Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
Songs of thankfulness and praise
The hymn celebrates the manifestation of Christ's glory to all people through the Epiphany, emphasizing themes of Christ's divinity and universal redemption. It reflects Lutheran appreciation for Christ's incarnation and the revelation of salvation through Word and Sacrament.
History & Background
Written by Christopher Wordsworth in 1862 for the Epiphany season, first published in his collection 'The Holy Year.' The hymn has become a standard Epiphany text in Lutheran and Anglican hymnals.
Christopher Wordsworth (b. Lambeth, London, England, 1807; d. Harewood, Yorkshire, England, 1885), nephew of the great Romantic poet William Wordsworth, wrote this hymn in five stanzas. It was published in his Holy Year (1862) with the heading “Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.” Wordsworth described the text as follows: Scripture References st. 1 = Matt. 2:1-12 st. 2-John 2:1-11 John 3:13-17 st. 3 = Matt. 4:1-11,23-24 ref. = Mark 8:29 John 1:14 [It is a] recapitulation of the successive manifestations of Christ, which have already been presented in the services of the former weeks throughout the season of Epiphany; and anticipation of that future great and glorious Epiphany, at which Christ will be manifest to all, when he will appear again to judge the world. The didactic text teaches the meaning of Epiphany—the manifestation of Christ in his birth (st. 1), baptism, miracle at Cana (st. 2), healing of the sick, power over evil, and coming as judge (st. 3). Originally the refrain line was “Anthems be to thee addressed, God in man made manifest.” The revised refrain borrows Peter’s confession, ‘You are the Christ! ” (Mark 8:29), and makes that our corporate confession as we acknowledge the ‘Word become flesh” who lived among us. Wordsworth was a prolific author and the most renowned Greek scholar of his day. Included in his works are Memoirs of William Wordsworth (1851), Commentary on the Whole Bible (1856-1870), Church History (1881-1883), innumerable sermons and pamphlets, and The Holy Year (1862), which contained 117 of his original hymns as well as 82 others written for all the Sundays and Christian holy days according to the Book of Common Prayer. Wordsworth was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, England, where he distinguished himself as a brilliant student. He later taught at Trinity College and was headmaster of Harrow School (1836-1844). Ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1835, he was canon of Westminster in 1844, a country priest in Stanford-inthe-Vale, Berkshire (1850-1869), and then Bishop of Lincoln (1869-1885).
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 394
- Gather 4th Edition — 506
- The Hymnal 1982 — 135
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 90
- Lutheran Service Book — 394
- Lutheran Worship — 88
- Psalter Hymnal — 361
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 134
Liturgical Use
Throughout the Epiphany season.
Bulletin Note
Christopher Wordsworth (1807–1885), nephew of poet William Wordsworth, wrote this Epiphany hymn in 1862. Its sturdy meter and radiant theology have made it a Christmas-to-Candlemas staple in Lutheran and Reformed traditions worldwide.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the Gospel announcement of Christ's manifestation into a sung proclamation of grateful response, making it a powerful amplification of any Epiphany sermon on how the revealed Christ calls disciples to faithful witness.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From personal awakening to joyful praise, through recognition of God's redemptive love despite human ruin and opposition, to confident assurance of justification at the final judgment
Themes
Epiphany and manifestation of Christ Thanksgiving and praise Christ's glory revealed Christian witness and rejoicing