The Lutheran church enjoys a long tradition of identifying one “Hymn of the Week” for every Sunday of the church year. Such a hymn should reflect the unifying theme of the service, and is intended to be sung on that Sunday every year. In this series, Pastor Nathanael Mayhew gives us a brief overview of the Hymns of the Week for the coming month.
The Trinity season began in June with a focus on the Lord’s call to salvation and to service. During the month of August, the focus shifted to the new life He gives us. In our September worship services, we will look at some of the characteristics worked by the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s daily life and walk.
- September 7 – The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity emphasizes the Christian characteristic of trust. Trust, or faith, is most easily seen when a Christian is experiencing some difficulty in life. It is in these challenging times that the Christian’s trust in God is most visible to the world. The hymn “My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker” (TLH 34; LSB 820) assures us that God is worthy of our trust, in plenty and in distress, in life and even in death. The hymn writer describes the Lord as our Father, Who “knows how frail our powers” are, and yet Whose “grace alone endureth.” Such a meek and merciful God is worthy of our trust and confidence!
- September 14 – On the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity we study the Spirit-worked Christian quality of love. The Apostle John reminds us that “We love . . . because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) True Christian qualities are simply a reflection of the qualities of God. God shows humanity the greatest love of all in Jesus. It is a self-sacrificing love, a love He desires that we understand, appreciate, and reflect to one another. Paul Gerhardt’s hymn “Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me” (TLH 349; LSB 683) points us to the love of God for the encouragement we need in the difficulties of life, and as the ultimate source of our love toward others. This hymn reminds us that our lives of love are a result of Christ’s boundless love for us. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing!
- September 21 – Thankfulness is the Christian characteristic highlighted on the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. This is not something that comes naturally to us. Like the parents of a young child who constantly remind their son to say “thank you,” God constantly reminds us of the importance of being thankful. We are also to express that thankfulness. The psalmist declares, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” (Psalm 106:1) When sinners learn what great things God has done to create them and provide everything they need, to deliver them from sin and death, and even bring them to faith, they will be led to thankfulness. The hymn, “From God Shall Naught Divide Me” (TLH 393; not in LSB) begins by describing the nature of the Lord and the blessings that we have in Him. Then we are called upon to “praise Him” because the blessings and joy He offers us “hath no end.”
- September 28 –The Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity begins to show various aspects of what we have been freed from as children of God. One of the ugly things we have been delivered from is anxiety. Being worried or anxious can be a result of not knowing or trusting in God’s power, goodness and love. The Lord loves us and will provide for our needs, both of body and of soul. His promise is our absolute confidence. The hymn for this day, “What God Ordains Is Always Good” (TLH 521; LSB 760), assures us of the Biblical truth that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). What an assurance!
Lord Jesus, help me trust in You and reflect Your love and character to those around me!
is a pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota.