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

Lord Christ, Our Heavenly Guide

What: This is a somewhat standard evening hymn.
Who: Back in the early 1800's, David Henkel was a confessional Lutheran in America before it was cool. Long story short, he read the Book of Concord, shared it with everyone he could, and eventually started the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. Among the stuff he wrote (before he died way too young) was his translation of Luther's Small Catechism, to which he added a few hymns.
Changes: I changed a couple things to better align the stress with the text.
Tune: The meter is SM, and I think FRANCONIA, LSB 410 works well.

Lord Christ, our heav'nly guide,

We pray Thee with us stay;

Do not Thy scepter from us hide,

Lest we should go astray.

The eventide is come;

Guide us along the road

That leads to our eternal home,

Up to the throne of God.

In these last evil days

Let not Thy Word divine

Withdraw its holy lucid rays,

But in us brilliant shine.

Pure, to the end, O Lord,

May we always preserve

Thy holy sacraments and Word,

And them with care observe.

That we in quiet rest,

Our future days may spend.

May we with godliness be blest,

Our lives in peace to end.

'Till we Thy throne surround

In heav'n with shining throngs,

Thy praise from golden harps shall sound,

In sweet harmonious songs.

David Henkel, alt.