Hymns for October Festivals

St. Luke, Evangelist (18 October)
Isaiah 35:5–8
2 Timothy 4:5–18
Luke 10:1–9

Processional Hymn
By all Your saints in warfare (LSB 518)

Hymn of the Day
O God of God, O Light of Light (LSB 810)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O little flock, fear not the foe (LSB 666)
O Holy Spirit, grant us grace (LSB 693)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)

Processional Out
Praise the One who breaks the darkness (LSB 849)

Alternative Hymns
"Come, follow Me," the Savior spake (LSB 688)
Crown Him with many crowns (LSB 525)
For all the saints who from their labors rest (LSB 677)
God has spoken by His prophets (LSB 583)
God’s Word is our great heritage (LSB 582)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord (LSB 728)
I know my faith is founded (LSB 587)
Lord, ‘tis not that I did choose Thee (LSB 573)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O Savior, rend the heavens wide (LSB 355)
O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)
Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens (LSB 589)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
We are called to stand together (LSB 828)
Word of God, come down on earth (LSB 545)
Your hand, O Lord, in days of old (LSB 846)


St. James of Jerusalem, Bishop and Martyr (23 October)
Acts 15:12–22a
James 1:1–12
Matthew 13:54–58

Processional Hymn
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB 516)

Hymn of the Day
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB 754)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)

Processional Out
Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal (LSB 533)

Alternative Hymns
By all Your saints in warfare (LSB 518)
Christ be my leader by night as by day (LSB 861)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
Hope of the world, Thou Christ of great compassion (LSB 690)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB 673)
Jerusalem the golden (LSB 672)
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB 659)
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
O Holy Spirit, grant us grace (LSB 693)
O Jesus, King most wonderful (LSB 554)
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
Thee will I love, my strength, my tower (LSB 694)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)


St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles (28 October)
Jeremiah 26:1–16
1 Peter 1:3–9
John 15:(12–16) 17–21

Processional Hymn
I bind unto myself today (LSB 604)

Hymn of the Day
"As surely as I live," God said (LSB 614)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Now, my tongue, the myst’ry telling (LSB 630)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
Holy God, we praise Thy name (LSB 940)

Processional Out
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB 671)

Alternative Hymns
By all Your saints in warfare (LSB 518)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
God of the prophets, bless the prophets’ sons (LSB 682)
In Thee is gladness (LSB 818)
Jesus Christ, my sure defense (LSB 741)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me (LSB 683)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
O Christ, our hope, our hearts’ desire (LSB 553)
O Lord, we praise Thee (LSB 617)
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB 675)
Preach you the Word, and plant it home (LSB 586)
Preserve Your Word, O Savior (LSB 658)
The day is surely drawing near (LSB 508)
Thee we adore, O hidden Savior (LSB 640)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)


Reformation Day (31 October)
Revelation 14:6–7
Romans 3:19–28
John 8:31–36
or Matthew 11:12–19

Divine Service, Setting Five (LSB 213–218)

Entrance Hymn
Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LSB 497)

Kyrie Hymn
Kyrie! God, Father in heav’n above (LSB 942)

Gloria Hymn
All glory be to God on high (LSB 947)

Gradual Hymn
Triune God, be Thou our stay (LSB 505)

Hymn of the Day
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)

Creedal Hymn
We all believe in one true God (LSB 954)

Offertory Hymn
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)

Sanctus Hymn
Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old (LSB 960)

Agnus Dei
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God (LSB 198)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
O Lord, we praise Thee (LSB 617)
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your word (LSB 655)

Processional Out
A mighty fortress is our God (LSB 656)

Alternative Hymns
All mankind fell in Adam’s fall (LSB 562)
Built on the Rock the Church shall stand (LSB 645)
Christ is made the sure foundation (LSB 909)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
God’s Word is our great heritage (LSB 582)
Lord, help us ever to retain (LSB 865)
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB 585)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)

Hymns for September Festivals

Holy Cross Day (14 September)
Numbers 21:4–9
1 Corinthians 1:18–25
John 12:20–33

Processional Hymn
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)

Hymn of the Day
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle (LSB 454)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth (LSB 438)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
Upon the cross extended (LSB 453)

Processional Out
The royal banners forward go (LSB 455)

Alternative Hymns
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide (LSB 878)
Awake, my heart, with gladness (LSB 467)
Christ, the Life of all the living (LSB 420)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Draw us to Thee (LSB 701)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
I bind unto myself today (LSB 604)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Jesus, refuge of the weary (LSB 423)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB 395)
O sacred head, now wounded (LSB 450)
On my heart imprint Your image (LSB 422)
Praise the One who breaks the darkness (LSB 849)
Triune God, be Thou our stay (LSB 505)


St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (21 September)
Ezekiel 2:8—3:11
Ephesians 4:7–16
Matthew 9:9–13

Processional Hymn
I bind unto myself today (LSB 604)

Hymn of the Day
What is the world to me (LSB 730)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Christ sits at God’s right hand (LSB 564)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
Jesus sinners doth receive (LSB 609)

Processional Out
Since our great High Priest, Christ Jesus (LSB 529)

Alternative Hymns
"As surely as I live," God said (LSB 614)
By all Your saints in warfare (LSB 518)
Chief of sinners though I be (LSB 611)
Christ is made the sure foundation (LSB 909)
"Come, follow Me," the Savior spake (LSB 688)
God of the prophets, bless the prophets’ sons (LSB 682)
Holy God, we praise Thy name (LSB 940)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s head (LSB 647)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB 530)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
To God the Holy Spirit let us pray (LSB 768)


St. Michael and All Angels (29 September)
Daniel 10:10–14; 12:1–3
Revelation 12:7–12
Matthew 18:1–11
or Luke 10:17–20

Processional Hymn
Christ, the Lord of hosts, unshaken (LSB 521)

Hymn of the Day
Lord God, to Thee we give all praise (LSB 522)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old (LSB 960)
Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright (LSB 520)
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)

Processional Out
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)

Alternative Hymns
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name (LSB 549)
All praise to Thee, my God, this night (LSB 883)
All you works of God, bless the Lord (LSB 930)
Alleluia! Let praises ring (LSB 822)
Behold a host, arrayed in white (LSB 676)
Children of the heav’nly Father (LSB 725)
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing (LSB 686)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
God’s own child, I gladly say it (LSB 594)
Holy God, we praise Thy name (LSB 940)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now (LSB 902)
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB 659)
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB 708)
My soul, now praise your maker (LSB 820)
Now rest beneath night’s shadow (LSB 880)
O blessed, holy Trinity (LSB 876)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (LSB 793)
Shepherd of tender youth (LSB 864)
Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LSB 670)

Prayer of the Church for the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels

O Almighty God, by whom all things were created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, we give You thanks and praise for all the benefits that we receive and daily enjoy through the ministry and protection of Your holy angels; for You have sent forth these good spirits to minister unto those whom You have made to be heirs of salvation and given them charge over us to keep us in all our ways and to bear us up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone.

Teach us, we pray, at all times to be duly grateful for this good and gracious gift of Yours, and so enable us to follow the example of the good angels, who are Your ministers and do Your pleasure, that we, too, in willing obedience may in our several callings do what pleases You. As You have promised that we shall be like the angels in the resurrection and the life to come, give us grace to strive even in our pilgrimage on earth to be like them in love, humility, purity, and obedience.

Let them encompass us about like a strong wall. Let them encamp round about us like a mighty host, fighting for us against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and keeping us in all our ways. And since the great dragon, that old serpent the devil, together with his evil angels, is ever seeking to mar Your fair handiwork, to destroy churches and schools, and to subvert all law and order, we implore You, by Your grace and mercy, bring to naught his malicious designs, that he may have no power over us, but that we may retain Your Word in peace and quietness, and serve You with reverence and godly fear.

Let Your holy angels guide and protect all who are called to direct the affairs of Your Church, and guard the courts of Your tabernacle. May Your ministering spirits who excel in strength be round about all governments to protect them from evil, that peace and prosperity may be maintained throughout the earth. Commission them to guard all Christian homes from calamity and peril, and restrain the wicked spirit from stirring up discord, that love and joy and blessing may prevail. Grant the protection of Your holy angels unto Your servants who are sick or suffering in any way, whether of mind, body or estate, that they not despair of Your mercy.

