Favorite Hymns and Liturgical Music

Originally, I set out to make a top ten list of my favorite music from the Lutheran Service Book (LSB). This has totally devolved into being a top 100 list, but that would make for a super long blog post. So, I'll make a deal with myself and go with a top 25. Within my top 25 totally subjective favorites, you will find mostly hymns, but also some liturgical music as well. Here goes.

25. Jesus Sinners Doth Receive - LSB #609

My favorites start with a powerful confession and absolution hymn.

"Here is hope for all who grieve: Jesus sinners doth receive." (v.1)

24. Crown Him With Many Crowns - LSB #525

The first powerful and triumphant song of victory.

"His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high, who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die." (v.4)

23. All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name - LSB #549

Another triumphant and upbeat hymn of Christ the Redeemer. Nothing to dislike about this one!

"Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe, On this terrestrial ball to Him all majesty ascribe and crown Him Lord of all." (v.6)

22. O Lord We Praise Thee - LSB 617

An excellent communion hymn. Written by Luther.

"Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish, our weak souls that they may flourish:" (v.1)

21. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing - LSB 686

It's talks about an Ebenezer. That's enough to chuck it in the top 25 alone. But really, it's a great hymn.

"Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise." (v.1)

20. Gloria in Excelsis - Divine Service Setting 4

OK, before any of you old stodgy Lutherans cut me apart for picking something from Divine Service 4 and not the more traditional Divine Service 3, just remember, it's my subjective list and I really like this rendition of the Gloria in Excelsis. So sit on it.

"To You, O sole begotten, the Father's Son we pray; O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away." (v.2)

19. The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord - LSB #634 (See also LSB #616 - same tune)

Excellent hymn for the Lord's Supper.

"His Word proclaims and we believe that in this Supper we receive His very body, as He said, His very blood for sinners shed." (v.4)

18. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - LSB #425

This is the only Lenten hymn in my top 25, unless we could Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

"See, from His head, His hands, His feet sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e'er such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown?" (v.3)

17. Phos Hilaron - Evening Prayer

This is the first entry from one of the daily prayer offices. It comes to us from Evening Prayer and the Service of Light. Phos Hilaron, the Hymn of Light.

"Joyous light of glory: of the immortal Father; heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ."

16. Rise My Soul to Watch and Pray - LSB #663

Outstanding hymn about the church on earth.

"Watch against yourself, my soul, lest with grace you trifle; let not self your thoughts control nor God's mercy stifle. Pride and sin lurk within, all your hopes to shatter; heed not when they flatter." (v.4)

15. A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing - LSB #493 (see also LSB #465 - same tune)

I could have chosen this glorious Ascension hymn or "Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds" (LSB #465), which is played to the same tune. I went with the Ascension hymn. There is a lot more Easter coming up.

"You see Him now, ascending high up to the portals of the sky. Alleluia, alleluia!" (v.4)

14. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee - LSB #803

Beethoven rocks.

"Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away, giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day." (v.1)

13. By Grace I'm Saved - LSB #566

Wonderful hymn of justification.

"By grace! none dare lay claim to merit; our works and conduct have no worth. God in His love sent our Redeemer, Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth; His death did for our sins atone, and we are saved by grace alone." (v.2)

12. For All the Saints - LSB #677

Absolutely outstanding hymn regarding the church triumphant. Very easily could have put this one in the top 10.

"But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day: The saints triumphant rise in bright array; the King of Glory passes on His way. Alleluia! Alleluia!" (v.7)

11. Hosanna, Loud Hosanna - LSB #443

Palm Sunday - very underrated for hymnody. As you shall see, another one is coming soon on my list.

"From Olivet they followed mid an exultnat crowd, the victor palm branch waiving and chanting clear and loud. The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state nor scorned that little children should on His bidding wait." (v.2)

Are you ready for rarefied air? These next ten hymns and liturgical songs are without question the top 10 in the LSB. Because I saith so.

10. Thy Strong Word - LSB #578

It would be impossible for me to leave this awesome hymn out of my top 10.

"From the cross Thy wisdom shining breaketh forth in conqu'ring might; from the cross forever beameth all Thy bright redeeming light. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send! Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia without end!" (v.4)

9. Built on the Rock - LSB #645

An absolute classic hymn about the church.

"We are God's house of living stones, built for His own habitation. He through baptismal grace us owns heirs of His wondrous salvation. Were we but two His Name to tell, yet He would deign with us to dwell with all His grace and His favor." (v.3)

8. Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands - LSB #458

Another Easter offering. this one by Luther.

"It was a strange and dreadful strife when life and death contended; the victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended. Holy Scripture plainly saith that death is swallowed up by death, its sting is lost forever. Alleluia!" (v.4)

7. Magnificat - Evening Prayer

I absolutely love the Evening Prayer rendition of the Magnificat. Hard to beat.

"For He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. For behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed." (v.1)

6. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - LSB #621

In my opinion, this is the finest Lord's Supper hymn there is.

"King of Kings yet born of Mary, as of old on earth He stood, Lord of Lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood, He will give to all the faithful His own self for heav'nly food." (v.2)

5. All Glory, Laud, and Honor - LSB #442

I warned you, Palm Sunday was going to make another appearance. Well, here it is. Absolutely love this one.

"The multitude of pilgrims with palms before You went; our praise and prayer and anthems before you we present." (v.3)

4. Te Deum - Matins

I could easily stick this as #1. Seriously. The Te Deum is amazing.

"When you took upon Yourself to deliver man, You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin. When You had overcome the sharpness of death, You opened the kingdom to all believers." (v.5)

3. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - LSB #449

Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux in the 12th century, this is the classic and somber Good Friday hymn.

"What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered was all for sinners' gain; mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior! Tis I deserve Thy place; look on me with Thy favor, and grant to me Thy grace." (v.2)

2. A Mighty Fortress Is Our God - LSB #657

Come on, you knew it was coming eventually. I'm a Lutheran.

"A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious; He breaks the cruel oppressor's rod and wins salvation glorious. The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe. With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight. On earth he has no equal." (v.1)

1. Jesus Christ is Risen Today - LSB #457

Am I an anti-Lutheran heathen for picking a Charles Wesley hymn as my #1 over A Mighty Fortress? Perhaps. But this is the quintessential hymn of the resurrection. It's been my favorite for a while.

"Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!" (v.1)

Feel free to critique, scream at me for glaring omissions, or give me half a thumbs up. But if you do those things, you would be wrong. After all, I am completely objective and the final authority on hymns and liturgy.

Hope you enjoy!

+Pax+