Lutheran Service Book #941, 'We Praise You and Acknowledge You'

The congregation at historic Grace Lutheran Church in San Diego, California sings the closing hymn, "We Praise You and Acknowledge You" (Lutheran Service Book #941) for the Divine Service on the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, 2018. This hymn, a modern versification of the ancient "Te Deum" in our Christian liturgy by Stephen P. Starke, is based on Revelation 7:9-14, Philippians 2:5-11, and Psalm 89:26. The tune is "Thaxted" and is composed by Gustav Holst.

"We praise You and acknowledge You, O God, to be the Lord,
The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing,
The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring:
'O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!'

"The band of the apostles in glory sing Your praise;
The fellowship of prophets their deathless voices raise.
The martyrs of Your kingdom, a great and noble throng,
Sing with the holy Church throughout all the world this song:
'O all-majestic Father, Your true and only Son,
And Holy Spirit, Comforter—forever Three in One!'

"You, Christ, are King of glory, the everlasting Son,
Yet You, with boundless love, sought to rescue ev'ryone:
You laid aside Your glory, were born of virgin's womb,
Were crucified for us and were placed into a tomb;
Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve—
You opened heaven's kingdom to all who would believe.

"You sit in splendid glory, enthroned at God's right hand,
Upholding earth and heaven by forces You command.
We know that You will come as our Judge that final day,
So help Your servants You have redeemed by blood, we pray;
May we with saints be numbered where praises never end,
In glory everlasting. Amen, O Lord, amen!"

Our recordings are done during a holy time and not intended to provide something to view but rather let you hear a sample of beautiful, sacred music such as what you might find in an LCMS Lutheran church today. Please understand the limits imposed by small camera microphones... and attend in person to hear Lutheran liturgy yourself.