Holy Week -- A Preview of the Hymns

We are just days away from the highest high point of the Christian Church year, the Triduum, that is, the Three Days, and Easter Sunday.  The Three Days are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil.  Usually, the Easter Vigil is observed late on Saturday.  At Good Shepherd, we transfer it to Easter Dawn.  At 10:00 AM on Easter Sunday, we will have our Easter Festival Service.

While there is much at which to wonder and on which to ponder in all of these services, this entry is a preview of some the hymns we will be singing over these days of Holy Week.  With so many hymns making the good confession, it was hard to have to limit them.

Come and join in the Church's song to our gracious Redeemer.  A sampling of the hymns we will be singing follows...

MAUNDY THURSDAY (April 17, 7:00 PM)
He blotted out with his own blood
   The judgment that against us stood;
He full atonement for us made,
   And all our debt he fully paid.

His Word proclaims and we believe
   That in this supper we receive
His very body, as he said,
   His very blood for sinners shed.  (The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, CW 135:2,4)

Thou hast borne the smiting only
   That my wounds might all be whole;
      Thou hast suffered, sad and lonely,
         Rest to give my weary soul;
Yea, the curse of God enduring,
   Blessing unto me securing.
      Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
         Dearest Jesus, unto thee. (Christ, the Life of All the Living, CW 114:3)

GOOD FRIDAY (April 18, 7:00 PM)
Lord, be my consolation
   My shield when I must die;
Remind me of your passion
   When my last hour draws nigh.
My eyes will then behold you,
   Upon your cross will dwell;
My heart will then enfold you--
   Who dies in faith dies well.  (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, CW 105:7)

In perfect love he dies; For me he dies, for me!
   O all-atoning sacrifice, You died to make me free!

In ev'ry time of need, Before the judgment throne,
   Your works, O Lamb of God, I'll plead, Your merits, not my own.
                                                  (Oh, Perfect Life of Love, CW 138:5,6)

EASTER VIGIL (April 20, 7:30 AM)
Death's mightiest pow'rs have done their worst,
   And Jesus has his foes dispersed;
      Let shouts of praise and joy outburst.  Alleluia! (The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done, CW 148:2)

All who believe and are baptized Shall see the Lord's salvation;
   Baptized into the death of Christ, They are a new creation.
Through Christ's redemption they shall stand
   Among the glorious, heav'nly band
      Of ev'ry tribe and nation.  (All Who Believe and Are Baptized, CW 299:1)

EASTER FESTIVAL (April 20, 10:00 AM)
Here the true Paschal Lamb we see, Whom God so freely gave us;
   He died on the accursed tree--So strong his love--to save us.
See, his blood now marks our door;
   Faith points to it; death passes o'er,
      And Satan cannot harm us.  Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
                                  (Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands; CWS, 720:3)

The foe was triumphant when on Calvary
   The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree.
In Satan's domain did the hosts shout and jeer,
   For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones fear.

But short was their triumph; the Savior arose,
   And death, hell, ad Satan he vanquished, his foes.
The conquering Lord lifts his banner on high;
   He lives, yes, he lives, and will nevermore die.

Oh, where is your sting, death?  We fear you no more;
   Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden's door.
For all our transgressions his blood does atone.
   Redeemed and forgiven, we now are his own. (He's Risen, He's Risen; CW 143:2-4)