Finally, O Father in heaven, as Your chosen angels always praise You and behold Your face, grant that we also here on earth may honor You, worship You, and declare Your glory. When we depart this world, let Your angels carry our souls into Abraham’s bosom; and when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet, raise us from the dead, and let us see You face to face in Your kingdom, where, with all the holy angels and the elect, we shall honor, praise, and magnify You, with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns for Proper 21-26 Series C

The First Sunday in Angels’ Tide
Proper 21 (Sunday on September 25—October 1)
Amos 6:1–7
1 Timothy 3:1–13
or 1 Timothy 6:6–19
Luke 16:19–31

Hymn of Invocation
To God the Holy Spirit let us pray (LSB 768)

Hymn of the Day
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB 708)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Christ, the Lord of hosts, unshaken (LSB 521)
Lord God, to Thee we give all praise (LSB 522) (Catechetical Hymn)
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB 754)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB 675)

Hymn of Departure
Triune God, be Thou our stay (LSB 505)

Alternative Hymns
A multitude comes from the east and the west (LSB 510)
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (LSB 633)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
For all the saints who from their labors rest (LSB 677)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB 673)
Jesus Christ, my sure defense (LSB 741)
My soul, now praise your maker (LSB 820)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (LSB 793)
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB 663)
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB 671)
Son of God, eternal Savior (LSB 842)
Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright (LSB 520)
What is the world to me (LSB 730)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)
Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LSB 670)


The Second Sunday in Angels’ Tide
Proper 22 (Sunday on October 2–8)
Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4
2 Timothy 1:1–14
Luke 17:1–10

Hymn of Invocation
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
If Your beloved Son, O God (LSB 568)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands (LSB 458)
I know my faith is founded (LSB 587)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
All depends on our possessing (LSB 732)

Hymn of Departure
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)

Alternative Hymns
"As surely as I live," God said (LSB 614)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
Draw near and take the body of the Lord (LSB 637)
"Forgive our sins as we forgive" (LSB 843)
Grant peace, we pray, in mercy, Lord (LSB 777)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now (LSB 902)
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)
Now thank we all our God (LSB 895)
Once He came in blessing (LSB 333)
Our Father, by whose name (LSB 863)
The night will soon be ending (LSB 337)
Thy works, not mine, O Christ (LSB 565)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)


The Third Sunday in Angels’ Tide
Proper 23 (Sunday on October 9–15)
Ruth 1:1–19a
2 Timothy 2:1–13
Luke 17:11–19

Hymn of Invocation
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me (LSB 683)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing (LSB 686)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior (LSB 627)
Your hand, O Lord, in days of old (LSB 846)

Hymn of Departure
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LSB 790)

Alternative Hymns
All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine (LSB 815)
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (LSB 633)
Be strong in the Lord (LSB 665)
Christ, the Life of all the living (LSB 420)
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB 754)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
How can I thank You, Lord (LSB 703)
Lamb of God, pure and holy (LSB 434)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Now thank we all our God (LSB 895)
O Jesus, blessed Lord, to Thee (LSB 632)
Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you (LSB 668)
Since our great High Priest, Christ Jesus (LSB 529)
The Head that once was crowned with thorns (LSB 532)
The Son of God goes forth to war (LSB 661)
Thee will I love, my strength, my tower (LSB 694)
Triune God, be Thou our stay (LSB 505)
We know that Christ is raised (LSB 603)


The Fourth Sunday in Angels’ Tide
Proper 24 (Sunday on October 16–22)
Genesis 32:22–30
2 Timothy 3:14—4:5
Luke 18:1–8

Hymn of Invocation
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
I trust, O Lord, Your holy name (LSB 734)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
All who believe and are baptized (LSB 601)
Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing (LSB 737)
Eternal Spirit of the living Christ (LSB 769)
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)

Hymn of Departure
Holy God, we praise Thy name (LSB 940)

Alternative Hymns
Christ is the world’s Redeemer (LSB 539)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
Hope of the world, Thou Christ of great compassion (LSB 690)
How can I thank You, Lord (LSB 703)
I know my faith is founded (LSB 587)
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)
Our Father, who from heav’n above (LSB 766)
Preach you the Word, and plant it home (LSB 586)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB 663)
Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you (LSB 668)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
The Gospel shows the Father’s grace (LSB 580)
The Law of God is good and wise (LSB 579)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
Word of God, come down on earth (LSB 545)
With the Lord begin your task (LSB 869)


The Fifth Sunday in Angels’ Tide
Proper 25 (Sunday on October 23–29)
Genesis 4:1–15
2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18
Luke 18:9–17

Hymn of Invocation
These are the holy Ten Commands (LSB 581)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
In God, my faithful God (LSB 745)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Savior, when in dust to Thee (LSB 419)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
Chief of sinners though I be (LSB 611)
Evening and morning (LSB 726)

Hymn of Departure
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)

Alternative Hymns
Father, we praise Thee (LSB 875)
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)
I am Jesus’ little lamb (LSB 740)
If thou but trust in God to guide thee (LSB 750)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
Jesus Christ, my sure defense (LSB 741)
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness (LSB 563)
Lord Jesus Christ, You have prepared (LSB 622)
Lord, ‘tis not that I did choose Thee (LSB 573)
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB 675)
Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you (LSB 668)
Saints, see the cloud of witnesses (LSB 667)
The Law of God is good and wise (LSB 579)
The Lord, my God, be praised (LSB 794)
Thy works, not mine, O Christ (LSB 565)
To Thee, omniscient Lord of all (LSB 613)
When in the hour of deepest need (LSB 615)


The Sunday of All Saints
Proper 26 (Sunday on October 30—November 5)
Isaiah 1:10–18
2 Thessalonians 1:1–5 (6–10) 11–12
Luke 19:1–10

Processional Hymn / Hymn of Invocation
A mighty fortress is our God (LSB 656)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
In the very midst of life (LSB 755)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB 585)
How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord (LSB 728)

Processional Out / Hymn of Departure
Behold a host, arrayed in white (LSB 676)

Alternative Hymns
A multitude comes from the east and the west (LSB 510)
Christ be my leader by night as by day (LSB 861)
Christ is our cornerstone (LSB 912)
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing (LSB 686)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
Jesus sinners doth receive (LSB 609)
Lord, open now my heart to hear (LSB 908)
Lord, to You I make confession (LSB 608)
O Jesus, blessed Lord, to Thee (LSB 632)
Once He came in blessing (LSB 333)
One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure (LSB 536)
Our Father, by whose name (LSB 863)
Rejoice, O pilgrim throng (LSB 813)
Rise, shine, you people (LSB 825)
Saints, see the cloud of witnesses (LSB 667)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
The clouds of judgment gather (LSB 513)
The God of Abraham praise (LSB 798)

Hymns for Advent 1-4 Series A

First Sunday in Advent
Isaiah 2:1–5
Romans 13:(8–10) 11–14
Matthew 21:1–11

Hymn of Invocation
The advent of our King (LSB #331)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Savior of the nations, come (LSB #332)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O Lord, how shall I meet You (LSB #334)
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (LSB #340)
Once He came in blessing (LSB #333)
Jerusalem, O city fair and high (LSB #674)

Hymn of Departure
O Savior, rend the heavens wide (LSB #355)

Alternative Hymns
Creator of the stars of night (LSB #351)
Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding (LSB #345)
Hark the glad sound (LSB #349)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB #673)
Jerusalem the golden (LSB #672)
Rejoice, rejoice, believers (LSB #515)
The night will soon be ending (LSB #337)
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB #516)


Second Sunday in Advent
Isaiah 11:1–10
Romans 15:4–13
Matthew 3:1–12

Hymn of Invocation
Open now thy gates of beauty (LSB #901)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry (LSB #344)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
When all the world was cursed (LSB #346)
Comfort, comfort ye My people (LSB #347)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB #359)
The night will soon be ending (LSB #337)

Hymn of Departure
Sing praise to the God of Israel (LSB #936)

Alternative Hymns
Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding (LSB #345)
Let all together praise our God (LSB #389)
Lift high the cross (LSB #837)
Lord of all hopefulness (LSB #738)
O come, O come, Emmanuel (LSB #357)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB #834)
Once He came in blessing (LSB #333)
Rejoice, rejoice, believers (LSB #515)


Third Sunday in Advent
Isaiah 35:1–10
James 5:7–11
Matthew 11:2–15

Hymn of Invocation
O Lord, how shall I meet You (LSB #334)

Hymn of the Day
Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding (LSB #345)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB #556)
Hark the glad sound (LSB #349) (Catechetical Hymn)
Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing (LSB #737)
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB #797)

Hymn of Departure
Rejoice, rejoice, believers (LSB #515)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB #360)
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB #375)
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB #754)
Hope of the world, Thou Christ of great compassion (LSB #690)
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB #659)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB #834)
Once He came in blessing (LSB #333)
Praise the One who breaks the darkness (LSB #849)
Soul, adorn yourself with gladness (LSB #636)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB #602)
When all the world was cursed (LSB #346)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB #756)


Fourth Sunday in Advent
Isaiah 7:10–17
Romans 1:1–7
Matthew 1:18–25

Hymn of Invocation
O Savior, rend the heavens wide (LSB #355)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
O come, O come, Emmanuel (LSB #357)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
The angel Gabriel from heaven came (LSB #356)
Let the earth now praise the Lord (LSB #352)
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (LSB #340)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB #398)

Hymn of Departure
O God of God, O Light of Light (LSB #810)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB #360)
At the name of Jesus (LSB #512)
Jesus! Name of wondrous love (LSB #900)
O little town of Bethlehem (LSB #361)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB #362)
Savior of the nations, come (LSB #332)
The advent of our King (LSB #331)
The only Son from heaven (LSB #402)

Hymns for Proper 27-29 Series C

The Third Sunday Before Advent
Proper 27 (Sunday on November 6–12)
Exodus 3:1–15
2 Thessalonians 2:1–8, 13–17
Luke 20:27–40

