Hymn of the Week: The Church

OK, so I am a little late getting this weeks out. That's what happens when I don't do it on Sunday night. But they always say better late than never. Who ever they is. I want to do one, on a theme that is very special to me. The church. I can honestly say, that God is giving me a greater and greater love for the church. It over whelmes my thoughts, my emotions, and the direction of my life. It has become my joy to work in the local church. Especially in such a God honoring ministry. Is it perfect no. But honestly its probably one of the best I will encounter in my life, so I soak it up. But I digress. This song is about the church and Gods special love for it. I am reminded how much Christ loves the church. And pardon the dirgretion here. But the local church is the application of The Church (universal). So let us love an cherish the church as Christ likened it as a bride to her husband so is the church to Christ, in Eph 5 . Oh how it does my heart well to read these words. Please soak them in. Cherish this rich hymn. I know I do. And as always, read and apply.


The Churches One Foundation

The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,
Yet one o'’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against or foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.

Though with a scornful wonder
Men see her sore oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed:
Yet saints their watch are keeping,
Their cry goes up, 'How long?'
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song!

’Mid toil and tribulation,
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till, with the vision glorious,
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.

Yet she on earth hath union
With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won,
With all her sons and daughters
Who, by the Master'’s hand
Led through the deathly waters,
Repose in Eden land.

O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we
Like them, the meek and lowly,
On high may dwell with Thee:
There, past the border mountains,
Where in sweet vales the Bride
With Thee by living fountains
Forever shall abide!

words by: Samuel John Stone

source: Cyber Hymnal.org