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Featured ~ Theo K ~ Leave a comment

Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us. – Martin Luther

Walther, Gerhardt, Luther, Wesley, and us. While we don’t claim to be on par with these greats, we have a goal to enhance and expand orthodox, liturgical, Lutheran hymnody. The many Lutheran hymnals out there have a number of fine hymns, but there are more — many more — that have been written by pastors, organists, and laymen alike.

On this site, we offer these hymns to you for any church or home use. Although the texts are available without cost, we ask that you respect our copyrights and that any reprints of our material contain the copyright notice that is posted with each text.

If you so desire, some hymn writers have a link for a free-will donation, but we must stress that it is free will!

If you would like to become a contributor to the OLHP, please use the contact form.

Cristo Hoy Resucitó

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A Spanish translation of “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.”

1. Cristo hoy resucitó, ¡Aleluya!
Él la muerte sí venció, ¡Aleluya!
Su Pasión cuán en la cruz, ¡Aleluya!
Trajo salvación y luz, ¡Aleluya!

2. Oh cantemos al Señor, ¡Aleluya!
Jesucristo Salvador, ¡Aleluya!
Hoy la tumba Él abrió, ¡Aleluya!
Justificación compró, ¡Aleluya!

3. El dolor que aguantó, ¡Aleluya!
Del pecado nos sanó, ¡Aleluya!
En su trono reina hoy, ¡Aleluya!
Cristo es El Gran Yo Soy, ¡Aleluya!

4. Alabemos al Señor, ¡Aleluya!
Nuestro Padre Creador, ¡Aleluya!
Con El Hijo, Rey de Paz, ¡Aleluya!
Y El Espíritu Veraz, ¡Aleluya!

Título: Cristo Hoy Resucitó
Música EASTER HYMN

Alleluia, Jesus Lives!

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A Eucharistic hymn for the Resurrection of Our Lord.

1. Alleluia, Jesus lives!
Over death He reigns victorious!
Life eternal to us gives
In His Supper blest and glorious.
Alleluia, let us sing,
Unto Christ our conquering King!

2. Alleluia, hail the Feast
Of the Lamb who lives forever.
Christ our Celebrant and Priest
Bids us feast death’s bond to sever.
Alleluia, taste and see
Christ from sin has set us free!

3. Alleluia, take and eat
Our Redeemer’s risen Body.
Feed upon death’s great defeat;
Christ’s own Flesh does grace embody.
Alleluia, Bread of Life,
Cleanse our sin and end our strife.

4. Alleluia, take the Cup
Of God’s everlasting salvation.
Drink His Blood, upon it sup;
And taste Sin’s Propitiation!
Alleluia, Christ the Vine
Gives us holy drink divine.

5. Alleluia, make us one
With You, here at this Your altar.
Dwell in us, O Holy Son.
Grant us faith that will not falter.
Alleluia, Prince of Peace,
Your great love in us increase.

6. Alleluia, bless the Lord!
Raise the shouts of high thanksgiving.
Sing to Christ, our God adored;
Word Eternal, everliving.
Alleluia, Paschal Creed,
Christ is risen, risen indeed!

Tune: GROSSER GOTT
Text: ©2019 Vicente Solorzano

Love the Lord Your God

~ Evangelical and Catholic ~ Leave a comment

A hymn paraphrase of the Commandments and their explanations from the Small Catechism.

1. Love the Lord your God and serve Him
With full heart, and soul and mind.
For this is the great commandment,
And God’s will for all mankind.
You should love also your neighbour
Even as you love yourself.
On these two hang all the prophets,
Taught to us by Christ, Himself.

2. Have no other gods before Him.
Fear and trust in God alone.
He will ever bless and keep you,
For He loves you as His own.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
Of One Substance, three in One,
Is the One true God, our Maker,
Shown to us in Christ, the Son.

3. Bless God’s Name, do not misuse it.
Hallow it in all you do.
With His Name be always truthful,
For Christ lived and died for you.
Jesus, name above all others,
At its’ sound we bend the knee.
We will call Your Name in trouble,
And give thanks, as it should be.

4. Ever listen, love and cherish
Faithful preaching of Christ’s Word.
Go to church, receive forgiveness
From the pastors of the Lord.
And receive Christ’s Holy Supper
Of His Body and His Blood.
They your faith will surely strengthen,
And will stem sin’s awful flood.

