God rest you merry gentlemen

1. God rest ye merry, gentlemen, 
let nothing you dismay, 
remember Christ our Savior 
was born on Christmas Day; 
to save us all from Satan’s power 
when we were gone astray. 
//: O tidings of comfort and joy, 
comfort and joy; 
o tidings of comfort and joy! :// 

2. In Bethlehem, in Israel, 
this blessèd Babe was born, 
and laid within a manger 
upon this blessèd morn; 
the which His mother Mary 
did nothing take in scorn. 
O tidings... 

3. From God our heavenly Father 
a blessèd angel came; 
and unto certain shepherds 
brought tidings of the same; 
how that in Bethlehem was born 
the Son of God by name. 
O tidings... 

4. “Fear not, then,” said the angel, 
“let nothing you afright! 
This day is born a Savior 
of a pure Virgin bright, 
to free all those who trust in Him 
from Satan’s power and might.” 
O tidings... 

5. The shepherds at those tidings 
rejoiced much in mind, 
and left their flocks a-feeding 
in tempest, storm and wind, 
and went to Bethl’em straightaway 
this blessèd Babe to find. 
O tidings... 

6. But when to Bethlehem they came 
where our dear Savior lay, 
they found Him in a manger 
where oxen feed on hay; 
his mother Mary kneeling 
unto the Lord did pray. 
O tidings... 

7. Now to the Lord sing praises 
all you within this place, 
and with true love and brotherhood 
each other now embrace; 
this holy tide of Christmas 
all others doth deface. 
O tidings...

Lift up your hearts

1. “Lift up your hearts!” 
We lift them, Lord, to Thee; 
here at Thy feet none other may we see. 
“Lift up your hearts!” E’en so, with one accord, 
we lift them up, we lift them to the Lord. 

2. Above the level of the former years, 
the mire of sin, the weight of guilty fears, 
the mist of doubt, the blight of love’s decay, 
o Lord of Light, lift all our hearts today! 

3. Above the swamps of subterfuge and shame, 
the deeds, the thoughts, 
that honor may not name, 
the halting tongue that dares not tell the whole, 
o Lord of Truth, lift every Christian soul! 

4. Above the storms that vex this lower state, 
pride, jealousy, and envy, rage, and hate, 
and cold mistrust that holds e’en friends apart, 
o Lord of Love, lift every brother’s heart! 

5. Lift every gift that Thou Thyself hast given; 
low lies the best till lifted up to heaven; 
low lie the bounding heart, the teeming brain, 
till, sent from God, they mount to God again. 

6. Then, as the trumpet call, in after years 
“Lift up your hearts!” rings pealing in our ears. 
Still shall those hearts respond, with full accord: “We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord!”

Where high the heavenly temple stands

1. Where high the heavenly temple stands, 
the house of God not made with hands, 
a great High Priest our nature wears, 
the Guardian of mankind appears. 

2. He Who for men their Surety stood, 
and poured on earth His precious blood, 
pursues in Heaven His mighty plan, 
the Savior and the Friend of man. 

3. Though now ascended up on high, 
he bends on earth a brother’s eye; 
partaker of the human name, 
he knows the frailty of our frame. 

4. Our fellow Sufferer yet retains 
a fellow feeling of our pains: 
and still remembers in the skies 
His tears, His agonies, and cries. 

5. In every pang that rends the heart, 
the Man of Sorrows had a part, 
He sympathizes with our grief 
and to the sufferer sends relief. 

6. With boldness, therefore, at the throne, 
let us make all our sorrows known; 
and ask the aids of heavenly power 
to help us in the evil hour.

Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide

1. Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide, 
for round us falls the eventide; 
nor let Thy Word, that heavenly light, 
for us be ever veiled in night. 


2. In these last days of sore distress 
grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness 
that pure we keep, till life is spent, 
Thy holy Word and Sacrament. 


3. Lord Jesus, help, Thy Church uphold, 
for we are sluggish, thoughtless, cold. 
Oh, prosper well Thy Word of grace 
and spread its truth in every place! 


4. Oh, keep us in Thy Word, we pray; 
the guile and rage of Satan stay! 
Oh, may Thy mercy never cease! 
Give concord, patience, courage, peace. 


5. O God, how sin's dread works abound! Throughout the earth no rest is found, 
and falsehood's spirit wide has spread, 
and error boldly rears its head. 


6. The haughty spirits, Lord, restrain 
who o'er Thy Church with might would reign 
and always set forth something new, 
devised to change Thy doctrine true. 


7. And since the cause and glory, Lord, 
are Thine, not ours, to us afford 
Thy help and strength and constancy.
With all our heart we trust in Thee. 


8. A trusty weapon is Thy Word, 
Thy Church's buckler, shield and sword. 
Oh, let us in its power confide 
that we may seek no other guide! 


9. Oh, grant that in Thy holy Word 
we here may live and die, dear Lord; 
and when our journey endeth here, 
receive us into glory there.

Lord, keep us steadfast in your word

1. Lord, keep us steadfast in your word,
curb those who by deceit or sword
would wrest the kingdom from your Son
and bring to naught all he has done.


2. Lord Jesus Christ, your power make known,
for you are Lord of lords alone.
Defend your holy church, that we
may sing your praise triumphantly.


3. O Comforter of priceless worth,
send peace and unity on earth,
support us in our final strife
and lead us out of death to life.

My Father, for another night

1. My Father, for another night 
of quiet sleep and rest, 
for all the joy of morning light, 
Thy holy Name be blest. 

2. Now with the newborn day I give 
myself anew to Thee, 
that as Thou willest I may live, 
and what Thou willest be. 

3. Whate’er I do, things great or small, 
whate’er I speak or frame, 
Thy glory may I seek in all, 
do all in Jesus’ Name. 

4. My Father, for His sake, I pray 
Thy child accept and bless; 
and lead me by Thy grace today 
in paths of righteousness. 

Be Thou my Vision

1. Be Thou my Vision, o Lord of my heart, 
naught be all else to me, save that Thou art 
Thou my best Thought by day or by night, 
 waking or sleeping Thy presence my light. 


2.  Riches I heed not, nor man´s empty praise, 
Thou my inheritance, now or always, 
Thou and Thou only first in my heart, 
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art. 


3.  Be Thou my Vision, and Thou my true Word, 
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; 
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, 
still be my Vision, o Ruler of all!