Lord Jesus, Thou the Church's Head

Lord Jesus, Thou the Church's Head

Author: Johann Mentzer; Translator: William J. Schaefer
Tune: REUTER
Published in 6 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Lord Jesus Christ, the Church's head,
you are her one foundation;
in you she trusts, before you bows,
and waits for your salvation.
Built on this rock secure,
your Church shall endure
though all the world decay
and all things pass away.
O hear, O hear us, Jesus!

2 O Lord, let this your little flock,
your name alone confessing,
continue in your loving care,
true unity possessing.
Your sacraments, O Lord,
and your saving Word
to us e'er pure retain;
grant that they may remain
our only strength and comfort.

3 Help us to serve you evermore
with hearts both pure and lowly;
and may your Word, that light divine,
shine on in splendor holy
that we repentance show,
in faith ever grow;
the pow'r of sin destroy
and evils that annoy.
O make us faithful Christians.

4 And for your gospel let us dare
to sacrifice all treasure;
teach us to bear your blessed cross,
to find in you all pleasure.
O grant us steadfastness
in joy and distress.
Lord, for your mercy's sake,
let us by grace partake
of endless joy and glory.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #861

Author: Johann Mentzer

Mentzer, Johann, was born July 27, 1658, at Jahmen, near Rothenburg, in Silesia, and became a student of theology at Wittenberg, In 1691 he was appointed pastor at Merzdorf; in 1693 at Hauswalde, near Bischofswerda; and in 1696 at Kemnitz, near Bernstadt, Saxony. He died at Kemnitz, Feb. 24, 1734 (G. F. Otto's Lexicon . . . Oberlausizischer Schriftsteller, ii., 581; ms. from Pastor Richter of Kemnitz, &c). He was a great friend of J. C. Schwedler, of Henrietta Catherine von Gersdorf, and of N. L. von Zinzendorf, all hymnwriters, and all his near neighbours. He was himself greatly tried in the furnace of affliction. He wrote a large number of hymns, over 30 of which appeared in the various hymnbooks of his time. Many of them, especially t… Go to person page >

Translator: William J. Schaefer

(no biographical information available about William J. Schaefer.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord Jesus, Thou the Church's Head
German Title: O Jesu einig wahres Haupt
Author: Johann Mentzer
Translator: William J. Schaefer
Meter: 8.7.8.7.6.5.6.6.7
Language: English
Copyright: Tr. © 1938 Concordia Publishing House

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)

Christian Worship (1993) #536

TextPage Scan

Christian Worship #861

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #212

Lutheran Service Book #647

Audio

Lutheran Worship #293

Include 1 pre-1979 instance
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