh:

O mark my lamentation,

My restless sighing hear,

And to my supplication

Incline Thy gracious ear.

2.  If Thou shouldst mark abuses

And strict account demand,

O Lord, with what excuses

Could we before Thee stand?

But if with true contrition

Our sins we mourn and blame,

Thou savest from perdition

That we may fear Thy name.

3.  In God my hope abideth,

My trust is in the Lord,

My soul in Him confideth

And builds upon His word:

My soul for Him is yearning,

More longing for His grace

Than daylight’s sweet returning

The watchman longs to trace.

4.  Be God thy strong foundation,

Thou chosen Israel;

Thy God with whom salvation

And mercy ever dwell;

His river ever streameth,

With pardon full and free,

He Israel redeemeth

From all iniquity.

Above:  St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Snellville, Georgia, June 29, 2015

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America/The Evangelical Lutheran Church

Original Danish Words (1837) by Nikolai Grundtvig (1783-1872)

English Translation (1909) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  Abide among us, we implore Thee,

Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Spirit breathe!

And let the babes we bring before Thee

Now be baptized into Thy death.

2.  Lord, after Thee we Christians call them,

O let them in Thy name arise!

And keep them Thine whate’er befall them,

That they may reach Thy paradise.

3.  If Thou their earthly race shouldst lengthen,

Thy faithful servants let them prove;

If few their days, their weakness strengthen,

That they may share Thy dying love.

4.  O write Thy blessed name, dear Savior,

Upon their hearts, we Thee implore;

And on Thy palms engrave this favor,

That they are Thine for evermore.

Above:  St. Clare’s Episcopal Church, February 16, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Original Norwegian Words (1861) by Magnus Brostrup Landstad (1802-1880)

English Translation (1910) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  I come to Thee, O blessed Lord,

Invited by Thy gracious word

To this Thy feast, to sup with Thee,

Grant that a worthy guest I be.

2.  I come to Thee with sin and grief,

For Thou alone canst give relief,

Thy death for me, dear Lord, I plead:

O Jesus, help me in my need!

3.  Shouldst Thou a strict account demand,

Who could, O Lord, before Thee stand?

Purge all my secret sins away:

Be Thou, O Christ, the sinner’s stay!

4.  O Jesus, Lamb of God, alone,

Who didst for all our sins atone,

Though I have sinned and gone astray,

Turn not, O Lord, Thy guest away!

5.  O Jesus, Lamb of God alone,

Who didst for our sins atone,

Be merciful, I Thee implore,

Have mercy, Lord, for evermore!

Above:  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Newnan, Georgia, January 26, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Original Norwegian Text (1861) by Magnus Brostrup Landstad (1802-1880)

English Translation (1909) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  Before Thee, God, who knowest all

With grief and shame I prostrate fall;

I see my sins against Thee, Lord,

The sins of thought, of deed, and word,

They press me sore, I cry to Thee:

O God, be merciful to me!

2.  O Lord, my God, to Thee I pray:

O cast me not in wrath away,

Let Thy good Spirit ne’er depart,

But let Him draw to Thee my heart,

That truly penitent I be:

O God, be merciful to me!

3.  O Jesus, let Thy precious blood

Be to my soul a cleansing flood;

Turn not, O Lord, Thy guest away,

But grant that justified I may

Go to my house with peace from Thee:

O God, be merciful to me!

Above:  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Newnan, Georgia, January 26, 2014

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Traditional Latin Text

Norwegian Translation (1861) by Magnus Brostrup Landstad (1802-1880)

English Translation (1909) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

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1.  Lord God, our Father, Thou our chiefest stay,

Thou art our souls’ delight for aye!

O hearken to our humble prayer:

Forgive our sins and us in mercy spare!

Have mercy on us, O Lord!

2.  Lord Jesus Christ, God’s true light and way,

Shepherd of souls, to Thee we pray:

Thou wast for our salvation slain,

Let not Thy death and sufferings be in vain!

Have mercy on us, O Lord!

