Rejoice Angelic Choirs Rejoice
Rejoice, angelic choirs, rejoice
The hymn represents Wesley's characteristic emphasis on joyful response to Christ's incarnation and the participation of all creation in redemption's work. Lutheran theology appreciates Wesley's focus on Christ's humiliation and exaltation while emphasizing the angelic and human response to divine grace.
History & Background
Written by Charles Wesley in 1739 as part of his prolific hymnic output celebrating Christ's incarnation and redemptive work. The hymn entered Lutheran hymnals through the LBW (1978) as a significant crossover from Methodist to Lutheran tradition.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 379
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 146
Bulletin Note
Charles Wesley, 1739. This hymn captures Wesley's Methodist emphasis on Christian joy, uniting angelic and human praise in response to Christ's incarnation—a theme dear to Lutheran sacramental theology.
Preaching Connection
This Wesley hymn deepens Gospel proclamation by showing that our joyful response to Christ's humiliation and exaltation is itself participation in redemption's cosmic scope, moving hearers from mere assent to active, celebratory faith.
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
Incarnation Angelic praise Redemption through Christ Joy in salvation Divine love