The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 21 October 2017 "Let the Whole Creation Cry," ELW 876

The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 21 October 2017 "Let the Whole Creation Cry," ELW 876
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"Let the Whole Creation Cry," ELW 876
1. Let the whole creation cry,
"Glory to the Lord on high!"
Heav'n and earth, awake and sing,
"Praise to our almighty king!"
Praise God, angel hosts above,
ever bright and fair in love;
sun and moon, lift up your voice;
night and stars, in God rejoice.
2. Servants striving for the Lord,
prophets burning with the word,
those to whom the arts belong
add their voices to the song.
Pow'rs of knowledge and of law,
to the glorious circle draw;
all who work and all who wait,
sing, "The Lord is good and great!"
3. Men and women, young and old,
raise the anthem loud and bold,
and let children's happy hearts
in this worship take their parts;
from the north to southern pole
let the mighty chorus roll:
"Holy, Holy, Holy One;
glory be to God alone!"
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As we near the day that will find us commemorating the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther's posting of his 95 Theses, it will likely be that we will find that everything seems to be Luther. So how far away in this mix can a hymn adapted and arranged by JS Bach be? The hymn writer, the original composer and JS Bach all serve an important role in this framework of praise. Each enables the creation to cry out in word and deed as well as in music and art.
Some have argued that "aesthetics" is the language of God, while others claim that role for "music." Strong affirmation here is directed both towards those who devote themselves to the visual arts and to music. In the second stanza Stepford Brooke writes: "Servants striving for the Lord, prophets burning with the Word, those to whom the arts belong, add their voices to the song." One can hear the glories mount as the whole creation employs its senses and cries aloud: "Glory to the Lord on high."
Lord God, it is to you that we devote our talents. Accept them, as together we praise your glorious name. Amen.
Chris Quello, '66
Retired Pastor, Appleton, Wis.
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