HYMN: Holy Lord, You Make Your Dwelling

St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, Illinois, the congregation I've served for the past four and a half years, will be celebrating her 125th anniversary next year and the 100th anniversary of the construction of our current sanctuary. We're gearing up for a celebration, and one of the things we will do is have a worship service in which we rejoice in the many blessings the Lord has given us over that time. 

Knowing that I've written a hymn or two, and knowing that one of our previous pastors wrote a hymn for the 100th anniversary celebration, the congregation members who have been meeting to discuss and plan the events asked me to put pen to paper to compose a text for the celebration. I unveiled the text I wrote at our meeting this past Sunday, and now that I've shared it with them, I thought I'd share it with you too.

Rather than talk up the congregation in a theology of glory kind of way, I focused instead on why we've gathered in this place for so long. As I wrote, I especially considered Revelation 21:3, John 1:14, Matthew 18:20, Isaiah 55:11, II Timothy 1:6, II Corinthians 5:18-19, I Corinthians 13:12, and John 8:36. The tune I selected is REGENT SQUARE, the tune which probably best known in Lutheran circles for the hymns "Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing" and "Angels from the Realms of Glory." I wanted it to be something with which the congregation was already familiar.

Anyway, here it is. I'd welcome comments and suggestions.

Holy Lord, You Make Your Dwelling

written for the 125th anniversary of

St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, Illinois

1. Holy Lord, You make Your dwelling

With Your people night and day.

Here, where baptized children gather,

Here You choose to come and stay.

Here in Christ You show Your glory:

God with us in fleshly clay.

2. You have promised Your own presence

When we gather in Your name.

In this holy house we meet You.

Here You fan our faith to flame.

Bless us with Your Holy Spirit:

God with us, Your Word proclaim.

3. Here You dwell in faithful preaching.

Here Your Word brings our release.

Here Your flesh and blood still nourish,

Cause our fear of death to cease.

You proclaim our sin forgiven:

God with us in endless peace.

∆ 4. Here we walk by faith, unknowing.

Still Your gifts have set us free.

Now and evermore we praise You,

Sing for joy on bended knee,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

God with us eternally.

© 2014 Alan Kornacki, Jr.

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Tune: REGENT SQUARE (LSB 924)