28 September 2007

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)

2 comments:

Rev. Michael Monterastelli said...

where does Angels' Tide come from historically?

Rev. Rick Stuckwisch said...

Thanks for the good question, Montera. You remind me that I have wanted, for some time now, to blog a bit about the various tides that follow Pentecost. That will have to wait a while longer, as I am working on something else right now that requires my attention.

By way of a short answer, "Angels' Tide," as I prefer to call it, is more commonly known as "St. Michael's Tide" among many Lutherans. It is simply a way of designating this time in the Church Year that begins with the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (29 September). It helps to lift up our hearts and minds from the earthly to the heavenly as we approach the end of the year, and as we consider the eschatological emphases of our Lord's preaching (that is, the coming judgment).

Historically, as the Church Year was developing in the West, there were several divisions of the time between Pentecost and Christmas. Those divisions hinged upon the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (29 June), the Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (10 August), and another feast at the end of September commemorating a couple of saints whose names I have trouble remembering for sure (maybe it was Damian and Cosmos, or something like that).

Over the centuries, these several divisions or "tides" have functioned in various ways, or have gone by the wayside, as the case may be. Among Lutherans, the first division has sometimes been marked by the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (24 June) instead of St. Peter and St. Paul, but the Feast of those two great Apostles is one of the most ancient observances of the Church, and it was the historic starting point for what I call "Apostles' Tide." I refer to the period beginning with the commemoration of St. Lawrence as "Martyrs' Tide." And, again, Lutherans have tended to mark the final tide from the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, and they have been more likely to set apart that period of time than either of the first two divisions.

I'll say more about the tides at some future point, but for now I'll simply say that I appreciate the movement and contours they provide to the long green season after Pentecost. I've noticed, in fact, a rather natural progression that is quite harmonious with that of the Holy Gospels: from the Holy Trinity to the Holy Apostles, to the Holy Martyrs (and life under the cross), to the life of the Church militant under the protection of the Holy Angels, unto the life everlasting of All Saints in the Church triumphant.

Incidentally, I designate the three Sundays between All Saints and Advent as "Sundays before Advent," in order to underscore the continuity between the end of one Church Year and the beginning of the next. In fact, what we know as "Advent" in the Western Church originated as a six- or seven-week penitential period, "St. Martin's Tide" (or St. Martin's "Lent," as it was sometimes called), beginning from the Feast of St. Martin of Tours (11 November). So that was yet another "tide" in the historical development of the Church Year.