Lord, You Call Us as Your People
Lord, you call us as your people
The hymn expresses Lutheran understanding of vocation as God's call to all believers for service in the world, grounded in baptismal identity and the priesthood of all believers. It emphasizes the missional character of the church and individual Christians' participation in God's kingdom work through daily callings.
History & Background
Written by Gracia Grindal in 1984, this contemporary hymn first appeared in Lutheran worship resources and was included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006). It reflects modern Lutheran hymnody's emphasis on vocational mission and congregational agency.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 720
- With One Voice — 710
Bulletin Note
Gracia Grindal composed this hymn in 1984, expressing the Lutheran conviction that God's call extends to all baptized believers for service in the world—a recovery of Reformation theology in contemporary worship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes Lutheran teaching on the priesthood of all believers and vocation, making it a powerful Gospel response to sermons about discipleship, baptismal calling, or the missional nature of the church in a secular age.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- The Definition & Command of Baptism Small Catechism — Holy Baptism
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological call to discipleship: Christ as conquering King leads believers through spiritual warfare toward final victory and eternal reward
Themes
Christian calling and vocation Mission and witnessing God's kingdom work Community of believers Holy Spirit empowerment