Hymn of Invocation
Preserve Your Word, O Savior (LSB #658)

Hymn of the Day
From God can nothing move me (LSB #713)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Christ sits at God’s right hand (LSB #564)
O Lord, how shall I meet You (LSB #334)
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me (LSB #683)
I know that my Redeemer lives (LSB #461)

Hymn of Departure / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB #714)

Alternative Hymns
Christ, the Word of God incarnate (LSB #540)
Creator of the stars of night (LSB #351)
For all the saints who from their labors rest (LSB #677)
God’s Word is our great heritage (LSB #582)
If thou but trust in God to guide thee (LSB #750)
In God, my faithful God (LSB #745)
Jerusalem the golden (LSB #672)
Jesus Christ, my sure defense (LSB #741)
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB #585)
O God, my faithful God (LSB #696)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB #675)
Rejoice, rejoice, believers (LSB #515)
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB #671)
The day is surely drawing near (LSB #508)


The Second Sunday Before Advent
Proper 28 (Sunday on November 13–19)
Malachi 4:1–6
2 Thessalonians 3:(1–5) 6–13
Luke 21:5–28 (29–36)

Hymn of Invocation
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB #655)

Hymn of the Day
The day is surely drawing near (LSB #508)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
If thou but trust in God to guide thee (LSB #750) (Catechetical Hymn)
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB #516)
O Savior, rend the heavens wide (LSB #355)
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB #671)

Hymn of Departure
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB #659)

Alternative Hymns
Abide, O dearest Jesus (LSB #919)
All Christians who have been baptized (LSB #596)
Built on the Rock the Church shall stand (LSB #645)
Creator of the stars of night (LSB #351)
For all the saints who from their labors rest (LSB #677)
In God, my faithful God (LSB #745)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB #572)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB #530)
Now thank we all our God (LSB #895)
O little flock, fear not the foe (LSB #666)
O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly (LSB #897)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB #663)
The clouds of judgment gather (LSB #513)
Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LSB #670)


The Last Sunday Before Advent
Proper 29 (Sunday on November 20–26)
Malachi 3:13–18
Colossians 1:13–20
Luke 23:27–43

Processional Hymn / Hymn of Invocation
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB #621)

Hymn of the Day
Lord, enthroned in heav’nly splendor (LSB #534)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Wide open stand the gates (LSB #639)
At the name of Jesus (LSB #512) (Catechetical Hymn)
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB #395)
For all the saints who from their labors rest (LSB #677)

Processional Out / Hymn of Departure
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB #708)

Alternative Hymns
A mighty fortress is our God (LSB #656)
Christ, the Life of all the living (LSB #420)
Creator of the stars of night (LSB #351)
If thou but trust in God to guide thee (LSB #750)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB #572)
Lo! He comes with clouds descending (LSB #336)
Jesus Christ, my sure defense (LSB #741)
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s head (LSB #647)
Lord Jesus, think on me (LSB #610)
O Jesus, King most wonderful (LSB #554)
On my heart imprint Your image (LSB #422)
Praise be to Christ in whom we see (LSB #538)
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle (LSB #454)
The day is surely drawing near (LSB #508)
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB #516)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB #756)

Rolling a Rock or Dipping Water with a Sieve

More from Dr. Luther's 1535 Lectures on Galatians (4:9), wherein he continues to wax eloquent on the dangers of the "beggarly elements," upon which sinful man is so prone to rely, and urges instead the diligent distinction between the Law and the Gospel:

"Anyone who seeks righteousness through the Law does nothing by his repeated actions but acquire the habit of this first action, which is that God in His wrath and awe is to be appeased by works. On the basis of this opinion he begins to do works. Yet he can never find enough works to make his conscience peaceful; but he keeps looking for more, and even in the ones he does perform he finds sin. Therefore his conscience can never become sure, but he must continually doubt. Then the heart trembles and continually finds itself loaded down with wagonloads of sin that increase infinitely, so that it deviates further and further from righteousness, until finally it acquires the habit of despair.

"Thus at the end of his life a monk is weaker, more beggarly, more unbelieving, and more fearful than he was at the beginning, when he joined the order. The Law or human traditions or the rule of his monastic order were supposed to heal and enrich him in his illness and poverty, but he became weaker and more beggarly than the tax collectors and harlots. For such people do not have that miserable habit of works on which to depend but are extremely aware of their sins and yet can say with the tax collectors: ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ (Luke 18:13). On the other hand, a monk who has been trained in the weak and beggarly elements has acquired this habit: ‘If you observe the monastic rule, you will be saved.’ He has been so crazed and captivated by this false idea that on account of it he is incapable of grasping grace or even of remembering grace. Therefore neither past nor present works are enough for him, regardless of their quantity and quality; but he continually looks at and looks for ever-different ones, by which he attempts to appease the wrath of God and to justify himself, until in the end he is forced to despair. Therefore he who falls away from faith and follows the Law is like the dog in Aesop, which snapped at the shadow and lost the meat.

"Therefore it is impossible for men who want to provide for their salvation through the Law, as all men are inclined to do by nature, ever to be set at peace. In fact, they only pile laws upon laws, by which they torture themselves and others and make their consciences so miserable that many of them die before their time because of excessive anguish of heart. For one law always produces ten more, until they grow into infinity.

"In other words, anyone who strives to be justified by the Law is trying something that he can never achieve. Here one can apply, as I see the fathers did, the sayings of learned and wise men about a useless work, such as ‘rolling a rock’ or ‘dipping water with a sieve.’ I think that by such tales and parables the fathers wanted to commend to their pupils the distinction between the Law and the Gospel, to indicate that those who forsake grace may indeed tire and wear themselves out with difficult and troublesome labor, but that they accomplish a useless work. Therefore such men are correctly said to be ‘rolling a rock,’ that is, to be sweating foolishly, as the poets tell about Sisyphus: each time he rolled the rock from the bottom of the mountain to the top, it would roll right back again. And ‘dipping water with a sieve’ means wearing oneself out with an inexhaustible and a useless labor; thus the poets tell that the daughters of Danaus in the underworld carried water in cracked jars to a container with a hole in it.

"I wish that you students of Sacred Scripture would equip yourselves with such parables, in order to retain the distinction between Law and Gospel better, namely, that trying to be justified by the Law is like counting money out of an empty purse, eating and drinking from an empty dish and cup, looking for strength and riches where there is nothing but weakness and poverty, laying a burden upon someone who is already oppressed to the point of collapse, trying to spend a hundred gold pieces and not having even a pittance, taking clothing away from a naked man, imposing even greater weakness and poverty upon someone who is sick and needy, etc.

"Now who would ever have believed that the Galatians, who had learned a pure and sure doctrine from the great Apostle and teacher, St. Paul, could be led away from it so suddenly and be completely overthrown by the false apostles? It is not without reason that I remind you so often how easy apostasy from the truth of the Gospel is, for even devout people do not consider enough how precious and how necessary a treasure the true knowledge of Christ is. Therefore they do not work with as much care and diligence as they should to attain and keep it sure and firm.

"Besides, a majority of those who hear the Word are not disciplined by a cross; and they do not struggle with sin, death, and the devil. But they live smugly without any conflict. Because such people are not armed with the Word of God against the wiles of the devil, they are not disciplined or put to the test by temptations; therefore they never experience the application and the power of the Word either. To be sure, they follow present-day theologians and are persuaded by their words that they believe correctly in the matter of justification; but when these have departed, and when wolves come in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15), the same thing will happen to these men that happened to the Galatians, namely, they will be seduced and overthrown quickly and easily." (Luther’s Works, Vol. 26, CPH 1963)

On Not Going It Alone

I had a great time at the St. Michael's Liturgical Conference yesterday. It made for a long day, but it was worth every minute of it. I was on the road by 7:00 a.m., and I didn't get home until 11:00 p.m., but the day was more refreshing than exhausting. The presentations were helpful and thought-provoking. The preaching was outstanding. The food was yummy, so much so that I didn't even mind getting sprayed with Dr. Pepper when I had the misfortune to open a brand new two-liter bottle that had perhaps been too energetically transported from yon to hither. My thanks to the good folks of Redeemer in Fort Wayne for hosting the conference, and for their gracious hospitality.

I'm especially glad that I had the freedom to linger and chat with my brothers in Christ, my dear friends and colleagues, for a truly delightful evening of conversation. Occasions quite like that are too few and far between, but every such opportunity is precious and rewarding. I marvel, actually, at how invigorating it is to chat at length and at ease with a group of brother pastors. One cannot prize or cherish this blessing too highly, I think. For it is surely one of the Lord's richest blessings to have friends and colleagues who will both listen thoughtfully and speak freely to me; who will patiently tolerate my thinking out loud, but also let me know when I'm just flat out wrong; who will call me to repentance without blinking an eye, but just as readily speak the Gospel to me and thereby strengthen and sustain my faith. It is a great comfort to have brothers in Christ who know where they stand, who recognize their own weaknesses and tolerate mine, but who also share the confidence and prize the clarity of the Word of God.

