The Lutheran Church has always been known as "the singing Church." From the early days of Martin Luther's reforming work, the power of music to teach the faith was recognized and put to good use. Through the hymns we sing, the faith is taught to young and old alike. We learn about our sin and our need for a Savior. We learn about Jesus' work for us in His incarnation, nativity, perfect life, death on the cross, resurrection from the dead, and ascension into heaven. We learn about the Holy Spirit's work to keep us in the faith through the Gospel and how He causes us to grow in good works. We learn how to pray when we don't know how. Hymns and the other music of the Church are not meant for entertainment, but for our edification and growth in the faith. By making these explanations available, it is our sincere hope that you learn more about the hymns we sing and come to love and appreciate them more and more!
Pastor Beffrey began writing this series while serving his previous congregation in Cleveland and has continued on at Epiphany. The older set is written for the hymns as they are found in The Lutheran Hymnal, so those who are used to Lutheran Worship or Lutheran Service Book may not find a perfect match. The newer explanations are written for the hymns as they are found in Lutheran Service Book.
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Beffrey.
Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord – Heinrich Held Like the Golden Sun Ascending – Thomas Hansen Kingo Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now – William II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar Lord Jesus Christ, My Life, My Light – Martin Behm Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide – Philipp Melanchthon & Nikolaus Selnecker Lord Jesus, Think On Me – Synesius of Cyrene Lord Jesus, Who Art Come - Eberhard Ludwig Fischer Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word – Martin Luther Lord of Our Life and God of Our Salvation - Matthäus Appeles von Löwenstern Lord, Open Thou My Heart to Hear – Johannes Olearius Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart – Martin Schalling
Make Songs of Joy - Jiři Třanovský May God Bestow on Us His Grace – Martin Luther My Inmost Heart Now Raises – Georg Nigidius My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker – Johann Gramann
Not All the Blood of Beasts – Isaac Watts Now I Have Found the Firm Foundation – Johann Andreas Rothe Now Let Us Come Before Him – Paul Gerhardt Now Sing We, Now Rejoice - Unknown
O Blessed, Holy Trinity – Martin Behm O Christ, Our True and Only Light – Johann Heermann O Faithful God, Thanks Be to Thee – Nikolaus Selnecker O God, Forsake Me Not – Salomo Franck O God, Thou Faithful God – Johann Heermann O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee – Paul Gerhardt O Lord, We Praise Thee – Martin Luther O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair – Sarum Breviary O’er Jerusalem Thou Weepest – Anna Bernadine Dorothy Hoppe Oh, Bless the Lord, My Soul – Isaac Watts Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel - Unknown Oh, Enter, Lord, Thy Temple – Paul Gerhardt Oh, How Blest are Ye Whose Toils are Ended – Simon Dach Oh, Rejoice Ye Christians, Loudly – Christian Keimann
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty – Joachim Neander Praise to Thee and Adoration – Thomas Hansen Kingo Preach You the Word – Martin Franzmann
Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing – Paul Gerhardt Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers – Laurentius Laurenti Rise Again, Ye Lion-Hearted - Unknown Rise, Ye Children of Salvation – Justus Falckner
Salvation Unto Us Has Come – Paul Speratus Savior of the Nations, Come – Ambrose of Milan/Martin Luther Shepherd of Tender Youth – Clement of Alexandria Songs of Thankfulness and Praise – Christopher Wordsworth Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness – Johann Franck Stars of the Morning, So Gloriously Bright – Joseph the Hymnographer Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band – Aurelius Clemens Prudentius
The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us – Johann Walther The Church’s One Foundation – Samuel J. Stone The Day is Surely Drawing Near - Bartholomäus Ringwaldt The Day of Resurrection – John of Damascus The Gifts Christ Freely Gives – Richard Resch The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns – Thomas Kelly The Lord, My God, Be Praised – Johannes Olearius The Star Proclaims the King is Here – Coelius Sedulius The Tree of Life – Stephen P. Starke Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower – Johann Scheffler This Joyful Eastertide – George Ratcliffe Woodward Through Jesus’ Blood and Merit – Simon Dach Thy Strong Word – Martin Franzmann Thy Table I Approach – Gerhard Walther Molanus Thy Word, Not Mine, O Christ – Horatius Bonar To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord – Martin Luther To the Name of Our Salvation - Unknown
Veni, Creator Spiritus – Rabanus Maurus
Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying – Philipp Nicolai Watchman, Tell Us of the Night – John Bowring We Now Implore God, the Holy Ghost – Martin Luther We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God – Stephen P. Starke We Sing the Praise of Him Who Died – Thomas Kelly When All the World Was Cursed – Johannes Olearius When in the Hour of Utmost Need – Paul Eber Who Trusts in God, a Strong Abode
Ye Sons of Men, Oh, Hearken – Valentin Thilo Yea As I Live, Jehovah Saith – Nikolaus Herman