"God's Word Is Our Great Heritage," ELW 509 by Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig, 1817, Translated by: Ole G. Belsheim, 1909
1. God's word is our great heritage
and shall be ours forever;
to spread its light from age to age
shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way;
in death it is our stay.
Lord, grant while time shall last
your church may hold it fast
throughout all generations.
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Tomorrow many congregations will mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, our sanctuaries swelling with the notes of "Ein Feste Burg," a tune attributed to Martin Luther himself, although more often sung with the words of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Taking us back to the sheltering image of God's presence in Psalm 46, this tune is a reminder of the protecting sanctuary that is not a church building, but the presence of the living Lord.
While we honor our heritage from the past, we also do well to remember the words "Semper Reformanda"--Always Reforming. Today's church sometimes succumbs to the temptation of holding on to the past more than it looks to the future. But the active participle of "reforming" refers to an ongoing action, a constant action, that continually reshapes our ministry. In a fast-changing world we may be tempted to throw out the anchor and honor the past, but we are also called by God's living Word to unfurl the sails and be on the move.
We give you thanks, Lord, for the place in which we live today, but remind us that our true home is always in you. By your grace, set us free to live in your house now and forever. Amen.
Tim Christensen, '94
Pastor, Gold Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church, Butte, Mont.
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The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
Telephone: (651)641-3456-
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