Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Reformation Day!

A Mighty Fortress is our God! A Bulwark never failing. Our helper, He amid the flood, of mortal ills prevailing... His kingdom is forever!

In these last days of great distress grant us, O Lord, true steadfastness, that we keep pure till life is spent, your holy Word and Sacrament.

Though with a scornful wonder men see her [the Church] sore oppressed - by schisms rent asunder, by heresies perplexed - though there be those that hate her, false sons within her pale, against both foe and traitor she ever shall prevail.

By all your saints in warfare, for all your saints at rest, your holy Name, O Jesus, forevermore be blest. For you have won the battle that they might wear the crown and now they shine in glory reflected from your throne.

Lord, may your soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, fight as the saints who nobly fought of old. And win with them, the victor's crown of gold! Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine. We feebly struggle, they in glory shine. Yet all are one in Thee for all art thine! Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce the warfare long, steals on the ear the distant triumph song. Then hearts are brave again and arms are strong! Alleluia, Alleluia!

Jesus still lead on, till our rest be won. Though the way be dark and cheerless, we will follow calm and fearless. Guide us by Thy hand to our Fatherland.

O Savior rend the heavens wide! Come down, come down with mighty stride...O come, lead us with mighty hand, from exile to the promised land!

And in case it is necessary to cite source information, I'm fairly sure that all of those in some translation or another can be found in The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, The Lutheran Service Book, or "A very, very old Methodist Hymnal whose name I can't remember." However, all are compiled in an unpublished work - The Anthology of Sarah's Memory. This is an exclusive "nonpublication" accessible only upon request to the compiler.

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