Such friendships and their attendant blessings are not limited to my pastor friends, nor is it necessary for me to leave town for a day to find them. I thank God for the dear friends and faithful colleagues with whom He has blessed me here in South Bend. But I am also grateful for occasions like yesterday, both for the special treat it is to spend time with those I don't get to see very often, and for the reminder it provides of how important it is not to go it alone.

I think that it is partly my personality, and partly due to the fact that I'm a guy, but mostly it is a matter of my sinfulness, that I tend to rely upon myself instead of seeking the comfort and consolation of others. The more beleaguered and burdened I become, the more tempted I am to seclude myself, both physically and mentally, from the community of my family, my friends, my neighbors and fellow Christians. As a pastor, of course I am available for those who need me, but I am less inclined to seek out for myself the aid and assistance that I also need. I'm fortunate to have family, friends and colleagues who don't leave me to go my own way for too long, but who make a point of keeping me "in the loop." Yet, I can't deny that there's a part of me that would escape if I could; that would run away and hide; that would curl up and hibernate in a deep, dark cave, and in all likelihood never arise and emerge to see the light of day again. Not only would that not be right; more pointedly, it is not the way that God has created me, or anyone else, to live. We are rather created for life in relation to the Lord and to one another.

Attempting to go it alone is not only foolish; it is sinful, and it is deadly. By the same token, the community of our fellow Christians, whether brother pastors or brothers and sisters in Christ, is a genuine encouragement. In fact, it seems to me that such fellowship is not simply a means to some other end, but an experience of the very life for which we have been created: to be among the many brethren of whom Christ, the Son of God, is the firstborn.

I've said it before, but I am reminded again of how true and important it is: Electronic communications, written correspondence, phone calls, and all of the other advantages of modern technology are truly wonderous and salutary gifts of our gracious God and Father, but not one of these can replace, nor will any of them ever surpass, the boon and benefit of being in the bodily presence of brothers in Christ, conversing and commiserating as comrades. Speaking face to face really is preferable, wherever possible, and it ought not to wait until reconciliation or repentance is required. We serve one another, and we are well served, when we are actively engaged in the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren. It makes it a whole lot harder to be curved in on myself, and far easier to live in faith and love, when I am living in the company of other Christians. Not only because we speak the Word of God to one another; although it is surely true that Christians ought to do that more frequently and forthrightly than we are inclined to do. But there is something godly and salutary, genuine, substantive and significant, about the sincere joy, the unguarded honesty, and the relaxed freedom of such friendships among Christians. It is a way of living by faith in the glorious liberty of the Gospel, and of reveling in the good gifts of God. It is an opportunity to recognize Christ in our neighbor, to be served by Christ through our neighbor, and to serve our neighbor for the sake of Christ Jesus. How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity. It is a proleptic realization of the Church's future and eternal life in the resurrection of the body, which is as sure and certain as the Lord's own Resurrection from the dead.

The Sacrificial Mercy of Christ

The Lord Jesus has come to call, not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. To heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cast out demons, to forgive sins.

Where does he find you? And with what are you pre-occupied? What sickness does He need to heal in you, that you may not die but live? From what sin does He call you to repentance?

There is no one who is righteous, no not even one. Do not compare and contrast yourself with others and conclude that you are doing well or even fine. You are not okay. You are not righteous. You shall not live by your own cares and occupations in life.

But how do you spend your time and energy? Where do you invest your heart, soul, mind and strength? What is it that consumes your attention, your days and nights? And all for what purpose? Why do you do it? To make money? To win friends and influence people? To find security for your future? To ward off death? To reconcile God in the hopes of gaining life for yourself?

Give it up. Whatever it is that so dominates and drives you, that is your god, and yet, none of this work and striving of yours shall ever be able to save you or give you real life. It does not forgive your sins, which are many, nor can it give you peace and rest. It cannot prolong your days on earth, nor will any of it obtain for you the life everlasting.

It is from all of your false gods that Jesus calls you to repent. He calls you to give them all up and follow Him. To take up your cross and follow Him, to die with Him, in order to live with Him. There is no other way. There is real life in no one else, in nothing else.

Now, there are plenty of things in your life that you need to get rid of entirely: to get up and walk away from them. Because they are harmful to your heart, mind, body and soul, and because they entice you and your love away from the neighbors whom the Lord would have you serve. So, leave those things behind, and follow Christ Jesus in faith.

But in the same faith, follow Him also within those stations in life to which He has called you. You are not called to be an Apostle or Evangelist; nor is it likely that you will be called to bodily martyrdom. But you are called to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to follow Him in faith, in love toward your neighbor, wherever He has placed you in this world. That is where you bear the Cross, and where and how you lay down your life.

Are you a son or daughter? Honor your father and mother. Are you a husband or wife? Love and honor your spouse. Are you a father or mother? Feed and clothe your children; love them and serve them as your Father in heaven loves and cares for you.

Serve faithfully and honestly in your job, or as a student, whatever your occupation in life may be. Not to impress man, but in the fear, love and trust of God. And for His sake, not as though making a life for yourself, love and serve your neighbor. That is the purpose for which the Lord has given you your job, and for which He has given you your stuff.

Thus, it is not away from your occupation, nor from your stuff, that the Lord Jesus calls you. It is rather your heart that He calls, that you would no longer be pre-occupied and consumed with selfish desire, with your own works and the wealth of this world, but with Him above all, who is alone your life and health and strength and song. He calls you most urgently, most insistently, to let go your idols and forsake the false gods that reign in your heart and life. Not out of pettiness, nor to deprive you of life and happiness, but just the opposite: that you may receive His gifts and have true joy and lasting peace and real life in Him forever.

It is in mercy and compassion that He calls you to Himself: away from your sin, in which there is only death, unto life with God in Him through the forgiveness of all your sins. It is for this that He has sacrificed Himself upon the Cross, atoned for your sin and reconciled you to God.

In Him, compassion and sacrifice have been united; righteousness and peace have embraced each other, and now embrace you. Therein, by His Cross, you are brought near to God, not for condemnation but for life. He heals you. He feeds you with Himself. He abides with you in love.

Because all of this is by and from the Cross, it is often painful, and it is ridiculous in the eyes of the world. It is not even out of the question that you may be put to death for this faith and confession of Christ Jesus. You certainly are called to die each day (to yourself, to your sin, to the world) through contrition and repentance. Many of those you love and serve will return your compassion with criticism and contempt. And as a disciple of Christ Jesus, the devil will constantly attack and accuse you with a fevered desire to destroy you.

Yet, for all of that, the Cross of Christ is your life and health. He is with you and blesses you, not "in spite of" the Cross, but precisely by the ways and means of the Cross.

Your Baptism into His Cross has raised you up with Him to new life in His Resurrection. His Word of the Cross absolves you of all your sins. And the fruits of His Cross, His holy Body and precious Blood, sacrificed for you, are your medicine of immortality.

It is by the crosses that you bear in faith and love that Jesus serves and supports your neighbor. So, too, by the crosses that St. Matthew was called to bear and carry after Jesus, that dear Savior of sinners has loved and served His Church on earth, even to the ends of the world. Through that former tax collector, He not only preached His Word and ministered His means of grace "once upon a time," but caused His Word of the Gospel to be inscribed and published for the healing of the nations. To this day, and also in this place, the Church knows Jesus — you know Jesus — by this Word of His Apostle and Evangelist, St. Matthew. Pastors preach the Holy Gospel; they baptize, absolve, and commune sinners, who are thereby disciples of Jesus, unto repentance and faith, unto life, with that Word that Christ Jesus has given by the hand of St. Matthew.

It is by that Word that He calls you to Himself, to follow Him, to die with Him, to live with Him. It is by that Word that He has brought you into His house; that He eats with you and drinks with you and gives you life. It is by that Word that He has mercy and compassion upon you, and He shall not suffer any other word to prevail against you.

All Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, the one true God, who loves you, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Remembering with Thanks the Top 40 Most Influential Pastors in My Life

Others have been musing about the most influential people of the past several decades in the life of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. I lack the breadth and depth of perspective to evaluate such determinations, but the lists of names have been interesting to me and thought-provoking. They have given me pause to consider the people who have been most influential in my own life. It seems appropriate to acknowledge my appreciation for some of those folks, and that is the purpose of the following list of "the most influential pastors in my life."

There are plenty of other influential people in my life who are not pastors, but I found it helpful to limit the scope of my considerations here. As a pastor myself, I have been most shaped in that vocation of mine by the men who have served me as pastors. What is more, because the defining work of the pastoral office is the preaching of the Gospel, these men who have served me as pastors have given me something uniquely significant, not only for my life here in time on earth, but unto the life everlasting. Of course, others have also spoken the Gospel to me, and the Lord continues to serve me through truly evangelical family and friends, for which I most grateful; but those people would comprise a different sort of list. Anyway, on this festival day of St. Matthew, the Apostle & Evangelist, it is fitting to remember with thanksgiving some of those men who follow in his train as shepherds under the Good Shepherd.

