O Thou Joy-Prolific!

What: The German carol "O du fröhliche" (Oh, How Joyfully), by Johann D. Falk, is one of those carols that everyone has heard, but can't seem to remember the words to. Maybe that's because of translations like this one. This translation is a great example of trying too hard.
Who: Emanuel Cronenwett translated this in 1878 and published it in his book, "Hymns and Poems."
Changes: None
Tune: Traditional

O Thou joy-prolific!

O thou beatific!

Christ-night halo amid earth's gloom!

Lost world in Eden fell,

Born is Immanuel!

Joy! Yea, joy to thee, O Christendom.

O thou heav'nly gleaming!

Grace and gladness beaming

Christ-night halo amid earth's gloom!

God's Son is here from heav'n,

Grace, peace to us is giv'n:

Joy! Yea, joy to thee, O Christendom.

O thou heart-elating!

O thou consecrating

Christ-night halo amid earth's gloom!

Seraphs, Lord adore Thee,

Laud Thy grace and glory!

Joy! Yea, joy to thee, O Christendom.

O du fröhliche
Johann D Falk
Tr. Emanuel Cronenwett

Merciful and Wondrous Throne

What: Actually, this hymn has also been wonderfully translated by Aaron Jensen. I have taken the liberty of borrowing his title, since Cronenwett's is, well, not as good (Grace O'erflowing Wonder-Throne).
Who: Johann Olearius (1611-1684) was a Lutheran pastor who wrote a number of hymns, including "Comfort, Comfort All My People."
Note: Cronenwett added the last line to each stanza so as to fill out the meter to 77 77 D.
Tune: WINDSOR, LSB 394.

Merciful and wondrous Throne,

Son of God and Mary’s Son,

God and man, an infant small

Find we cradled in a stall,

Sov'reign from eternity

Great in might and majesty,

Unto Thee bows Christendom;

Make our hearts Thee welcome home.

Thou art rich, yet needy now

Soul and body dost endow;

Thou, great God, become forlorn

Yet put death and hell to scorn.

To the world grows manifest

E'en to those who love Thee least:

Wonderful Thy majesty,

Peerless Thy humility.

Lord, Thy grace and goodness true

Daily unto us renew;

O my God, forsake me not

When dire need and death's my lot.

Grant that after life's brief day,

I Thy wondrous glory may

In eternity adore

And Thy love praise evermore.

Wunderbarer Gnadenthron
Johann Olearius
Tr. E. Cronenwett, alt.

I Come from Heaven High to Tell

What: This hymn is another Wedderburn translation, this time their version of "From Heaven Above."
Who: The Wedderburns were a family of Scottish Reformers.
Changes: I've edited this heavily. Since verse 5 just couldn't be updated or metered without major trauma, I have left it out. Because of the Scottish dialect, it's actually easier to use the 'you' form than the 'thou' form.
Note: A 'Balulalow' is an old word meaning 'cradle song' or 'lullaby.' 'Celsitude' apparently means 'heavenly-ness.' 'Swithe' means 'strong' or 'sure.'
Tune: The traditional Lutheran tune is VOM HIMMEL HOCH, LSB 358; this is the traditional Scottish tune.

1. I come from heaven high to tell

The gladdest news that e'er befell:

To you these tidings true I bring,

And I will of them say and sing.

2. This day to you is born a Child,

Of Mary meak and virgin mild;

This blessed boy, so sweet and kind

Shall give you joy of heart and mind.

3. It is the Lord Christ, God and man,

He will do for you what He can;

He will Himself your Saviour be

From sin and hell, to make you free.

4. He is our only Salvation

From everlasting damnation,

That you may reign in joy and bliss,

Forever more in heav'n with His.

6. Let us rejoice, now, and be blithe

And with the shepherds go full swithe,

See what God of His grace has done

Thru Christ to bring us to His throne.

7. My soul and life, stand up and see

What lies now in a crib of tree;

What babe is that so good and fair?

It is the Christ, God's Son and Heir.

8. Now welcome, gracious God of might,

To sinners poor and vile, unright;

You come to save us from distress-

How can we thank Your gentleness?

9. O God, Who made the creatures all,

How have You now become so small,

That on the hay and straw You'd lie,

Among the oxen in a sty.

10. And were the world ten times as wide

With gold and stones on every side,

Unworthy yet it'd to You it'd be,

Below Your feet a stool to be.

11. Your kingly silk and royal rose
Are hay and simple swaddling clothes,
Wherein, O glory's greatest King,
As You in heav'n wear in your reign.

