Hymn of the Week: September 18, 2023
Earth and All Stars
Glory to God: 26
God’s Work, Our Hands
Earth Text: Herbert Frederick Brokering, 1964
Earth and All Stars
Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets, sing to the Lord a new song!
Hail, wind, and rain, loud blowing snowstorms, sing to the Lord a new song!
God has done marvelous things. We, too, sing praises with a new song!
Trumpet and pipes, loud clashing cymbals, sing to the Lord a new song!
Harp, lute, and lyre, loud humming cellos, sing to the Lord a new song!
God has done marvelous things. We, too, sing praises with a new song!
Engines and steel! Loud pounding hammers! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Limestone and beams! Loud building workers! Sing to the Lord a new song!
God has done marvelous things. We, too, sing praises with a new song!
Knowledge and truth, loud sounding wisdom, sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son, loud praying members, sing to the Lord a new song!
God has done marvelous things. We, too, sing praises with a new song!
God’s Work Text: Wayne Wold, 2019
God’s Work, Our Hands
God's work, our hands: working together,
building a future, repairing the world,
raising up homes, planting new gardens,
feeding the hungry and sheltering the cold.
Bless, God, our hands as we work in your name,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
God's work, our feet: traveling together,
following Jesus to places unknown,
walking as friends, marching for freedom,
running the race with God's future the goal.
Bless, God, our feet as we follow your way,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
God's work, our voice: singing together,
praising, proclaiming to all who will hear,
praying for peace, shouting for justice,
claiming God's love for the lost and the least.
Bless, God, our voice as we speak in your name,
sharing the good news of our Gospel.
God is at work in and around us:
seedlings are sprouting and bread's on the rise!
Washed and set free, humbled and honored,
gifted by grace, we respond in God's love.
Bless, God, our lives as we answer your call,
sharing the good news of your Gospel.
Today’s Devotion:
Two Hymns for One! This week’s hymn is a tune with 2 different texts and messages.
Our First Hymn,
Earth and All Stars is a hymn that was written back in 1964 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. It quickly made its way into the Lutheran hymnal in 1969.
It, like many of the hymns of Wesley and Watts, contains many verses that address a variety of celebrations within the church. While not listed in our hymnal, this is the hymn tune that contains a verse about learning at school with text that includes test tubes, athletes, and bands. There are also stunning verses that reflect on the Easter season.
About this hymn, Brokering has said the following: I tried to gather into a hymn of praise the many facets of life that emerge in the life of community. So, there are references to building, nature, learning, family, war, festivity. Seasons, emotions, death and resurrection, bread, wine, water, wind, sun, spirit. . . have made great impressions on my imagination.
"Earth and All Stars" is a catalog text, inviting us to join with a whole host of natural and cultural phenomena to "sing to the Lord a new song!" The text alludes to Psalm 96:1 in each stanza and to Psalm 98:1 in the refrain. But Brokering presents a modern list of natural, manufactured, and inanimate things that join in praising the Lord: planets in cosmic order (st. 1); weather and vegetation (st. 2); musical instruments (st. 3); technology and building (st. 4); learning and athletics (st. 5); wisdom, and all of God's people (st. 6).
A prolific author, Brokering is currently a freelance consultant on worship and ministry. Specializing in religious education, he studied at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa; the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Columbus, Ohio; the University of Iowa; and the University of Erlangen, Germany. Brokering is a prominent figure in the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches and has served as a parish pastor in several Lutheran congregations. His writings include Lord, Be with Me (1969), Lord, If (1977), and texts for hymns, anthems, cantatas, and musicals.
God’s Work, Our Hands
A hymn titled “God’s Work, Our Hands,” written by Wayne Wold, was selected as the winning entry in the ELCA’s “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday hymn contest in 2019. More than 120 entries were submitted to be considered as a hymn for the ELCA’s annual dedicated day of service. The selected hymn represents the official tagline of the ELCA and expresses how the people of this church live in service for the life of the world. The selected hymn includes music to a familiar tune as well as music to an original composition. The hymn is available as a year-round worship resource.
Wayne Wold is a professor and chair of the music department at Hood College in Frederick, Md., where he also serves as concert manager and college organist. He is also the director of music ministry at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, Md.
Enjoy reading the different texts and listening to how the text fits this now well-known tune.
