Hymn - There Is an Hour of Peaceful Rest

 

"There Is an Hour of Peaceful Rest"
by William B. Tappan, 1794-1849

Tune - Pax celeste - linked here.

1. There is an hour of peaceful rest
To mourning wand'rers giv'n;
There is a joy for souls distrest,
A balm for ev'ry wounded breast:
'Tis found above--in heav'n.

2. There is a home for weary souls,
By sin and sorrow driv'n--
When tossed on life's tempestuous shoals,
When storms arise and ocean rolls,
And all is drear--but heav'n.

3. There faith lifts up the tearless eye,
To brighter prospects giv'n,
And views the tempest passing by,
The evening shadows quickly fly,
And all serene--in heav'n.

4. There fragrant flow'rs immortal bloom,
And joys supreme are giv'n;
There rays divine disperse the gloom;
Beyond the confines of the tomb
Appears the dawn of heav'n.

Hymn #617
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Hebrews 4:9
Author: William B. Tappan, 1818, ab.
Tune: "Pax celeste"
1st Published in: Celestial Harps
Town: Edinburgh, 1824

Hymn - The Old Year Now Hath Passed Away

 

"The Old Year Now hath Passed Away"
by Johann Steuerlein, 1546-1613
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

Tune - Herr Jesu Christ, dich - linked here.

1. The old year now hath passed away;
We thank Thee, 0 our God, today
That Thou hast kept us through the year
When danger and distress were near.
2. We pray Thee, 0 eternal Son,
Who with the Father reign'st as One,
To guard and rule Thy Christendom
Through all the ages yet to come.

3. Take not Thy saving Word away,
Our souls' true comfort, staff, and stay.
Abide with us and keep us free
From errors, following only Thee.

4. Oh, help us to forsake all sin,
A new and holier course begin!
Mark not what once was done amiss;
A happier, better year be this,

5. Wherein as Christians we may live
Or die in peace that Thou canst give,
To rise again when Thou shalt come
And enter Thine eternal home.

6. There shall we thank Thee and adore
With all the angels evermore.
Lord Jesus Christ, increase our faith
To praise Thy name through life and death.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #125
Text: John 15:4
Author: Johann Steuerlein, 1588, asc.
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Titled: "Das alte Jahr vergangen ist"
Tune: "Herr Jesu Christ, dich"
1st Published in: Cantionale Germanicum
Town: Dresden, 1628

Hymn - Watts' - The Law Commands and Makes Us Know

 

"The Law Commands and Makes Us Know"
by Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Tune - Old Hundreth - linked here.

1. The Law commands and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But 'tis the Gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do his will.

2. The Law discovers guilt and sin
And shows how vile our hearts have been;
The Gospel only can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

3. What curses doth the Law denounce
Against the man who fails but once!
But in the Gospel Christ appears,
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.

4. My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the Law
Fly to the hope the Gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #289
Text: Psalm 19:9
Author: Isaac Watts, 1709
Tune: "Old Hundredth"
1st Published in: Genevan Psalter,1551

Hymn - The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns

"The Head That Once was Crowned with Thorns"
by Thomas Kelly, 1769-1854

Tune - St. Magnus - linked here.

1. The Head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty Victor's brow.

2. The highest place that heaven affords
Is His, is His by right,
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And heaven's eternal Light;

3. The Joy of all who dwell above,
The Joy of all below
To whom He manifests His love
And grants His name to know.

4. To them the cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of heaven.

5. They suffer with their Lord below,
They reign with Him above,
Their profit and their joy to know
The mystery of His love.

6. The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to Him:
His people's hope, His people's wealth,
Their everlasting theme.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #219 
Text: Hebrews 2:10
Author: Thomas Kelly, 1820
Composer: Jeremiah Clarke, 1709
Tune: "St. Magnus"

Hymn - The Church's One Foundation

"The Church's One Foundation"
by Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900

Tune - Aurelia - linked here.

1. The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.

2. Elect from every nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

3. The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord, to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end.
Though there be those that hate her.
False sons within her pale,
Against both foe and traitor
She ever shall prevail.

4. Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping;
Their cry goes up, "How long?"
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.

5. Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore,
Til with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #473
Text: Ephesians 2:20
Author: Samuel J. Stone, 1866, cento
Composer: Samuel S. Wesley, 1864
Tune: "Aurelia"