Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven
Alleluia, alleluia! Hearts to heaven and voices raise
The hymn celebrates the paschal mystery through the lens of 1 Corinthians 15, proclaiming Christ's victory over death as the foundation of Christian hope and resurrection. This reflects Lutheran soteriology emphasizing Christ's redemptive work and its eschatological implications for believers.
History & Background
Christopher Wordsworth composed this hymn in 1862 as part of his Holy Year, a collection of hymns for Christian festivals and holy days. It was first published in The Holy Year and has become a standard Easter hymn in Lutheran and Anglican hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 369
- The Hymnal 1982 — 191
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 143
- Lutheran Service Book — 477
- Lutheran Worship — 140
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 198
- With One Voice — 665
Bulletin Note
Written by Christopher Wordsworth in 1862, this Easter hymn grounds Christian hope firmly in 1 Corinthians 15, making the resurrection of Christ the foundation for our own eschatological confidence and present joy.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the move from Law to Gospel: death's dominion exposed, then utterly shattered by Christ's rising—inviting the sermon to press home both the seriousness of sin and the absoluteness of grace.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological anticipation (St. 1-2) → Incarnational paradox (St. 3) → Pneumatological reign (St. 4)
Themes
Resurrection joy Victory over death Heavenly praise Triumph of Christ Eternal life