Happy Labor Day! Ladies & Gentlemen, CTSFW has announced the winner of their 175th anniversary hymn contest: Lutheran author extraordinaire Katie Schuermann with “Open Wide the Chapel Doors.”
Here’s the text of “Open Wide the Chapel Doors.” It’s pretty impressive! (You can go here to hear the tune, Fred Til Bod. Press the tiny play button).
Hearty congratulations to her! And well done!
And, to share one of my own labors of love, I’ll share my attempt with you, too.
A Man Looks Out Upon a Field
To the tune Der Lieben Sonne Licht und Pracht
(Aka, “I Walk in Danger All the Way,” LSB 716)
A Man looks out upon a field
And sees within it treasure.
He gives away all that He has
To pay in fullest measure.
He reaped what we had sown
That we may be His own.
The wilderness He clears away
As He Himself seeks out the stray.Once Cain had left the field bereft
With Abel’s blood upon it.
The second Adam heard the cry
And saw the grave deposit.
For fallen human tomb
Christ came through virgin womb
And bought for us salva-tion
To resurrect crea-tion.This certain Man sows perfect seed,
Creation ripe for filling,
Though rocky paths and serpent snares
Prevent a simple tilling.
His Word makes faith arise,
A fruit from paradise.
The perfect Kernel died to give
Eternal bread that we may live.The Shepherd who has saved His sheep
Still sows and reaps His harvest,
And even now His men go out
To gather near and farthest.
He waters, plants, and feeds.
He satisfies all needs!
Renewed, forgiven, heed His call.
His Gospel reaches out to all.When as the King He comes again,
He will not find us sleeping.
His Word is planted, lit, and wet.
His flock is in His keeping.
At table we will rest.
In Jesus we are blessed,
For Christ, our Prophet, King, and Priest,
Prepares us for His wedding feast.Lord, plant Your Church deep in the earth
And have again Your garden.
From Eden to Gethsemane,
You’ve granted life and pardon.
Send out Your Word, O Lord.
Forever be adored!
You are the greatest Ma – ster.
Behold Your flock and pa – sture!Genesis 4:8; Psalm 23; Psalm 65:9–13; Isaiah 32:14–16; 40; 51:3; Isaiah 55:10–11; Matthew 13:1–23; 13:44; 22:1–14; Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15; Luke 12:35–37; John 10:11–18; John 12:24; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Corinthians 15:45; Galatians 3: 2–6; Hebrews 12:24; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 John 3:12; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 14:15–16
Ha, if I feel brave enough, maybe I’ll try to sing it on my author Facebook page later. 🙂 My tune is public domain. Again, I thought it was great that the contest encouraged writers to use lesser known tunes!
If anyone else would like to share their entry, I’d love to see them below in my comment section, as would my readers. 🙂
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