This Day at Thy Creating Word

This Day at Thy Creating Word is a hymn text by Nicolai Grundtvig (1817) in 7.6.7.6.D meter. Translated by Gracia Grindal. Found in h82 52, tlh 12. Sung to LAUDES DOMINI.

This hymn embodies Grundtvig's sacramental theology of creation, presenting each day as a gift renewed by God's sustaining word, consistent with Lutheran affirmation of God's providential care in all of life. The text reflects the theological conviction that daily existence participates in God's ongoing creative and redemptive activity.

History & Background

Originally written in Danish as 'Hver dag skal være mig en segen' by N.F.S. Grundtvig in 1817, this hymn celebrates God's creative and sustaining word. The English translation by Gracia Grindal was published in 1978, making this Danish text accessible to Lutheran congregations in English-speaking traditions.

Hymnal Appearances

• The Hymnal 1982 — 52
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 12

Translation

Gracia Grindal

Bulletin Note

Written by Danish theologian Nicolai Grundtvig in 1817, this hymn expresses his conviction that God's creative word sustains all life moment by moment—a sacramental vision of ordinary days as vehicles of divine grace.

Preaching Connection

This hymn deepens Gospel proclamation by anchoring divine grace in the mundane reality of daily existence, transforming ordinary time into participation in God's ongoing creative word.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• The Fourth Petition Small Catechism — The Lord's Prayer

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: God's covenant fulfillment through Christ and John the Baptist, moving from promise to proclamation to salvation's illumination

Overview

A Sunday hymn by William Walsham How, the English bishop who wrote 'For All the Saints.' Like TLH 8, it recalls three first-day events — the creation of light (st. 1), Christ's resurrection (st. 2) and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost (st. 3) — and turns each into prayer: shine on us, raise us from sin, fill us with grace to hear and to pray. It gives the day back to God as a gift of rest (st. 4) and closes with the standard office-hymn doxology (st. 5).

Central theme: Sunday as the day of light, resurrection and the Spirit, received as God's gift and returned to him in worship

Structure

Five long-meter quatrains. Light (1) — resurrection (2) — Spirit (3) — the day given back (4) — doxology (5).

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel: light, resurrection life, the Spirit's grace. Law implied in 'death of sin' (2).

Confessional Connections

Third Commandment: 'we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it' (SC) — hence 'grace to hear and grace to pray' (st. 3). Sunday kept for the Word, not as a Mosaic ordinance (AC XXVIII.57-60). Raised 'from death of sin to life' — Baptism (Rom 6:4; SC IV). Trinitarian structure (AC I).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Opening of Sunday worship; Trinity Sunday.

Historical Notes

How (1823-1897), later Bishop of Wakefield, wrote it in 1871. Compare TLH 8, which follows the same plan.

About the Tune

WINCHESTER NEW (Musikalisches Handbuch, Hamburg, 1690).

Scripture References

Gen 1:3-5 2 Cor 4:6 Matt 28:1-6 Rom 6:4-11 Eph 2:1-5 Acts 2:1-4 Rom 10:17 Rom 8:26 Ps 118:24 Heb 4:9 Mark 2:27

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

God's creative word Providence and divine care Trust in God's sovereignty Daily mercies Creation

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "This Day at Thy Creating Word" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "LAUDES DOMINI" ↗