Hymn of the Month

April 2020 Hymn of the Month

“Low in the Grave He Lay” (Ambassador #111)

1 Low in the grave He lay Jesus, my Savior! 
Waiting the coming day Jesus, my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose, (He arose)
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; (He arose)
He arose a Victor from the dark domain, 
And He lives forever with His saints to reign: 
He arose! (He arose) He arose! (He arose) 
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2 Vainly they watch His bed Jesus, my Savior! 
Vainly they seal the dead Jesus, my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose, (He arose)
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; (He arose)
He arose a Victor from the dark domain, 
And He lives forever with His saints to reign: 
He arose! (He arose) He arose! (He arose) 
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

3 Death cannot keep his prey Jesus, my Savior! 
He tore the bars away Jesus, my Lord!

Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose, (He arose)
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; (He arose)
He arose a Victor from the dark domain, 
And He lives forever with His saints to reign: 
He arose! (He arose) He arose! (He arose) 
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

August 2018 Hymn of the Month

“I LOVE THY KINGDOM, LORD” (Ambassador #296)

1 I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.

2 I love Thy Church, O God!
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
and graven on Thy hand.

3 For her my tears shall fall;
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be giv’n,
Till toils and cares shall end.

4 Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heav’nly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.

5 Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be giv’n
The brightest glories earth can yield,
And brighter bliss of heav’n.

July 2018 Hymn of the Month

“AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN” (Ambassador #404)

1 And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviors blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?

2 He left His Fathers throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adams helpless race.

3 No condemnation now I dread,
I am my Lords and He is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine.

Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

June 2018 Hymn of the Month

“JESUS PAID IT ALL” (Ambassador #407)

1 I hear the Savior say,
Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.

2 Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power, and Thine alone,
Can change the lepers spots
And melt the heart of stone.

3 For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim
Ill wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.

4 And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
Jesus died my soul to save,
My lips shall still repeat.

Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.

May 2018 Hymn of the Month

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” (Ambassador #134)

1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee!
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee!
Tho the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

April 2018 Hymn of the Month

“EASTER MORROW STILLS OUR SORROW” (Ambassador #106)

1 Easter morrow stills our sorrow,
Stills our sorrow forevermore.
Light ever glowing, life overflowing,
Stream from that dawn on benighted shore.
Easter morrow stills our sorrow,
Stills our sorrow forevermore.

2 From His prison Christ has risen,
Christ has risen in morning glow.
Hell weeps in sadness; heavens in gladness,
Heavens in gladness their praise bestow.
From His prison Christ has risen,
Christ has risen in morning glow.

3 Anthems glorious, joy victorious,
Ringing to our Redeemer rise.
He, interceding, upward is leading,
Leading us home to His Paradise.
Anthems glorious, joy victorious,
Ringing to our Redeemer rise.

4 Angels biding bring the tiding,
Bring the tiding at break of day.
Sunbeams awaken; tomb is forsaken;
Heralds of heaven the news relay.
Angels biding bring the tiding,
Bring the tiding at break of day.

5 Sin confounded, grace abounded,
Grace abounded and set us free.
Tomb-dreads are ended; Jesus ascended,
Jesus ascended; the shadows flee.
Sin confounded, grace abounded,
Grace abounded and set us free.

Text: Nicolai F.S. Grundtvig, 1783-1872; tr. Oscar R. Overby, 1892-1964
Tune: Ludvig M. Lindeman 1812-1887
HER VIL TIES 87 87 87

March 2018 Hymn of the Month

“ALAS! AND DID MY SAVIOR BLEED” (Ambassador #70)

1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sovreign die,
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

2 Was it for crimes that I had done
He groand upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree.

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When God, the mighty Maker, died
For man, the creatures sin.

4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt my eyes to tears.

5 But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
Tis all that I can do.

February 2018 Hymn of the Month

“ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME” (Ambassador #398)

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and pow’r.

2. Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy laws demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.

January 2018 Hymn of the Month

“MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE” (Ambassador #397)

1. My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine.

2. May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire;
As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire.

3. While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrows tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream, When deaths cold, sullen stream Shall oer me roll;
Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!

May 2017 Hymn of the Month

“MY HOPE IS BUILT” (Ambassador #600)

Text: Edward Mote (1797-1874)
Tune: SOLID ROCK William B. Bradbury (1816-1868)

1. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
[Refrain]

3. His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.
[Refrain]

4. When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
[Refrain]

April 2017 Hymn of the Month

“CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY” (Ambassador #61)

Text: Latin, 14th c.; Stanza 4 Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
Tune: Easter Hymn, Lyra Davidica, 1708

1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Allelulia!
Sons of men and angels say, Allelulia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Allelulia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Allelulia!