There are also plenty of other pastors in my life, a number of whom I count among my dearest friends and closest colleagues, but whom I have not listed here. It is simply the case that some of those who are most kindred spirits have not been as influential in shaping my life, precisely because we are so much alike to begin with. It is a good and pleasant thing to abide in unity with such brethren, but to identify all of them would be a different and more subjective sort of undertaking. The pastors I am listing below are men who have challenged me and helped me to grow in my faith and life, and especially in my own office as a pastor, in ways that I would not have experienced without them. I am thankful for that, not only for my own benefit, but for the sake of those I am called to serve.

Not all of these men have been my own pastors in the narrow sense. I've included some of my seminary professors, for example, as well as several key individuals from long before my life-time who have influenced me significantly through their writings and faithful example. I've also included friends and colleagues who, even as peers and brothers, have served me as fathers in Christ. All of these men have in common that they have given me Jesus, which is the best and most important thing that a pastor is given to do.

There are perhaps others who should have been included on this list, whom I have forgotten in my frailty, or whose influence I have not fully realized. With apologies for my weakness, I give thanks to God for those men, too.

"Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7). Here, then, in alphabetical order, are 40 of the most influential pastors in my life:

Basil the Great

Peter Bender

Steve Briel

Kent Burreson

Walter Buszin

Martin Chemnitz

Cyril of Alexandria

John Fenton

Ronald Feuerhahn

Greg Fiechtner

Gary Gehlbach

Paul Gerhardt

Paul Grime

Gifford Grobien

Kent Heimbigner

Ignatius of Antioch

Arthur Just

Kenneth Korby

Peter Ledic

Wilhelm Löhe

Kevin Loughran

Alan Ludwig

Martin Luther

Kurt Marquart

Norman Nagel

Todd Peperkorn

Dave Petersen

Jeff Pflug

Arthur Carl Piepkorn

Polycarp of Smyrna

Robert Preus

Richard Resch

Daniel Reuning

David Scaer

Robert Schaibley

Don Stuckwisch, Sr.

Jon Vieker

William Weedon

William Weinrich

Robert Zagore

Lord Jesus Christ, You have always given to Your Church on earth faithful shepherds to guide and feed Your flock. Make all pastors diligent to preach Your holy Word and administer Your means of grace, and grant Your people wisdom to follow in the way that leads to life eternal; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep upon a Rock

My young catechumens and I were catechized by the story of Jacob last night, specifically, by his flight from Esau and his dream of the stairway to heaven. I pointed out what has long been one of my favorite aspects of this story, that the angels of God were ascending and descending upon the spot where Jacob slept. As they are ascending first, it is clear that they are already with him; and if the angels of God are with him, then the Lord God of Sabaoth Himself is with him, according to His Word and promise. In like manner, the Lord is with us here on earth, so that we shall be with Him in heaven forever. In particular, He is with us in the Person of the incarnate Son, Christ Jesus, upon whom the angels of God ascend and descend among us; in whom the heavens are opened to us (St. John 1:51). It is especially for His sake, the Seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, already present in the loins of His fathers, that the Lord blessed those sainted patriarchs and kept them on their way. Not only for their sake, but also for ours.

One of the most delightful thing about teaching Bible stories is the beautiful way in which they continue to catechize me, along with my catechumens. I've known and loved the story of Jacob since I was a little boy, and yet, I was called to repentance and strengthened in my faith by that same lovely story last night. Not only by what was refreshingly familiar, but by a couple of points I had never seen before.

For my entire life, I've been somewhat nonplused by the whole thing with Rebekah and Jacob pulling a fast one on Isaac, in order to get the blessing that he intended for Esau. What they do is clearly wrong, but, after all, God had said that the blessing would go to Jacob. In the past, I've always thought that, as it turned out, God actually worked through Rebekah's and Jacob's sins to get the job done. After last night, I don't believe that is the case at all. Whatever favoritism Isaac and Rebekah had for their boys, the blessing that God had promised to give unto Jacob was not Isaac's to give, nor Rebekah's to steal away from her husband by deception. What Isaac did have to bestow was his own paternal blessing, which he intended for his firstborn, Isaac. As it is, he spoke the truth concerning both of his sons; indeed, by faith he prophecied concerning them (Hebrews 11:20). But his blessing was of this earth: the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed, an abundance of grain and new wine; the dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth (Genesis 27:27-28). It speaks of brothers and of nations, of masters and servants. Admittedly, that sure sounds like the promise that was spoken from the Lord concerning the sons of Isaac while they were yet in the womb of their mother Rebekah (Genesis 25:23). Consequently, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Esau, were indeed vying for those temporal blessings. But appearances are deceiving, especially when it comes to the blessing of Christ and His Cross.

So what happened then, after Jacob had deceived his father and tricked him and stolen away the blessing intended for Esau, and his mother warned her favored son to flee from the wrath of his brother? How had I never caught this before? "Isaac called Jacob and blessed him: 'May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your Seed with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham'" (Genesis 28:1-4). There it is. There is the blessing that the Lord had promised to Jacob. Not wrested away from the Patriarch Isaac by cunning trickery, but freely given and bestowed, even now to the lying and deceiving son who must flee from his home and family because of his guile.

The dew of heaven and the fatness of the earth will always be more attractive and appealing than the Cross of Christ, but the Lord accomplishes His purposes by the Cross nonetheless, and He does so for our good, in order to give us peace and rest. What Rebekah and Jacob achieved by their scheming was fear and separation and generations of conflict. The Lord's purposes are not accomplished by such conspiracies and their consequences, but neither are they thwarted. He speaks His Word and gives His blessing precisely there, in the midst of sin and death. He remains with Jacob and preserves his life, in mercy; not only because He loves Jacob, but because He loves us, for whom the Seed of Jacob would in time be crucified, dead and buried, who is risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, to the right hand of the God and Father.

It now seems particularly fitting to me, that Jacob lays down his head upon a rock in that certain place where he spent the night, when he had fled from his home and family. I always found that humorous, and so did my young catechumens last night. I mean, whoever heard of using a rock for a pillow? Pretty hard and uncomfortable, isn't it? But that is just exactly how it is with the blessing of God in Christ. The Son of Man has no place to lay His head, except upon the wood of the Cross and upon the rock of His borrowed tomb. It is upon that rock that Jacob is given rest. It is with his head upon that rock that God is with him, and all the holy angels, and the heavens are opened to him. It is hard and painful, unyielding; it bruises sore; it will not conform to him, but, for all of that, it gives him peace and rest in the presence of God.

We also are strangers and aliens, beleaguered by our sins and by their consequences, on the run from those who hate us (some without cause, and some with due provocation on our part). Yet, the Lord is with us, and He will never leave us nor forsake us; He is faithful, and He will do as He has spoken. Not one of His good promises shall fail to be accomplished for any of us. But it is all by the Cross of Christ. It is upon that hard rock that we lay our heads and He gives us rest.

Where His Cross is raised as a standard for the nations, and He Himself is lifted up by the preaching of the Gospel to be a blessing to all the families of the earth, there is the house of God; there is the gate of heaven. "Wide open stand the gates adorned with pearl," and all the angels of God, the cherubim and seraphim and all the host of heaven, ascend and descend upon those who are in Christ Jesus: crucified, dead and buried with Him through Baptism into His death, thus to rise and ascend with Him unto God. "Take, eat; this is My Body. Drink, this is My Blood." He gives to His disciples this food to eat; He clothes them with Himself, with the garments of His righteousness; and He brings them to the Father's House in safety.

It is all and always by the Cross. That is where I lay me down to sleep, "serenely as on pillows." It sounds funny to hear the story of a man who used a rock for such a pillow, but it is not so humorous when I am that man and the rock is a real hardship in my life under the Cross. There is the deadly temptation to despair, to suppose that my life itself shall be dashed against the rocks and destroyed. That is how it feels when I have nowhere else to lay me head. But the Rock that hurts and bruises, that crumbles mountains and topples kingdoms and crushes the sinner into dust, is the same Rock that was wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities, chastened for my well-being and scourged for my healing. Where that Rock is found, there the Lord God is with me, not to destroy me, but to grant me His Peace and Sabbath rest.

Oh, Great, Even More Sad Goodbyes

It hit me this past week, like a wave washing over me out of nowhere. I'm not sure why, but there it was. It's not as though I haven't felt or experienced this before. When I officiated Nick and Naomi's wedding a few years ago, and then when they moved away from South Bend to Cleveland, I certainly had a sense of separation and loss that came pretty close to that of bidding farewell to one of my own children. After all, I've known Naomi since she was twelve, and she and my DoRena have been the best of friends ever since. DoRena was also her maid of honor, and Naomi's wedding was the closest I have come (so far) to marrying off one of my daughters. I'll finally surpass that next spring, when my Beanie Belle is married to Mr. Sam Wirgau.

Anyone who knows me at all, knows that I've been dealing with the growing up and moving away of both my Beanie and my Zach, who are both in college and making plans for their future as adults. Praise God, but have mercy on my poor paternal heart, which has its ups and downs with rejoicing in these good things. My good friend, Rev. Todd Wilken, had to "rub it in" a bit this past week, when he pointed out that I still have seven other children to say goodbye to in the years ahead. Thanks, Todd. I doubt that it will get any easier, although I do suspect that each goodbye, like each child, will be unique. It has been different with Zach than it is with DoRena. Of course, by the time my little Gerhardt reaches that point in his life, I'll be pushing sixty (God-willing), and I suppose I shouldn't even try to guess what that will be like.

