At Jesus' Feet Our Infant Sweet

What: This delightful  baptism hymn appears in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal and the American Lutheran Hymnal, but also in the ELH of 1996. I guess it's like a native English version of "Dearest Jesus, We are Here," LSB 592.
Who: Matthias Loy was an Ohio Lutheran pastor, who wrote and translated many hymns that are beloved enough even to be included in LSB.
Changes: Only some real small ones for understandability's sake.
Tune: The meter is CMD, and because of the unique rhyme scheme, I suggest the new tune SARAH-ELIZABETH (LSB 699). If this is unfamiliar, ELH has ELLACOMBE, LSB 906.

At Jesus' feet our infant sweet

We lay with all his/her stain,

That renders him/her for heav'n unmeet

Until he's/she's born again.

We here embrace His promised grace

In this baptismal wave,

Nor shall the world our trust efface-

This bath his/her soul will save.

We cannot see the Holy Three

Concealed the font within,

Mere water seems the mystery

That cleases us from sin;

But who can tell what good things dwell

Thru God's Word in this flood;

Or who the simple faith repel

That trusts in Jesus' blood.

We bring our child by sin defiled

Then, dearest Lord! to Thee,

Here clothe him/her in Thy nature mild,

From sin here make him/her free;

And buried here in death severe,

To new life may he/she rise

And, fit for Thee, with Thee appear

Immortal in the skies.

Matthias Loy, alt.

Amazing Grace 2.0

As a hymn nerd, I enjoy watching hymnals progress. In the LCMS, there was the ELHB, then TLH, then LW, and now LSB. In the Ohio Synod, there was the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, the American Lutheran Hymnal, and the... nope, they merged and there was never an update to the ALH. This post is the first of a few that will try to update some of the gems ALH has.

Who: I can't find any info on the hymnwriter, Christian Ludwig Scheidt, but the translator was Hermann Brueckner, who translated many, many hymns for the ALH.
What: This hymn, an alternative translation to "By Grace I'm Saved" (LSB 566), reminds us that salvation does not depend on our works, reason, or feelings, but only on Jesus' grace. 
Changes: I have severely updated the text.
Note: To see all ten stanzas in English, check out Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal 252.
Tune: O DASS ICH TAUSEND ZUNGEN HÄTTE, LSB 566.

Amazing Grace! I am God's child_!

This promise you can trust, my heart.

God's Word is pure and undefiled_,

It is the truth in whole and part.

His Word is ever strong and true:

By grace He gives new life to you.

Amazing grace! I shall inherit

That blissful home beyond the skies.

Works count for nothing, God incarnate

Has won for me the heav'nly prize.

His death means my sins are atoned

And I am saved by grace alone.

Amazing grace! Mark well this promise

When you're oppressed by all your sin,

When Satan comes to vex your conscience,

And when your heart seeks peace within.

What reason cannot understand

God by His grace to you will send.

Amazing grace! Salvation's fountain,

As long as God is truth, will flow.

What all the saints of God have written,

What God's own words so plainly show,

What faith alone can rest upon

Is grace alone in God's own Son.

Amazing grace! This sav'ry sentence

On my death bed shall comfort me.

I know my sin in all its greatness,

But also Him Who sets me free.

My heart to peace and joy gives place

Since I'm saved by amazing grace.

Aus Gnaden soll ich selig werden
C.L. Scheidt
Tr. H. Brueckner, ed. MDS

Christ's Crimson Blood and Righteousness

Who: The Reformer, Martin Luther, held that hymns are more than just songs of praise to God. In fact, since music helps us remember the lyrics better, hymns should teach the faith. Emanuel Cronenwett continued this tradition in the hymn below. It's a Lutheran alternative to the more famous translation by John Wesley (Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness, LSB 563). The original hymnwriter was Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf.
What: (new category I'm trying) This hymn teaches that even if we could become sinless (as some claim), we would still need Jesus' grace.
Note: This hymn is a "cento," meaning only some of the original verses have been translated.
Changes: none
Tune: As in the LSB, the tune should be ST. CRISPIN.

Christ's crimson blood and righteousness

My glory are and spotless dress:

In this before my God I'll stand

And enter heav'n, my Father's land.

And should I thru Christ's merits prove

Yet e'er so faithful in my love,

That I could keep from wrong alway

And sin not, to my dying day,

Still would I, when I Christ shall see,

Not think of zeal or piety,

But this: a sinner nears the throne

Whose plea for life is grace alone.

Be praised, O Jesus, without end,

That Thou from heaven didst descend,

And hast for me a ransom paid,

For all a full atonement made.

Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit
Count Nikolas von Zinzendorf
Tr. E. Cronenwett