5. Love your father and your mother.
Honour them for all your days.
Do not hate or make them angry,
But obey them in your ways.
God has given to our parents
His authority o’er us;
To protect, to love and keep us
Safe from harm, and ever thus.

6. Love your neighbour, do not harm him.
Care for him in every need.
Do not hate, despise or loathe him.
Love him both in word and deed.
Jesus bids us not to murder
With our hands or in our heart.
Keep us faithful to this teaching,
Lord to us Your grace impart.

7. Love the Lord, and love your neighbour
By remaining chaste and pure.
Husbands, love your wives and serve them;
Let your marriage vows endure.
As for wives, respect your husbands,
And to them be ever true.
God has joined you both together
That Christ’s love would shine through you.

8. Love your neighbour, help and serve him.
His possessions do not take.
Help him to protect and keep all
That he has for his own sake.
All good gifts come from the Father,
Who gives them to us in grace.
Neighbour’s goods then we should care for,
Their protection to embrace.

9. Love your neighbour in your speaking.
Let your words of him be true.
Do not slander or betray him,
Lies of him always eschew.
A good name outranks all riches.
We should strive then to maintain
The good name of our blest neighbour,
And to keep it free from stain.

10. Love your neighbour, do not covet
His inheritance or house.
Help him with his home’s safekeeping,
It’s protection to espouse.
Covet not his wife or workers.
But encourage them to stay,
And fulfill their bond and duty.
You must not lead them astray.

11. If we keep the Lord’s commandments,
He will bless us by His grace.
And He will not seek to punish,
But His love will us embrace.
Christ Your Word imparts great wisdom
With a truth that invokes awe;
Love does no wrong to a neighbour,
Therefore love fulfills the law.

Tune: BEACH SPRING
Text: ©2019 Vicente Solorzano

 

 

Here At Thine Altar, O Christ

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A Eucharistic hymn about the Sacrament of the Altar and its benefits.

1. Here at thine altar, O Christ I will kneel
To eat and drink of this Supernal Meal.
Lord, send upon us thy Spirit’s good grace;
Bless all thy dear children in this sacred place.

2. O taste and see that the Lord God is good.
Richly His table is laid that we would
Eat of Christ’s Body, our Heavenly Bread,
And drink of His Blood, which for us once was shed.

3. Jesus our Saviour abides with us here,
In this blest Sacrament He has drawn near.
Eat of His Body, He gives it to you;
Both body and soul it will truly renew.

4. Here is Salvation’s blest Cup lifted high,
Filled with His Blood, seen by faith’s trusting eye.
The wine is Christ’s Blood, poured out on the cross;
By this He did save us, redeeming our loss.

5. Weigh not our merits, O Lord we do pray.
Naught do we have save for Jesus, the Way.
Unite us to Him, forgive all our sin;
By this Holy Supper grant us peace within.

6. All who partake of this altar in faith
Have life eternal, as Christ the Lord saith.
Grant grace unto us in mercy, O Lord,
With all of thy Church make us one accord.

7. Δ To God the Father let all glory be,
To God the Only Son, we bend the knee,
To God the Holy Spirit all worship be;
One God, of One substance, Blessed Trinity!

Tune: SLANE
Text ©2019 Vicente Solorzano

Sing My Soul a Song of Gladness

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A hymn paraphrase of the Magnificat (Blessed Mary’s Song) in thanksgiving for the birth of my daughter.
 
1. Sing my soul a song of gladness,
Of God’s mercy and His grace.
Christ my Saviour ends all sadness,
For He will redeem our race.
Magnify Him! Bless, exalt Him;
He sin’s stain will sure erase!
 
2. Tell how He regards the lowly
In their humble, meek estate.
Thus He blesses, makes them holy,
Lifts them up with favour great.
Magnify Him! Bless, exalt Him;
On His love now contemplate.
 
3. He the haughty has confounded
In their proud, pretentious hearts.
But pours mercy full, unbounded;
Grace upon us He imparts.
Magnify Him! Bless, exalt Him;
Hid in Him, all fear departs.
 
4. Praise Him for His Name is Holy,
All His promises endure.
With His arm, exalts the lowly;
Shuns the rich, and feeds the poor.
Magnify Him! Bless, exalt Him;
He whose Word is just and sure.
 