For the moment, having admonished myself and others recently about the dangers of making idols and false gods out of our children, I've been confronted with that idolatry in my own heart again this past weekend, in which Gerhardt has been ailing with the croup. Further evidence that there are still new things to experience as a parent, even after eight other children. I can hardly imagine a more terrible sound than the rasp and wheeze of this illness, which has frankly sounded more like a death rattle than anything else. And there's been that terrifying fear, again, that grips my heart whenever my children are in danger (real or imagined). Like the widow of Zarephath, my iniquity is brought to my remembrance, and I conclude that God is judging me, that He will have no mercy or compassion, that my son will not live but die. I am staggered at the faith of father Abraham, and can hardly comprehend his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Truly, such faith can only be the work of God the Holy Spirit. Lord, I believe, but help Thou my unbelief!

Well, it hit me this past week that I will have more than seven other sad goodbyes to say in the years to come. I suppose it isn't entirely fair to compare anyone else to my own dear children, and of course it isn't quite the same, but the fact is that the children of my friends and of my congregation are also dear to me and precious. Seeing them leave home, whether off to college or getting married and moving away, will be different than saying goodbye to my own sons and daughters, but it will be hard enough to bear in its own unique ways. Presumably, I will continue to have a steady connection to each and all of my children, no matter where they get themselves off to. There isn't quite that same built-in assurance in the case of others. Finite creatures can only maintain so many connections in life; time goes by, and people change, and that's just the way it is. But it makes me sad to think of it.

I love the young people of my congregation, and I relish the privilege I am given to watch them grow in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man. It is such a unique blessing to be their pastor, to have the joy of baptizing them, catechizing them, communing them, celebrating with them, and sometimes commiserating with them. I typically have my young catechumens in class with me for four or five years, and there is a special relationship, a comfortable rapport, that develops between us in that time. That is actually one of the more important benefits of pastoral catechesis, the way in which we get to know each other as pastor and parishioner. I'm to the point of having children I baptized as infants in my confirmation classes, and, as their father in Christ, I surely do have an affection for them that is not unlike that of any father for his children. Which means, I suddenly realized, that saying goodbye to them, someday (sooner than later), is going to be a bittersweet thing, not unlike the experience of sending my progeny off into the world.

On top of all that, when my young parishioners also happen to be the friends and playmates of my children, and the children of my own dear friends, there is that further bond of familiarity and affection, which will make the eventual goodbyes all that much harder. The children of one family, for example, were all pretty little, still in gradeschool, when they first came to Emmaus, and they've been great friends to my family all these years, but now those children are almost all out of high schol and making their way in life. I miss the bond that I shared with them, as their pastor, when they were younger and in catechesis classes with me. It was much the same with Naomi, and I think it will be even more so with her younger siblings, whom I have known since they were three and seven, respectively. I marvel at the young adults they have become, even as I cherish the countless memories of the times that my family and I have shared with them. So it goes. My younger children now have their own circle of close friends, who also happen to be the children of my friends and among the little lambs of the flock entrusted to me. I love the opportunities that I am given to be a part of their young lives, but I don't look forward to the day when they go riding off into the sunset. Perhaps the best I can hope for is that some of these young friends of mine will marry into my family. We'll see.

Recently, I've enjoyed the chance to share some fun times with a few of these dear young people. On the drive home from the opening service at the Seminary a week or two ago, I had three of my young parishioners in the car with me, all of them teenagers now, and it was such great fun to visit with them, to laugh with them at silly jokes and goofy conversation, but also to chat with them about more serious things. Those same three teenagers, and a fourth, were all at the Worship & Spiritual Care Workshop this past weekend, and I could not have been more proud of them. They are a credit to their parents, and they do our congregation proud with their theological acumen and piety. Alas, I know it is going to break my heart when they all sail away, even though I will continue to be proud of them, no doubt, no matter where in the world they may end up. I hope it is not too far away!

Of course, along with all the bittersweet goodbyes on the horizon, there is the fact that the Lord is likely to bless me with grandchildren, and there will be more children at Emmaus to baptize, to catechize, to absolve and commune and care for as the sheep of the Good Shepherd. Even better, there are finally no permanent "goodbyes" for those who are in Christ Jesus. So I rejoice in the fellowship of His one Body, the Church, in heaven and on earth, and I thank God every day for the privilege of sharing that blest communion with others.

Singing the Resurrection at Christian Funerals

In reading the prefaces that Luther wrote for various hymnals and such, I came across the following from his 1542 "Preface to the Burial Hymns," which I found to be quite lovely and comforting. It called to mind some of my own recent thoughts on the way that we Christians bury the bodies of the blessed dead in the hope and confession of the resurrection.

"We Christians, who have been redeemed from eternal death and the wrath of God by the dear blood of the Son of God, should by faith train and accustom ourselves to despise death and to regard it as a deep, strong, and sweet sleep, to regard the coffin as nothing but paradise and the bosom of our Lord Christ, and the grave as nothing but a soft couch or sofa, which it really is in the sight of God; for He says, John 11, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep,' and Matthew 9, 'The girl is not dead but sleeping.'

"Thus, too, St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 bans from his sight every ugly aspect of death in our mortal body and brings to the fore a wholly delightful and joyous picture of life when he says: 'What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. . . . It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.'

"Accordingly . . . we do not want our churches to be houses of wailing and places of mourning any longer, but Koemeteria (cemeteries) as the old fathers were wont to call them, that is, dormitories and resting places.

"Nor do we sing any dirges or doleful songs over our dead and at the grave, but comforting hymns of the forgiveness of sins, of rest, sleep, life, and of the resurrection of departed Christians so that our faith may be strengthened and the people be moved to true devotion.

"For it is meet and right that we should conduct these funerals with proper decorum in order to honor and praise that joyous article of our faith, namely, the resurrection of the dead, and in order to defy Death, that terrible foe who so shamefully and in so many horrible ways goes on to devour us.

"Thus the holy patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and others, conducted their burials with much splendor and left explicit directions concerning them. Later the kings of Judah made a great show and pomp over the dead with costly incense and all sorts of rare and precious spices, all of which was done to spite the stinking and shameful Death and to praise and confess the resurrection of the dead and thus to comfort the sad and the weak in faith.

"Here also belong the traditional Christian burial rites, such as that the bodies are carried in state, beautifully decked, and sung over, and that tombstones adorn their graves. All this is done so that the article of the resurrection may be firmly implanted in us. For it is our lasting, blessed, and eternal comfort and joy against death, hell, devil, and every woe" (Luther's Works, Vol. 53, Fortress 1965, pp. 326-327).

Luther assists us in singing what he preaches, in his great Easter hymn:

"Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands for our offenses given; but now at God's right hand He stands and brings us life from heaven. Therefore let us joyful be and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of alleluia! Alleluia!

"Christ Jesus, God's own Son, came down, His people to deliver; destroying sin, He took the crown from death's pale brow forever: Stripped of power, no more it reigns; an empty form alone remains; its sting is lost forever. Alleluia!

"It was a strange a dreadful strife when life and death contended; the victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended. Holy Scripture plainly saith that death is swallowed up by death, its sting is lost forever. Alleluia!" (LSB 458, sts. 1, 3-4)

So are we also given to sing and pray with Martin Schalling: "Lord, let at last Thine angels come, to Abraham's bosom bear me home, that I may die unfearing; and in its narrow chamber keep my body safe in peaceful sleep until Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me, that these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, my Savior and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ my prayer attend, my prayer attend, and I will praise Thee without end" (LSB 708, st. 3).

Recordings of Worship & Spiritual Care Workshop

The Indiana District Worship & Spiritual Care Workshop took place today at Advent Lutheran Church in Zionsville, Indiana. For those who may be interested, recordings were made of the plenary presentation by Rev. Klemet Preus and the sectional sessions by Rev. David Petersen and myself. These are available at the Advent website:

http://www.adventlutheran.teamministry.net/webpage-info.do?view=0&grpId=6563&webPageId=224762

Do We Trust the Word of God or Not?

When it comes right down to it, my biggest beef with the whole "church growth" movement is its evident lack of confidence in the Word of God or any of the means of grace in general. This is not surprising, given its origins among latter-day enthusiasts, but it is a scandalous shame when Lutherans put more stock in gimmicks, programs, and methodology than the Word of the Lord.

Many of the divisions within the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod tend to run along these lines. The "liberals" (if I may speak simply for the time being, at the risk of aspersions) tend to favor "church growth" tactics at the expense of the Liturgy (that is, an orderly and reverent preaching of the Gospel and ministering of the Sacraments). The "conservatives" appear to be all over the map with respect to various issues (including liturgical practice, the Office of the Ministry, and church polity), but in general they have in common a commitment to the Word of God and a wariness of whatever does not rest upon the authority of that Word.

