The text for today's hymn cannot be published due to copyright limitations. We apologize for the inconvenience.
"O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright" by Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1609; trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878
The United Methodist Hymnal Number 247
1. O Morning Star, how fair and bright
thou beamest forth in truth and light,
O Sovereign meek and lowly!
Thou Root of Jesse, David's Son,
my Lord and Master, thou has won
my heart to serve thee solely!
Thou art holy,
fair and glorious, all-victorious,
rich in blessing,
rule and might o'er all possessing.
2. Thou heavenly Brightness! Light divine!
O deep within my heart now shine,
and make thee there an altar!
fill me with joy and strength to be
thy member, ever joined to thee
in love that cannot falter;
toward thee longing
doth possess me; turn and bless me;
here in sadness
eye and heart long for thy gladness.
3. (*Verse 3-6 subject to copyright)
*“Lord, when You look on us in love,
At once there falls from God above
A ray of purest pleasure.
Your Word and Spirit, flesh and blood
Refresh our souls with heavenly food.
You are our dearest treasure!
Let Your mercy
Warm and cheer us!
O draw near us!
For You teach us
God’s own love through You has reached us.
4. *“Almighty Father, in Your Son
You loved us when not yet begun
Was this old earth’s foundation!
Your Son has ransomed us in love
To live in Him here and above;
This is Your great salvation.
Alleluia!
Christ the living,
To us giving
Life forever,
Keeps us Yours and fails us never!
5. *“O let the harps break forth in sound!
Our joy be all with music crowned,
Our voices gladly blending!
For Christ goes with us all the way—
Today, tomorrow, every day!
His love is never ending!
Sing out! Ring out!
Jubilation!
Exultation!
Tell the story!
Great is He, the King of Glory!
6. *“What joy to know, when life is past,
The Lord we love is first and last,
The end and the beginning!
He will one day, oh, glorious grace,
Transport us to that happy place
Beyond all tears and sinning!
Amen! Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Crown of gladness!
We are yearning
For the day of Your returning!”
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Pastor Philipp Nicolai lived and pastored a congregation in Unna, Germany during the bubonic plague in the 1590's. As he stood at his office window one day, looking out on the mass graves that had been dug for the members of his congregation and community, Nicolai found himself overcome with grief. In response to the horrific number of deaths over several months (1300 total, 170 in one week!), he wrote this hymn. It was as if God had invaded his heart, reminding him of a God who brings the Morning Star out of the darkness.Our prayer through the week continues:… For you are a God who breaks through the darkness and whose Morning Star shines fair and bright, …
Libbie Reinking, '13
Pastor/Mission Developer, Epiphany Lutheran Church, Denver, Colo.
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