5. Children’s children, tell the story,
Of God’s Son who took our place.
On the cross He showed His glory;
Israel’s Seed did sin efface.
Magnify Him! Bless, exalt Him;
Jesus Christ, our Saving Grace.
 
6. Δ Glory be to God Almighty,
Wondrous things His hand has done!
Father, Son, and Spirit, mighty;
Holy God, blest three in One.
Magnify Him! Bless, exalt Him;
While eternal ages run!
 
Tune: LAUDA ANIMA (Goss)
Text ©2019 Vicente Solorzano

Praise Christ, Who Shines With Splendour

~ Evangelical and Catholic ~ 1 Comment

I wrote this hymn for the Epiphany Season.  It focuses on Christ as the Light of the world. It is based primarily on three main events celebrated during Epiphany: The Visit of the Wise Men, Our Lord’s Baptism and the Wedding at Cana.

1. Praise Christ, who shines with splendour;
The Life and Light of men.
Dispel our sin and darkness,
Lord make us whole again.
Lift up your eyes all nations,
Behold God’s Only Son!
Who has assumed our nature,
For us salvation won!

2. His star called forth the wise men
From eastern lands afar.
With gifts they knelt to worship
Our Christ, the Morning Star.
Behold God’s Holy Wisdom
Shines forth on gentile flesh.
Hosanna, Lord! Now save us,
Our souls and minds refresh.

3. Behold what love resplendent
Is ours in Christ the Lord.
For He makes us God’s children,
By water and His Word.
For Christ, in Jordan’s River,
Gave us a saving flood.
All sin He drowned and buried;
He washed us in His Blood.

4. At Cana He prefigured
His Supper, blest divine.
Christ took but humble water,
And turned it into wine.
O Jesus, from Thy altar,
This Mystery does shine.
Thy Flesh and Blood here feeds us
Hid in the bread and wine.

5. O Holy Light Immortal,
Bring forth the Endless Day.
End sin’s dark night of sorrow,
And death’s dark shadow slay.
Arise, O King of Glory,
And smite the evil foe.
Deliver us, blest Saviour,
From every ill and woe.

6. △ All glory to the Father,
And unto Christ the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit;
True God, the three in One.
You hosts of heaven, praise Him,
Let alleluias ring!
Let all the earth adore Him,
His praises ever sing!

Tune: Du meine Seele, singe

Text © 2019 Vicente Solorzano

 

 

Christ Jesus is the Light of the World

~ Theo K ~ Leave a comment

Written for Christ Lutheran Church’s upcoming hymn sing and dedicated to my granddaughter, this is an Epiphany hymn that draws on a variety of Scripture passages including Psalm 119, John 1, John 8, Psalm 27, Ephesians 5, and Revelation 21, all of which talk about Jesus being the Light of the world.  Verses 3 and 4 as a unit point to the teaching that we are admitted to the altar by our Baptism. The tune and arrangement are original, so a PDF link is included below the text.

As with all hymns on this site, a free license for use is granted provided the copyright notice is maintained. If you so desire, you may give a freewill donation to my church. Please make a check payable to Christ Lutheran Church and send it to:

Christ Lutheran Church
ATTN: Theo Kavouras
13812 Bellaire Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44135

Christ Jesus is the Light of the World
dedicated to my granddaughter, ESB

Christ Jesus is the Light of the World
The Light that no darkness can overcome
The Star of the East; My path’s only Light
The Lamp shining through the gloom of night.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The Best and the Brightest, the First and the Last
The Portion and Shield, Beginning and End
A Light to all people; to all a Friend.

This Light is ours in Baptism’s flood.
Possessed with the Spirit of Earth’s only God
We are now made whole; this water now frees
Our sin-withered souls from tyranny.

Now to the altar do we proceed
This Radiance to dine on in Flesh and in Blood
In form here on earth of bread and wine
Yet in, with, and under is Jesus divine.

Wake, sleeper—Rise!—Christ shines on you
Here have you no need of sun, moon, or stars
The Lamb is your Lamp, your All and your Light
Your Glory O man, your Pow’r and Might.

Δ To God the Father, to God the Son
To God the Spirit; the Three in One!
All honor and glory and blessing and praise
To you Lord of all we humbly raise.

