Our second episode of three in John 1 covers the testimony of John the Baptist. Always pointing to the Messiah; what an example.

O King of the Nations

O King of the nations, the ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people:

Come and save us all, whom you formed out of clay.

Text from LSB 357, “O” Antiphons.
Psalm tone from the Brotherhood Prayer Book, published by Emmanuel Press. Used with permission.

Guest vocalist Michele Bunyon, who attends Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, OH, joins us on the hymn. Come, Lord Jesus, come soon.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
   And ransom captive Israel
   That mourns in lonely exile here
   Until the Son of God appear.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
   Who ord’rest all things mightily;
   To us the path of knowledge show,
   And teach us in her ways to go.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to you, O Israel!
3. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
   Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
   In ancient times didst give the law,
   In cloud and majesty and awe.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to you, O Israel!
4. O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
   Free them from Satan’s tyranny
   That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
   And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
5. O come, Thou Key of David, come
   And open wide our heav’nly home:
   Make safe the way that leads on high
   And close the path to misery.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
6. O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
   And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
   Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
   And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
7. O come, Desire of nations, bind
   In one the hearts of all mankind;
   Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
   And be Thyself our King of Peace.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to you, O Israel!

There is much in Paul’s first letter to Timothy about activities in the church. While 1 Timothy 2 is more maligned and ignored, the sixth chapter addresses the big picture of all false doctrine. 1 Timothy 6 also tells us that being rich isn’t a sin, it is a temptation, and rich people are to be generous and ready to share.

Kantor Beethe finishes the O Antiphons with O Emmanuel.

O Emmanuel

O Emmanuel, our king and our Lord, the anointed for the nations and their Savior:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Text from LSB 357, “O” Antiphons.
Psalm tone from the Brotherhood Prayer Book, published by Emmanuel Press. Used with permission.

Guest vocalist Michele Bunyon, who attends Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, OH, joins us on the hymn. Come, Lord Jesus, come soon.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
   And ransom captive Israel
   That mourns in lonely exile here
   Until the Son of God appear.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
   Who ord’rest all things mightily;
   To us the path of knowledge show,
   And teach us in her ways to go.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to you, O Israel!
3. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
   Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height
   In ancient times didst give the law,
   In cloud and majesty and awe.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to you, O Israel!
4. O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,
   Free them from Satan’s tyranny
   That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save,
   And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
5. O come, Thou Key of David, come
   And open wide our heav’nly home:
   Make safe the way that leads on high
   And close the path to misery.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
6. O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
   And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
   Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
   And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to thee, O Israel!
7. O come, Desire of nations, bind
   In one the hearts of all mankind;
   Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
   And be Thyself our King of Peace.
   Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
   Shall come to you, O Israel!

Nobody reads Joel, right? Yet there in Joel 2 we see several familiar themes. Rend your hearts and not your garments. The Lord God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Finally the passage cited in Acts that pertains to Pentecost.

Michele Bunyon lent her voice again, this time on “One Thing’s Needful.” The first part of each stanza is in 4/4 time, while the backside is in 3/4 and a little faster.

Setting from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

One Thing’s Needful

1. One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure
   Teach me highly to regard.
   All else, though it first give pleasure,
   Is a yoke that presses hard.
   Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
   No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
   This one thing is needful; all others are vain–
   I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!
2. How were Mary’s thoughts devoted,
   Her eternal joy to find
   As intent each word she noted,
   At her Savior’s feet reclined!
   How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,
   While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing!
   All earthly concerns she forgot for her Lord
   And found her contentment in hearing His Word.
3. Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure,
   Jesus, is revealed in You.
   Let me find in You my pleasure,
   And my wayward will subdue.
   Humility there and simplicity reigning,
   In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
   If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
   The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.
4. Nothing have I, Christ to offer,
   You alone, my highest good.
   Nothing have I, Lord, to proffer
   But Your crimson-colored blood.
   Your death on the cross hath death wholly defeated
   And thereby my righteousness fully completed;
   Salvation’s white raiments I there did obtain,
   And in them in glory with You I shall reign.
5. Therefore You alone, my Savior,
   Shall be all in all to me;
   Search my heart and my behavior,
   Root out all hypocrisy.
   Through all my life’s pilgrimage, guard and uphold me,
   In loving forgiveness, O Jesus, enfold me.
   This one thing is needful, all others are vain–
   I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

This week the Pirate Christian Radio listeners got a treat, as the bonus commentary normally heard only on the podcast made its way on the air.

Ecclesiastes 3 is included in the 1960′s song, “Turn, Turn, Turn,” written by Peter Seeger and famously performed by The Byrds.

Singing melody on all three verses of the hymn is Michele Bunyon, who sings for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, OH. I enjoyed recording with Michele and look forward to performing more hymns in the future.

Text and music: © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Podcast under OneLicense.Net A-718131.

Our Paschal Lamb, That Sets Us Free

1. Our Paschal Lamb, that sets us free,
   Is sacrificed. O keep
   The feast of freedom gallantly;
   Let alleluias leap:

   Refrain:
   Alleluia! Alleluia!
   Alleluia! Again
   Sing alleluia, cry aloud:
   Alleluia! Amen!

2. Let all our lives now celebrate
   The feast; let malice die.
   Let love grow strong anew, and great,
   Let truth stamp out the lie.

   Refrain

3. Let all our deeds, unanimous,
   Confess Him as our Lord
   Who by the Spirit lives in us,
   The Father’s living Word.

   Refrain