For the sake of clarification, my own sympathies and proclivities are very much with the conservatives, even where I may disagree on particular points, and even when the personalities of conservative colleagues rub me the wrong way. I agree with a dear friend and brother in Christ who once observed that, yes, some of our conservative brethren can act like real horse's patoots, but they are often correct in their critique, and, more important, they do preach Christ Jesus, for which reason we bear with them in love and cover their boorishness with charity and forgiveness. In any event, I am grateful that so many others do the same for me!

It does not surprise me when "church growth liberals" resort to political tactics in trying to achieve their goals for the life of the church. There is a consistency and continuity in such an approach, which does not trust and rely upon the Lord to govern His Church by His Word and to give life to His Church by His means of grace. No, I'm not suggesting that "liberals" across the board have spurned the Word of God or the Gospel; I'm actually quite convinced that the vast majority of them are well-intentioned and sincere, and are simply mistaken and misguided in their zeal for "evangelism" and "church growth." In their actual practice, however, many of them do not appear to be proceeding in the confidence of the Gospel, but in reliance upon their own human wisdom, ingenuity, strategies and efforts. Indeed, I am guilty of falling into the same traps and temptations in my own way, for which I also need to repent, but the fact that we all make such mistakes does not make any of them okay.

For the record, to repeat what I have often said before, I am not opposed to politics, properly speaking, which is simply to make use of the established polity of the community (the polis) by the members or citizens of that body for the good governance of their life together. Praise God for that good gift of daily bread. It is like the use of reason or rhetoric, or any other part of the Lord's creation; all of these things are to remain servants and handmaidens of the Lord, and dare not be vaunted as lords and masters over Him and His Word.

A potentially bigger problem than the abuse of politics, in my opinion, is what often passes for "politics," but which really stands outside of the established polity of the polis, and is primarily a way for special interest groups to lobby the populace and the powers that be for favors and dispensations. If this is done in the way of conversation and persuasion, that is all fine and good, and it can serve a genuinely healthy purpose. When such para-political activity becomes a self-perpetuating end unto itself, however, it is kicking against the goads and setting itself against the governing authorities that the Lord Himself has established and arranged under His permissive will. It is precisely at this point that I have begun wonder, Do we trust the Word of God or not?

If it makes a certain kind of sense for "liberals" to rely upon political tactics to achieve their goals, it surely does not make sense for "conservatives" to adopt such a strategy, especially on the part of those who oppose the methodology of the "church growth" movement. Politics can and should be used to serve and support the Word of God, to assist in giving it free course within the life of the Church and throughout the world. Yet, it is not the politics but always and only the Word of God that establishes and sustains the Church as such. Even in using the politics that the Lord has provided, our faith and trust and confidence are in the Lord Himself, in His Word and promises. When we submit to the governing authorities, as did Isaac when he submitted to his father Abraham and permitted himself to be trussed up on the altar as a burnt offering to the Lord, we are willing to suffer persecution in the confidence that the Lord who orders our footsteps by His Word will not abandon us to Sheol. Just as Abraham himself considered that the Lord who had promised to name his descendants by Isaac was able even to raise the dead, and he proceeded in that faith.

What is my point? I fear that some of my colleagues have become so caught up in para-political strategies, that they may be in danger of forgetting the Word of God as that which is alone sure and certain. Their intentions are good, I have no doubt, but good intentions never do justify acting contrary to the Word of God. There is a real temptation for each and all of us to trust in ourselves and our own wisdom, reason and strength, instead of relying on the grace of God in Christ and depending on His Word and Holy Spirit. We trust not in princes, who are but mortal, and that includes each and all of us, who shall also return to the dust from which we were taken.

I'm not suggesting, nor am I in favor of, blind allegiance to the polity and practices of the corporate LCMS. God forbid! Where decisions are made and actions taken that are unwise, ill-advised, detrimental to our confession of the faith, or contrary to the Word of God, then certainly the pastors and congregations that comprise this Synod should speak up and take steps to oppose such actions and rectify such decisions. For the sake of conscience, in duty bound to the Word of God above all else, there must even be a willingness to separate from the temporal fellowship of this Synod, if and when it becomes impossible to remain faithful within that fellowship on earth. However, all such procedures must be undertaken in the humility of repentant faith, and we must ever guard our hearts against all manner of self-righteousness.

A case in point is the recent proposal of a Special Convention of the Synod in 2009. This was a major item at the Convention this summer, and it has been a matter of debate in the weeks and months since. I struggled with anger and resentment in my own heart toward some of those involved in proposing the Special Convention, and I was grateful to be called to repentance for that sinfulness of mine. As to the Special Convention itself, I have been somewhat ambivalent, and I now have similarly mixed feelings about the fact that it will not be happening after all. I believe that our Synod does need to address our polity and governance, and that some serious deficiencies could be rectified through a careful restructuring. At the same time, I've also had some real concerns and have been somewhat skeptical of what might actually happen in the case of the contemplated restructuring, which a Special Convention in 2009 would have considered. Now that President Kieschnick has recommanded, and the Council of Presidents has concurred, that there not be a Special Convention in 2009, I expect that the restructuring will be dealt with at the Regular Convention of the Synod in 2010. I'm not sure whether that will prove to be any better, or worse, from the standpoint of my own concerns and hopes for the future, but I am going to hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and trust the Lord to guide and govern His Church on earth (with or without, and within or without, the temporal fellowship of the LCMS).

But here is my more immediate concern: Over the past month, many of my colleagues have been quite openly and vocally opposed to the proposed Special Convention. I have respected their opinions in this matter, and have listened to their arguments, even though I have remained unconvinced regarding their conclusions. Irrespective of my own ambivalent thoughts, their position has been clearly and forthrightly stated, for which I thank them and commend them. Yet, now that President Kieschnick has concluded that a Special Convention should not happen in 2009, and the Council of Presidents has followed his lead, at least some of the same colleagues who have been calling for this very decision are interpreting some kind of conspiracy behind it, a hidden agenda, a strategy of deception, or what have you. I've even heard the suggestion that the Special Convention was never anything more than a ploy and a decoy, and that President Kieschnick intended all along to "pull the plug" on it, for the sake of garnering sympathy and support in 2010. That may be a remote possibility, but I don't believe it for a minute. Frankly, there are any number of possible explanations for the sudden turnabout, and the most plausible of them are far more innocent than the conspiracy theories that are being bandied about. Maybe there is solid evidence to support some of these negative interpretations, but so far all that I have seen or heard are conjectures on the part of people who don't know any more of the facts than I do.

There is the matter of the Fourth Commandment and the Eighth Commandment. We ought to honor the office and authority of the President, for the Lord's sake, and we ought to defend our neighbor, speak well of him, and explain his actions in the kindest possible way. That doesn't appear to be happening in a number of cases. Particularly troubling are attempts to read the President's heart and the outright impugning of his motives and intentions. We rightly judge the man's outward actions and public confession, whether these be good and right or contrary to the Word of the Lord, but let none of us presume to plumb the secret depths of his heart and mind. He is a sinful man, as are we all. He is also a baptized child of God; his Father in heaven loves him; and his Good Shepherd, who died for him, is ever seeking him out and recalling him through contrition, repentance and faith in the forgiveness of all his sins. We can assist him, our neighbor and our brother in Christ, by speaking the Word of the Law and the Gospel to him, by making the good confession of Christ as we are given that opportunity. But we do not serve our neighbor, nor the will of God, by assuming the worst and making unfounded accusations.

I believe that it comes down to our trust in the Word of God. Do we trust Him, who commands us to honor the governing authorities and to speak well of our neighbor, that He will not fail to govern and protect His Church on earth and us who are the sheep of His pasture? Perhaps even more to the point, do we not trust that His Word of the Law and the Gospel is able (and alone is able) to bring about repentance in the heart of our neighbor? I have no reason to doubt that President Kieschnick has been attending the Divine Service in the weeks and months since the Convention, that he has been hearing the preaching of the Word, that he has been confessing his sins and receiving Holy Absolution from his own pastors, that he has been eating and drinking the Body and Blood of His Savior in the Holy Communion. Should I not, then, be more ready to believe that the Lord has worked in him a change of heart and mind, wherever that may have been necessary, than to suppose a wicked intention and evil strategy at work in the man? Is it only ever to be political action (or para-political activity) that is credited with the ability to correct or rectify the divisions and deficiencies that plague our life together in this sinful world?

The Lord actually has a pretty good track record in bringing people to repentance. He did it with David and Manasseh, with Peter and Paul. He does so for me, by His grace and mercy, and I trust that He does so for President Kieschnick, as well. I'm not convinced that the proposed Special Convention was even a case for which repentance was needed, but for those who were convinced that it was a bad idea, it would be more appropriate to thank the Lord for guiding and directing the President and the Synod away from that course of action, than to impugn the President's motivations and intentions. For my part, I'm less concerned about any of this politics than I am about an erosion of confidence in the Word of God, which shall not fail to accomplish the purposes for which He speaks it. As Dr. Luther has written, "Christ will continue to reign to the end of the world, but in a wondrous way, as He did under the papacy."

