Sunday Hymn

Jesus, with Thy Church Abide
words by Thomas B. Polluck

--We sang this hymn in our service last night to the RUF tune. It is a prayer for the church and serves also as a reminder of what we as the local church should be striving for. In each verse there is a new request for the church:

1.) that Christ would be her Lord,
2.) that she would speak the Gospel and warn of the judgment to come,
3.)that she would have right doctrine,
4.) that she would avoid strife and have peace,
5.) that she would be one,
6.) that she would serve those in need,
7.) that ministers of the gospel would feed the flock,
8.) that God would be gracious in seeing her sin,
9.) that her zeal would be restored,
10.) that she would commit again to her calling to preach to the nations,
11.) that the Gospel would go forth in all nations,
12.) that sin would be beaten as the Gospel goes forth to the nations, and lastly
13.) that she would be spotless and pure, perfected for her Bridegroom, Christ.

What a timeless reminder!


Jesus, with Thy Church abide,
Be her Savior, Lord, and Guide,
While on earth her faith is tried:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May her voice be ever clear,
Warning of a judgment near,
Telling of a Savior dear:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

Keep her life and doctrine pure,
Help her, patient, to endure,
Trusting in Thy promise sure:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

All her fettered powers release
Bid our strife and envy cease,
Grant the heav’nly gift of peace:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she one in doctrine be,
One in truth and charity,
Winning all to faith in Thee:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she guide the poor and blind,
Seek the lost until she find,
And the broken hearted bind:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May her priests Thy people feed,
Shepherds of the flock indeed,
Ready, where Thou call’st, to lead:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

Judge her not for work undone,
Judge her not for fields unwon,
Bless her works in Thee begun:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

All that she has lost, restore,
May her strength and zeal be more
Than in brightest days of yore:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

Raise her to her calling high,
Let the nations far and nigh
Hear Thy heralds’ warning cry:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May her lamp of truth be bright,
Bid hear bear aloft its light
Through the realms of heathen night:
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she holy triumphs win,
Overthrow the hosts of sin,
Gather all the nations in,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

May she thus all glorious be,
Spotless and from wrinkle free,
Pure and bright, and worthy Thee:
We beseech Thee, hear us.