2. Lives again our glorious King, Allelulia!
Where, O Death, is now thy sting, Allelulia!
Dying once He all doth save, Allelulia!
Where thy victory, O Grave? Allelulia!

3. Love’s redeeming work is done, Allelulia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Allelulia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Allelulia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Allelulia!

4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Allelulia!
Following our exalted Head, Allelulia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Allelulia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Allelulia!

5. Sing we to our God above, Allelulia!
Praise eternal as His Love; Allelulia!
Praise Him, all ye heavenly host, Allelulia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Allelulia!


March 2017 Hymn of the Month

“O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED” (Ambassador #61)

Text: Bernard of Clarivaux, 1091-1153; Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676; tr. James W. Aleander, 1804-1859, alt.
Tune: Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612; adapted and harmonized J.S. Bach, 1685-1750

1. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss, till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

2. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

3. What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever; and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

4. Be near when I am dying, O show Thy cross to me;
Lord, on Thy help relying, Come Thous and set me free
These eyes, new faith receiving, From Jesus shall not move,
For he who dies believing, Dies safely through Thy love.

February 2017 Hymn of the Month

“CHILDREN OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER” (Ambassador #560)

1. Children of the heavnly Father Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven Such a refuge eer was given.

2. God His own doth tend and nourish: In His holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things He spares them, In His mighty arms He bears them.

3. Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth, And their sorrows all He knoweth.

4. Praise the Lord in joyful numbers: Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

5. Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children neer forsaketh,
His the loving purpose solely To preserve them pure and holy.

January 2017 Hymn of the Month

“ABIDE WITH ME” (Ambassador #601)

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2. Swift to its close ebbs out lifes little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

3. I need Thy presence evry passing hour, What but Thy grace can foil the tempters powr?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is deaths sting? where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine thro the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heav’ns morning breaks, and earths vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.


December 2016 Hymn of the Month

“FROM HEAVEN ABOVE TO EARTH I COME” (Ambassador #27)
Text and Tune: Martin Luther (1539)

1 From heavn above to earth I come, To bear good news to ev’ry home,
Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will gladly sing.

2 This night to you is born a child, The chosen Virgin’s Infant mild.
And He, a child of lowly birth Shall be the joy of all the earth.

3 He is the Christ, our God and Lord, Whose name we praise with one accord;
Your Savior He has deigned to be And from all sin will set you free.

4 These are the tokens you shall mark: The swaddling clothes, the manger dark;
In these the infant now is laid By whom both heavn and earth were made.

5 We welcome Thee, most noble Guest, Through whom this sinful world is blest
Thy coming is a boon for me; What thanks shall I return to Thee?

6 Were earth a thousand times as fair, Beset with gold and jewels rare,
It still were far too poor to be, A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

7 Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child, Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, and let it be, A quiet chamber, kept for Thee.

8 Praise be to God upon His throne, Who gave the world His only Son;
For this His hosts, on joyful wing, A blest New Year of mercy sing.

November 2016 Hymn of the Month

“A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD” (Ambassador #141)
Text and Tune: Martin Luther (1529); Translator: Frederick H. Hedge (1852)

1. 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 does seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.

2. 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.
You 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.

3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God has 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.

4. 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!


October 2016 Hymn of the Month

“THANKS TO GOD FOR MY REDEEMER” (Ambassador #149)
Text: August Ludwid Storm, (1862-1914)  Tune: Johannes A. Hultman, (1861-1942)

1. Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide!
Thanks for times now but a memory, Thanks for Jesus by my side!
Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and stormy fall!
Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul!

2. Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply!
Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair!
Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare!

3. Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heav’nly peace with Thee!
Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity!


September 2016 Hymn of the Month

“O LET YOUR SOUL NOW BE FILLED WITH GLADNESS”

Text: Peter Jönsson Aschan (1726-1813) Tune: Swedish folk melody

O let your soul now be filled with gladness, Your heart redeemed rejoice indeed!
O may the thought banish all your sadness That in His blood you have been freed,
That God’s unfailing love is yours, That you the only Son were given
That by His death He has opened heaven, That you are ransomed as you are.

If you seem empty of any feeling, Rejoice your are His ransomed bride!
If those you cherish seem not to love you And dark assails from ev’ry side.
Still yours the promise, come what may, In loss and triumph, in laughter, crying,
In want and riches, in living, dying, That you are purchased as you are.

It is a good ev’ry good transcending That Christ has died for you and me!
It is a gladness that has no ending Therein God’s wondrous love to see!
Praise be to You, O spotless Lamb, Who through the desert my soul are leading
To that fair city of joy exceeding, For which You bought me as I am.