Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! (ELW 413)
1 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art, and evermore shalt be.
3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinfulness thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Devotion
It’s 1954 and I’m ten years old. Mother and we kids are in the back pew of the church. Dad is in the choir. The choir in black robes has assembled in the back of the church. The organist leads with an introduction to the opening hymn.
We all rise as the choir processes with all of us singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.” A shiver goes down my spine. The hymn continues, the choir now take their places, and the pastor is kneeling before the altar. Yes! We are in the presence of the Lord! It’s a powerful thing being together in God’s presence. This ten-year-old kid doesn’t forget something like that!
Prayer
For the writers of hymns, who draw us into the presence of God, we give thanks and praise this Sabbath Day. Amen.