For Faith, We Praise You, Lord

Written in celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Concordia Publishing House, Kevin Hildebrand’s tune and setting uses a text by Stephen P. Starke to create an effective concertato for SATB, congregation, organ, and trumpet. The text features themes of faith through Scripture; the Word in, with, and under the Sacraments; and the proclamation of the Gospel to all the world. This is a perfect addition to ordinations, installations, and mission festivals. 

For faith, we praise You, Lord,
From Spirit-opened hearts,
Pierced by Your two-edged sword
And all its truth imparts—
All Scripture is breathed out by You,
Is meant for all and not for few,
Is treasure old, yet ever new.

From infancy we’ve known
And firmly have believed;
Your Word of faith was sown,
When we Your Name received—
Your potent, living Word, all-pure,
The Word that ever will endure
As light to make our pathways sure.

One soul needs solid food,
Another, milk is fed;
You feed, yet none exclude,
O Christ, true living Bread—
As manna, You from heaven came;
You placed Yourself beneath our blame,
To bear our cross, our guilt, our shame.

For master workers’ zest,
Who labored by Your grace
And crafted what was best
To send forth from this place—
For them our grateful thanks we raise,
For all accomplished in their days,
All done, O Lord, for Your sole praise.

For us, O Christ, we pray,
That we with clarity,
May also in our day
Hold fast Your verity—
Look on our world with mercy still;
Pour out Your grace, Your peace, goodwill,
And with Your zeal, O Lord, us fill!

Text copyright © 2019 Concordia Publishing House.