Relatively "Mediocre" Hymns Again

A few weeks ago, I made the observation that Lutherans may have grown tired and bored with the glut of "mediocre" hymnody that has served as the mainstay of many conservative congregations for the past several generations. I suggested that many of these hymns lack significant substance or staying power, and thus, because they have been extensively overused (to the neglect of solid historic hymnody), people eventually began to hunger for something new and different.

In response to those comments, I was asked to provide a list of the sort of "mediocre" hymns I had in mind. It is with a certain reluctance, and with a fair amount of trepidation, that I have since been working to compile such a list, along with suggestions of alternative possibilities. Actually, it's been an interesting and instructive exercise for me, and it has contributed to several other thing that I am working on at the moment. Nevertheless, I know how passionate people are about their "old favorite" hymns (I'm no stranger to such passions, myself). Hymnody can make connections within us that may well defy objective logic, and who am I to pass judgment on somone else's beloved hymnody?

So, before I post my list of relatively "mediocre" hymns, I need to offer some clarifications and make some qualifications up front. First of all, I am using this term, "mediocre," in a less pejorative sense than it probably sounds. I'm chiefly thinking of hymns that are neither great nor terrible. They do have something to say and something to offer, but only not enough to warrant the frequency with which they have been used in the practice of many congregations.

Many of these hymns have been "favorites" of mine in the past, and there are any number of them that still hold some genuine appeal for me. I'm not trying to suggest that the hymns on this list are out of place or inappropriate, leastwise not across the board. The truth is, there are a few of these hymns that I would never choose to have my congregation sing, but most of them are hymns that I do use within my congregation from time to time, without compunction. It's only that I would maybe use the better of these hymns once or twice a year, or a couple times every few years, rather than ten or twelve times each year.

The list that I've put together of "mediocre" hymns covers a pretty broad spectrum. Some of these hymns are considerably better than others, and they differ in their respective strengths and weaknesses. In some cases, the text strikes me as thin, ambiguous, tenuous or questionable. In other cases, the text may be quite strong in its content, but lacking in poetry and eloquence. With other hymns, the problem is less in the text than with the music, which may be on the cheesy side, or else so trite and simplistic as to become tedious before too long. I've also included hymns in which the Law predominates and gets the last word, instead of the Gospel. The fact of the matter is that some of the hymns on the list are judgment calls on my part, and nine out of ten of my friends and colleagues might disagree with me in such cases. So be it. I'm offering my opinion, for what it's worth, and anyone else can take it or leave it.

I debated on how best to identify possible alternatives to the "mediocre" hymns I've listed. For this present context, I've simply indicated those suggestions parenthetically by way of their LSB numbers. In offering those options for consideration, I've generally stayed away from some of the most obvious hymns, which will presumably be used in any case. For example, I haven't suggested "A Mighty Fortress," "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying," or "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright," because they ought to be in regular "rotation" anyway. There are some exceptions to this general rule, but mostly I have tried to identify hymns that might otherwise be overlooked. The majority of these are from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but not exclusively so; I've included a number of more recent hymns, which, in my judgment, have some real potential to make a lasting impression. For the most part, I've offered alternatives from the corresponding section of the hymnal, and I've only deviated from that procedure where there seemed to be some compelling reason to do so. On that note, I should point out that I went easy on the Christmas hymns (which don't tend to be overused for most of the year, in any case), and I did not include any of the Easter hymns.

Finally, it needs to be stated that there are maybe as many other hymns in the Lutheran Service Book that I regard as weaker and otherwise worse than these relatively "mediocre" hymns. I wasn't attempting to compile a list of the most offensive hymns, but of those that have tended to be around for a long time already, which aren't all bad (and in some cases are decent), but which have not had the substance or strength to sustain the kind of use they've been given. And lest I leave the wrong impression, compiling this list has confirmed and clarified what I have said before: the vast majority of the hymns in the LSB are excellent.

So, here is my list of relatively "mediocre" hymns that ought to be used with care and discretion, along with some possible alternatives indicated:

LSB 343 — Prepare the royal highway / (consider: 334)
LSB 348 — The King shall come when morning dawns / (consider: 336)
LSB 353 — Jesus came, the heav’ns adoring / (consider: 350)
LSB 354 — Arise, O Christian people / (consider: 355)

LSB 387 — Joy to the world / (consider: 378)

LSB 409 — Hail, O source of ev’ry blessing / (consider: 401)

LSB 425/426 — When I survey the wondrous cross / (consider: 421, 455)
LSB 427 — In the cross of Christ I glory / (consider: 430, 429)
LSB 431 — Not all the blood of beasts / (consider: 438, 450)
LSB 433 — Glory be to Jesus / (consider: 420, 454)
LSB 435 — Come to Calvary’s holy mountain / (consider: 440, 423)
LSB 436 — Go to dark Gethsemane / (consider: 451, 448)
LSB 437 — Alas! And did my Savior bleed / (consider: 453, 439)

LSB 496 — Holy Spirit, light divine / (consider: 500)

LSB 506 — Glory be to God the Father / (consider: 504, 947, 948)
LSB 507 — Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty / (consider: 940)

LSB 524 — How sweet the name of Jesus sounds / (consider: 554, 545)
LSB 525 — Crown Him with many crowns / (consider: 529, 534)
LSB 527 — O Savior, precious Savior / (consider: 533, 553)
LSB 528 — Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing / (consider: 544, 539)
LSB 537 — Beautiful Savior, King of creation / (consider: 548, 538)
LSB 549 — All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name / (consider: 564, 540)

LSB 560 — Drawn to the cross, which Thou / (consider: 561, 562)
LSB 563 — Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness / (consider: 571, 572)
LSB 570 — Just as I am, without one plea / (consider: 568, 559)
LSB 575/576 — My hope is built on nothing less / (consider: 557, 741)

LSB 606 — I lay my sins on Jesus / (consider: 607, 608)

LSB 649 — Blest be the tie that binds / (consider: 639, 671)
LSB 651 — I love Your kingdom, Lord / (consider: 647, 659)

LSB 660 — Stand up, stand up for Jesus / (consider: 668, 666)
LSB 662 — Onward, Christian soldiers / (consider: 661, 658)
LSB 664 — Fight the good fight / (consider: 663, 655)

LSB 684 — Come unto Me, ye weary / (consider: 688)
LSB 687 — Thine forever, God of love / (consider: 689)
LSB 698 — May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfill / (consider: 703)
LSB 699 — I heard the voice of Jesus say / (consider: 690)
LSB 700 — Love divine, all loves excelling / (consider: 683)
LSB 702 — My faith looks up to Thee / (consider: 694)
LSB 704 — Renew me, O eternal Light / (consider: 693)
LSB 707 — Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways / (consider: 696)

LSB 715 — Jesus, Savior, pilot me / (consider: 716, 743)
LSB 718 — Jesus, lead Thou on / (consider: 709, 730)
LSB 722 — Lord, take my hand and lead me / (consider: 737, 732)
LSB 728 — How firm a foundation, O saints / (consider: 713, 714)
LSB 729 — I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus / (consider: 708, 734)
LSB 733 — O God, our help in ages past / (consider: 724, 726)

LSB 748 — I’m but a stranger here / (consider: 754, 755)
LSB 761 — Rock of ages, cleft for me / (consider: 745, 756)
LSB 765 — God moves in a mysterious way / (consider: 758, 760)

LSB 770 — What a friend we have in Jesus / (consider: 773)
LSB 779 — Come, my soul, with ev’ry care / (consider: 768)

LSB 781 — We give Thee but Thine own / (consider: 851)
LSB 783/784 — Take my life and let it be / (consider: 685)
LSB 785 — We praise You, O God, our Redeemer / (consider: 792)

LSB 802 — Immortal, invisible, God only wise / (consider: 790)
LSB 804 — O worship the King / (consider: 794)
LSB 811 — Oh, that I had a thousand voices / (consider: 797)
LSB 812 — Come, let us join our cheerful songs / (consider: 810)
LSB 813 — Rejoice, O pilgrim throng / (consider: 819)
LSB 814 — O bless the Lord, my soul / (consider: 820)
LSB 816 — From all that dwell below the skies / (consider: 822)

LSB 826 — Hark, the voice of Jesus crying / (consider: 839)
LSB 832 — Jesus shall reign where’er the sun / (consider: 834)

LSB 850 — God of grace and God of glory / (consider: 842)
LSB 852 — O God of mercy, God of might / (consider: 845)

LSB 854 — Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go / (consider: 853)

LSB 867 — Let children hear the mighty deeds / (consider: 865)

LSB 873 — Christ, whose glory fills the skies / (consider: 875)

LSB 892 — Come, ye thankful people, come / (consider: 895)

LSB 900 — Jesus! Name of wondrous love / (consider: 898)

LSB 903 — This is the day the Lord has made / (consider: 906)
LSB 905 — Come, Thou almighty King / (consider: 908, 902)
LSB 907 — God Himself is present / (consider: 909)
LSB 915 — Today Your mercy calls us / (consider: 901)

LSB 917 — Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise / (consider: 617)
LSB 921 — On what has now been sown / (consider: 823)
LSB 924 — Lord, dismiss us with Your blessing / (consider: 919)