12. You took afflictions temporal

To make me rich perpetual;

For all the worldly wealth and good

Cannot enrich Your celsitude.

13. O, my dear Heart, young Jesus sweet,

Prepare Your bed in my spirit,

And I shall rock You in my heart,

And never more from You depart.

14. But I shall praise You evermore,

With carols sweet unto Your glor',

The knees of my heart shall I bow,

And sing that old Balulalow.

15. Glory to God eternally,

Who gave His only Son for me!

The angels sing for all to hear,

The gracious gift of this new year.

Vom Himmel hoch
Martin Luther,
Tr. J. Wedderburns, ed. MDS

Rejoice! Again, Rejoice!

What: I wrote this yesterday evening while at once bored with life and excited about the day's Scripture readings. The first stanza is a paraphrase of the Epistle reading, the next of the Old Testament reading, the third and fourth of the Gospel reading, and the fifth verse is sort of a wrap-up, highlighting the underlying theme of the readings; it is based in part on today's sermon at my vicarage congregation.
Note: I know this is your standard, lame-paraphrase hymn. Still, I think this is a good exercise for me. As always, suggestions appreciated.
Tune: The meter is SM and I wrote this with FESTAL SONG in mind, only to realize this tune is only found in LW 195, although the ELW (the ELCA's new hymnal) has it too, ELW 314.

Rejoice! Again, rejoice!

Let gentleness be known.

In bids and prayers lift up your voice

To greet the coming Son.

Sing, Zion; Israel, shout!

Rejoice, lift up your heart:

The Lord has cleared your rivals out;

From you He will not part.

The followers of John

Besought the Lord for him,

"Are You the One who is to come,

Or shall we look again?"

Christ answered them, "Tell John

What you have seen and heard:

Blind see, lame walk, the dead live on,

Poor hear the Gospel Word."

Rejoice! Again, rejoice!

Though doubt may fill your heart,

Still cling to Jesus' living Voice:

From you He will not part.

MDS, 2012

Repent, the Reign of Heaven Nears

What: This Advent hymn brings to modern ears the message of John the Baptist: repent. It might be interesting to compare this Lutheran take with Charles Coffin's more familiar "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry."

Who: This is an original by Anna Hoppe. She was a WELS hymnwriter from the early 20th Century. It is a shame that only one of her hymns is found in LSB (841).

Changes: I've updated the text a little, and tried to smoothen it out.

Note: A 'behest' is an "authoritative request;" it can also mean 'promise.'

Tune: The meter is LM, and Anna Hoppe recommends HERR JESU CHRIST, MEINS LEBENS LICHT LSB 704, but ERHALT UNS HERR, LSB 908.

"Repent, the Reign of heaven nears!"

Proclaims God's prophet to our ears.

O sinners lost by Adam's fall,

Will you not listen to the call?

Repent, believe the gracious call;
Receive the pardon He gives all.

The Prince of Life, the Word-Made-Flesh

Can give you life and holiness.

Divine Redeemer, wondrous King,

Repentant hearts to You we bring.

Your holy blood was shed for us;

Create again in us clean hearts.

Drawn by Your Spirit, thru Your Word,

Your invitation we have heard.

In answer to Your sweet behest

We come to You, dear Christ, for rest.

Your pardon- full, complete, and free-
Removes sins's deadly penalty.
Humanity is now restored;
You have redeemed us, dearest Lord!

Let us forever bless Your Name,
On earth to all confess the same,
Till by Your grace, thru faith in You
The gates of paradise we view.

Anna Hoppe, alt.

A Christmas Agnus Dei

What: For special services, such as Christmas, many congregations enjoy singing the words of the liturgy to familiar tunes associated with the particular holiday. This year, I made one up myself, for the Agnus Dei. I based the text on a translation of the German Agnus Dei hymn found in the ELHal of 1880, which reads "Lamb of God, most holy...," altho the words could just have easily followed the Jacobi translation, reading "Lamb of God, our Savior...." While the final line has odd accents if sung to the Praetorius setting, it is taken from the refrain for "A Great and Mighty Wonder," LSB 383.

Who: me? Couldn't be. Then who?

Tune: The tune is "Lo, How a Rose," LSB 359. It's three repetitions (well, two plus the first) wed perfectly with the three-fold address, "Lamb of God." And the left hand in Praetorius' setting paints an appropriate picture for "away."

O Lamb of God most holy,

Have mercy upon us!

O Lamb of God most holy,

Have mercy upon us

And take our sin away!

O Lamb of God most holy,

Grant peace to all the earth!

Traditional, adapt. MDS