May God Embrace Us with His Grace
May God embrace us with his grace
The hymn embodies Lutheran emphasis on God's prevenient grace as the foundation of salvation and Christian living, invoking the Aaronic blessing tradition. It emphasizes grace as both gift and calling, reflecting the Lutheran understanding of justification and sanctification as God's work.
History & Background
Originally written in Swedish as 'Gud växla oss sin nåd' by Einar Gerhardsson in 1960. Translated into English by Gracia Grindal in 1978, first appearing in Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and subsequently in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941 edition as #500) and Lutheran Service Book.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 746
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 335
- Lutheran Service Book — 823-824
- Lutheran Worship — 288
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 500
Translation
Bulletin Note
Composed by Swedish hymnist Einar Gerhardsson in 1960, this hymn echoes the Aaronic blessing tradition while expressing distinctly Lutheran theology: grace as both unmerited gift and transformative calling for the Christian life.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Gospel's proclamation of justification by grace alone, embodying the Lutheran conviction that God's merciful initiative—not our striving—is the foundation and fruit of all Christian living.
Themes
God's grace and mercy Divine blessing Unity and communion Thanksgiving