Sunday's Hymn

We sang this one at church this morning. I remember learning the words at VBS when I was a kid. The leader had one of those big books with words and pictures and she turned them as we sang. That’s why I know what a bulwark is.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

—Martin Luther

I have a CD of the St. Olaf Choir singing this to Luther’s original rhythm, which was something more like this:

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Come, Heaven-Bound Pilgrims at The Happy Wonderer
• From Depths of Woe, I Raise to Thee at Fieldstone Cottage
• To Render Thanks Unto the Lord at Whatever Things
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Reform
• Lord’s Day 44 at The Thirsty Theologian
• For All the Saints at Conjubilant with Song
• Update: Thanks to God at Whatever Is Good

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.

Thanksgiving 1

This time of year can be difficult for me for reasons I’ll not share. Today I’m thankful for “frowning providences.” Because, you know, the clouds do always eventually “break in blessings.”

And while I’m at it, can I say that I’m thankful for William Cowper?

What are you thankful for?

• Elle is thankful for the gift of worship.
• Lisa is thankful for lessons.
• Connie is thankful for godly leaders in her church.
• Update: Kim is thankful “that God does not deal with us according to our sins.”
• Update: Lisa is thankful for “so great a salvation.”
• Update: Dorothy is thankful for God’s faithfulness and his promise of a transformed body.
• Update: Kim of Hiraeth is thankful for families and church families.
• Update: Carla is thankful for her design abilities and the binders that sell.
• Update: Julana has a whole list. She’s “thankful my husband has a paying job, homeschooling is still legal in this country, no one in our family has the swine flu, we have food to eat, for fall weather, for working vehicles, for old friends, for music, for the ability to talk.”
• Update: Veronica is thankful for God’s Word.
• Update: Becky is thankful for a trip to visit her son.
• Update: Leslie is thankful for growing friendships.
• Update: Jennifer is thankful for her salvation.
• Update: Tulipgirl is thankful for a whole list of things.

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Here are three ways you can join in the thanksgiving. 

• Mention something you’re thankful for in the comments here and I’ll included it in one of my thanksgiving posts, or
• Email me to tell me what you’re thankful for and I’ll include it in a post, or
• Post your thankful thought(s) on your own blog, send me the link(s), and I’ll link to your post(s). If you plan to make your thanksgiving posts daily during the month, let me know that and you won’t need to send me daily links.

More details here.

Reformation Day

One of only very few early printings of Luther’s hymn: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” There are no known first edition printings left. This book is a second edition, and extremely rare. It is in the holdings of the Lutherhaus museum in Wittenberg, Germany. Photograph by Paul T. McCain. June 2006. Wittenberg, Germany.

Today is Reformation Day and Kim is marking the day by taking a look at some of the factors that lead to the Reformation (The Upward Call).