“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright,” ELW 308 and LBW 76
1 O Morning Star, how fair and bright!
You shine with God's own truth and light,
Aglow with grace and mercy!
Of Jacob's race, King David's Son,
Our Lord and master, you have won
Our heart to serve you only!
Lowly, holy!
Great and glorious,
All victorious,
Rich in blessing!
Rule and might o'er all possessing!
2 Come, heav'nly bridegroom, light divine,
And deep within our hearts now shine;
There light a flame undying!
In your one body let us be
As living branches of a tree,
Your life our lives supplying.
Now, though daily
Earth's deep sadness
May perplex us
And distress us,
Yet with heav'nly joy you bless us.
3 Lord, when you look on us in love,
At once there falls from God above
A ray of purest pleasure.
Your Word and Spirit, flesh and blood
Refresh our souls with heav'nly food.
You are our dearest treasure!
Let your mercy
Warm and cheer us!
Oh, draw near us!
For you teach us God's own love through you has reached us.
4 Almighty Father, in your Son
You loved us, when not yet begun
Was this old earth's foundation!
Your Son has ransomed us in love
To live in him here and above:
This is your great salvation.
Alleluia!
Christ the living,
To us giving
Life forever,
Keeps us yours and fails us never!
5 What joy to know, when life is past,
The Lord we love is first and last,
The end and the beginning!
He will one day, oh, glorious grace,
Transport us to that happy place
Beyond all tears and sinning!
Amen!
Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Crown of gladness!
We are yearning
For the day of your returning.
6 Oh, let the harps break forth in sound!
Our joy be all with music crowned,
Our voices gaily blending!
For Christ goes with us all the way-
Today, tomorrow, ev'ry day!
His love is never ending!
Sing out!
Ring out!
Jubilation!
Exultation!
Tell the story!
Great is he, the King of glory!
Devotion
Philip Nicolai had wonderful insights into Epiphany. At a breakfast at our church, a retired professor gave us further light on the subject. He informed us that, when the sun is about to rise, but while it is still dark, and for only a very brief time, a couple planets will occasionally shine there together on the Eastern horizon. That may be the best interpretation of the Star of Bethlehem passage (Matthew 2:2).
Long ago, this was something to get excited about, for it was a sign of a King’s birth. This was and is something for us to sing about too. Like the Wisemen, we also find the child whom God sent us. What a wonderful way to begin a new calendar year!
Prayer
O Morning Star, aglow with grace and mercy, you have won over our hearts to serve you only. Amen.