Amen!

Tune: Christus Lux
Text and Tune ©2019 Theo Kavouras

 

PDF Score

The Unbelieving Heart

~ Theo K ~ Leave a comment

This hymn is based on the epistle lesson for Proper 27A (most recently Pentecost 23 on 11-12-17.) It demonstrates the difference in the attitudes of Christians and non-Christians toward death. Though we grieve at the death of those we love, we look forward to the sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead.

These are the ones coming out of the Great Tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:14b

As with all hymns on this site, a free license for use is granted provided the copyright notice is maintained. If you so desire, you may give a freewill donation to my church. Please make a check payable to Christ Lutheran Church and send it to:

Christ Lutheran Church
ATTN: Theo Kavouras
13812 Bellaire Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44135

The Unbelieving Heart

The unbelieving heart
is greatly grieved for those who die.
Without the love of Christ,
they have no hope on which to lie.
They tremble and they fear
what they believe the end
because this death their own
destruction does portend.

But we believe that Christ
Who once was dead is risen,
and so the death we see
does not become our prison.
Freed by His saving work:
His blood shed on the Tree,
the dead will yet arise!
From sin forever free.

For Christ Himself will come
from Heav’n with trumpet sounding,
and with a loud command,
the angel’s voice resounding,
those who have died in Christ
will rise and so shall we;
communing with the Lamb
for all eternity.

Tune: Was frag’ ich nach der Welt (6.7.6.7.6.6.6.6.)
Text: © 2016 Theo Kavouras (based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff)

We Are Baptized into Life

~ Theo K ~ 2 Comments

Here is another Baptismal hymn I wrote. This text reinforces the Christian doctrine that we are baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection.

As with all hymns on this site, a free license for use is granted provided the copyright notice is maintained. If you so desire, you may give a freewill donation to my church. Please make a check payable to Christ Lutheran Church and send it to:

Christ Lutheran Church
ATTN: Theo Kavouras
13812 Bellaire Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44135

 

We are Baptized into Life

We are baptized into life
through the blessed Savior’s strife.
Though we die we yet shall rise;
hail the glorious Sacrifice!

Though our souls with sin have burned,
still salvation has been earned
through the merits of the Son.
Thus our life in heaven is won.

We have not the power to save,
trample sin nor death nor grave,
but the spotless Lamb alone
is our access to the Throne.

By the water and the Word
we are joined unto our Lord.
Now entitled to the Feast
dining with our heav’nly Priest

Tune: Innocents (7.7.7.7.)
Text: © 2016 Theo Kavouras

The Holy Altar Stands

~ Theo K ~ Leave a comment

This is another hymn I wrote for the dedication of our sanctuary. It was based on a sermon by our Pastor. We used it when we dedicated the new altar that was built for us by a member. The altar is pictured here:

clc altar

A fellow hymn writer called this text a “didactic doxology”, because it teaches the belief that the altar represents the throne of God, the table of the Feast, and the manger, cross, and tomb of Christ. In these capacities, all of Christian worship and Christian life revolves around the altar – not because of the furniture, but because of the things it represents.

As with all hymns on this site, a free license for use is granted provided the copyright notice is maintained. If you so desire, you may give a freewill donation to my church. Please make a check payable to Christ Lutheran Church and send it to:

Christ Lutheran Church
ATTN: Theo Kavouras
13812 Bellaire Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44135

The Holy Altar Stands


Dedicated to the members of Christ Lutheran Church, Cleveland, OH, on the occasion of dedicating a new sanctuary, September 25, 2016

The holy altar stands
Thy cherished earthly throne.
As table, manger, cross, and tomb
the way to Heav’n alone.

This table where we eat
and drink the Holy Priest
brings heav’n to earth in foretaste of
the perfect wedding feast.

The manger here we see
embodied in this shrine
where Jesus took on human flesh
that ours may be Divine.

The altar loud proclaims
the cross where Jesus died;
His blood to shed that we may live
an endless Eastertide.

The altar too proclaims
the glorious empty tomb
from whence He rose and now we live
released from Satan’s gloom.

Thine altar is the source
Of Christian worship true.
We leave here strengthened as we go
Thy sacred work to do.

Tune: Potsdam (S.M./6.6.8.6.)
Text: © 2016 Theo Kavouras