Glory to God, We Give You Thanks and Praise
Glory to God, we give you thanks and praise
This hymn celebrates the Incarnation and the heavenly proclamation of Christ's birth with joy and thanksgiving, reflecting Lutheran understanding of God's gracious self-revelation in Christ. The text emphasizes the Gloria's message of peace and goodwill toward all humanity, central to Lutheran soteriology.
History & Background
Written by Jaroslav Vajda in 1987, this hymn paraphrases the Gloria in excelsis Deo from Luke 2:14. It was first published in Worship Supplement (1987) and has since been included in major Lutheran hymnals including LW and ELW.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 385
- Lutheran Service Book — 946
- Lutheran Worship — 563
- With One Voice — 787
Bulletin Note
Jaroslav Vajda (1919–2008), a leading Lutheran hymnodist, composed this text in 1987 to match the tune GLORY TO GOD. It reclaims the medieval Gloria's message of peace and divine favor for contemporary worship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Gospel's core claim: God's salvation comes as unmerited gift in the Incarnation, inviting our grateful response rather than our achievement.
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
Gloria Doxology Incarnation Praise Divine grace