3.  Lord God, the Holy Ghost, Thee we implore

Be with us now and evermore!

Lead us to God, His grace to win,

And leave us not to perish in our sin!

Have mercy on us, O Lord!

Above:  Christ in Majesty, Chartres Cathedral

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), Norwegian Lutheran Church of America

Traditional Latin Text

English Translation (1911) by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

Another translation is here.

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1.  Thee God we praise, Thy name we bless,

Thee Lord of all we do confess;

The whole creation worships Thee,

The Father of eternity.

2.  To Thee aloud all angels cry,

The heavens and all the powers on high,

The cherubs and the seraphs join,

And thus they hymn Thy praise divine:

3.  O holy, holy, holy Lord,

Thou God of hosts, by all adored,

Earth and the heavens are full of Thee,

Thy light, Thy power, Thy majesty.

4.  The apostles join the glorious throng,

The prophets swell the immortal song,

The white-robed hosts of martyrs bright

All serve and praise Thee day and night.

5.  The holy Church in every place

Throughout the world exalts Thy praise

And ever doth acknowledge Thee,

Father of boundless majesty.

6.  O God eternal, mighty King,

We unto Thee our praises bring;

And to Thy true and only Son,

And Holy Spirit, Three in One.

7.  O King of glory, Christ the Lord,

God’s everlasting Son–the Word,

To rescue mankind from its doom,

Thou didst our very flesh assume.

8.  Thou overcamest death’s sharp sting,

Believers unto heaven to bring;

At God’s right hand, exalted there,

Thou dost the Father’s glory share.

9.  And we believe Thou wilt descend

To be our judge, when comes the end;

Thy servants help, whom Thou, O God,

Hast ransomed with Thy precious blood.

10.  Among Thy saints let us be found

With glory everlasting crowned;

Thy people save from age to age,

And bless Thy chosen heritage.

11.  O guide them, lift them up for aye;

We magnify Thee day by day,

Thy name we worship and adore,

World without end, for evermore.

12.  Vouchsafe, O Lord, we humbly pray,

to keep us safe from sin this day:

O Lord, have mercy on us all,

Have mercy on us, when we call.

13.  Thy mercy, Lord, to us extend,

As on Thy mercy we depend:

Lord, I have put my trust in Thee,

Confounded let me never be.

Above:  Sheep and Shepherds, Palestine, Between 1934 and 1939

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-matpc-22229

Original Danish Words by Anders Christensen Arrebo (1587-1637)

English Translation by Carl Doving (1867-1937)

Hymn Source = Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996), Evangelical Lutheran Synod

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1.  The Lord my faithful Shepherd is,

And me he safely guideth;

I shall not want, for I am His

Who all things good provideth.

I follow Him, I hear His voice,

In Him my Lord I do rejoice

Blest am I in His keeping!

2.  A tender shepherd leads his sheep

Where pastures green are growing,

And there His flock doth guard and keep

Beside the waters flowing.

Thus Christ, my Shepherd, leadeth me,

My soul and body feedeth He

And for their wants provideth.

3.  And if I ever go astray,

My wayward soul He turneth,

To save the lost, to guide the way,

For this He ever yearneth;

He leadeth me, my soul to bless

In His own path of righteousness

For His name’s sake and glory.

4.  Why should I ever fear, O Lord,

Whilst Thee I have beside me?

Thou by Thy Spirit and Thy Word

Dost comfort and dost guide me.

In death’s dark vale I’ll fear no ill,

For Thou, O Lord, art with me still,

Thy rod and staff shall stay me.

5.  Thou art my host; for me, Thy guest,

A table Thou providest.

Thou foes be near, I am at rest,

Thou still with me abidest.

With oil anointest Thou my head,

Oh me Thy blessing rich is shed,

My cup with bliss o’erfloweth.

6.  Thy goodness and Thy mercy, Lord,

Shall follow me, attending

The days Thou dost to me afford

Until they reach their ending.

Thereafter shall I in Thy love

Dwell in Thy house in heav’n above

Forever and forever.