Sunday, December 4, 2022

451. Christmas 2 (Series C)

The lessons for this Sunday are (same as in Years A and B) 1 Kings 3:4-15, Ephesians 1:3-14 and Luke 2:40-52. I've avoided self-repetition so far by focusing on a different reading each time, but now that I've written a hymn on all three readings (including one way back here), I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and re-showcase The Boy Jesus Among the Doctors.

The tune is MIT FREUDEN ZART, credited either to 34 Pseaumes de David (Geneva, 1531) or Kirchengesang (Berlin, 1566) and paired with "With high delight, let us unite" in a number of hymnals, as well as "Lord Christ, when first you came to earth" and "O Holy Ghost, Thou gift divine." There are two rhythmic arrangements of this hymn at large in the anglophone hymnal world, and due to the wisdom of experience telling me not to tangle with Concordia Publishing House permissions (which can cost an arm and a leg even if you ask nicely), I'm going with the public-domain one.

Lord Jesus, who Your Father's will
While yet a Child attended,
Our little ones with wisdom fill,
By angel guards defended:
So let them grow that they may know
From early youth the word of truth,
Into Your care commended.

Take them, Lord! Only ours in trust,
Help us protect and feed them.
With faithful teaching and robust
Disciple them and lead them.
Stoke holy fire, that they inquire
In word and rite; with holy light
Both guide their steps and speed them.

And should we lose these precious ones,
Grant that we trust Your Father
Who all His daughters and His sons
Will sometime call and gather.
Then we will find a bosom kind:
A gracious God gained by Your blood,
Lord Jesus, and none other.

1 comment:

RobbieFish said...

I don't want to throw shade on CPH's approach to serving the creative side of the Lutheran church or anything. I just find it interesting that you can ask the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand, or even Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for a permission and they'll say, "Sure, just acknowledge our permission in your credit line" but CPH is like, "Send us a check."