We All Are One in Mission
We all are one in mission, we all are one in call
The hymn emphasizes the catholicity and apostolic mission of the Lutheran Church, affirming that all baptized Christians are called to witness and service in their vocations. It reflects Lutheran theology of the priesthood of all believers and the interconnectedness of the global church in Gospel proclamation.
History & Background
Written by Rueben P. Larson in 1984 for the fifth stanza of the hymn, drawing on themes of Christian mission and unity. First published in Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) and subsequently included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) and Lutheran Service Book (2006).
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 581
- Glory to God — 733
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 476
- Lutheran Service Book — 830
- Lift Up Your Hearts — 532
- Lutheran Worship — 370
- Voices Together — 395
Bulletin Note
Written in 1984 by Rueben P. Larson, this hymn recovers the Lutheran doctrine of vocation and the priesthood of all believers, asserting that global mission belongs to the entire baptized church, not an elite few.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the Gospel's liberating claim that all vocations—not merely ecclesiastical ones—participate in God's redemptive mission, countering both false clericalism and the despair that one's ordinary work lacks eternal significance.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Affection for the Church → Covenantal belonging → Sacrificial devotion → Transcendent joy in communion
Themes
Christian unity Mission and evangelism Global church Called to serve Common purpose