1 Lo, God to heav'n ascendeth!
Great joy doth there abound;
With shouts triumphant blendeth
The trumpet's thrilling sound.
Sing praise to Christ the Lord;
Sing priase with exultation,
King of each heathen nation,
The God of hosts adored!
2 With joy is heav'n resounding
Christ's glad return to see;
Behold the saints surrounding
The Lord who set them free,
Bright myriads, thronging, come;
The cherub band rejoices,
And loud seraphic voices
All welcome Jesus home.
3 No more the way is hidden,
Since Christ, our Head, arose;
No more to man forbidden,
The road to heav'n that goes;
Our Lord is gone before,
Yet here He will not leave us,
But soon in heav'n receive us:
He opens wide the door.
4 Christ is our place preparing.
To heav'n we, too, shall rise,
And, joys angelic sharing,
Be where our Treasure lies:
There may each heart be found,
Where Jesus Christ has entered!
There let our hopes be centered,
Our course still heav'nward bound!
5 May we, His servants, thither
In heart and mind ascend;
And let us sing together.
We seek Thee, Christ, our Friend--
Thee, God's anointed Son--
Our life, and way to heaven,
To whom all pow'r is given,
Our joy and hope and crown.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #391
