A Lutheran Hymnal Project

I am a confessional Lutheran from the U.K. (ELCE which is strongly connected with LCMS) and have been for about two years now. Because my Christian life has been spent for the bulk of time in the charismatic churches, through Calvary Chapel and then the Reformed Baptist church; I personally found the whole Lutheran liturgy quite a task to get a handle on, and still do if I'm honest. I appreciate it all, and sincerely love the manner in which everything works in the Divine Service, but truly feel that help in fitting in would be of great benefit.

One of the strange things for me was the fact that I spent many years as a worship leader in charismatic churches, but feel a bit like a fish out of water with Lutheran hymns in general. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love them, and find myself floored by the sheer volume of true doctrine they actually contain; and long to sing wholeheartedly with the congregation from these beautiful hymns. Which is extremely hard when you're struggling to figure out where the next note or beat is going! In all honesty, that's probably just the fact that contemporary worship is so, so predictable.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, I am trying to put together a Lutheran hymnal resource that could prove beneficial for people such as me coming in from a completely foreign background congregationally speaking. I've already started to do this on my own personal blog, but think it may be an idea to open it up here too if anyone else is interested.

Practically speaking I simply record audio from our services on my phone, then isolate the hymns to individual mp3's, which I then include on an individual post, along with lyrics and links to the hymn score and information if available. It can be a little time consuming, which may put some people off getting involved, but I'm happy to help lighten the load if you just want to email a raw mp3/wav file (or link to one) along with the hymn title and location in whatever hymnal you're taking it from.

Many thanks and God bless,

John

Here's my first offering anyway:

HOLY SPIRIT GRANT US GRACE - 693 LSB

(Page 693 – Lutheran Service Book – Click for score and information)

Mp3 Download: CLICK HERE

1 O Holy Spirit, grant us grace
That we our Lord and Savior
In faith and fervent love embrace
And truly serve Him ever,
The hour of death cannot bring loss
When we are sheltered by the cross
That cancelled our transgressions.

2 Help us that we Thy saving Word
In faithful hearts may treasure;
Let e’er that Bread of Life afford
New grace in richest measure.
O make us die to ev’ry sin,
Each day create new life within,
That fruits of faith may flourish.

3 And when our earthly race is run,
Death’s bitter hour impending,
Then may Thy work in us begun
Continue till life’s ending,
Until we gladly may commend
Our souls into our Savior’s hand
The crown of life obtaining.