Lord, grant Thy servants grace

Representative Text

1 Lord, grant Thy servants grace,
All needful gifts bestowing,
That all due faithfulness
They in their service showing,
Their duties as they ought
May punctually be done;
Then with success, when wrought,
Their work vouchsafe to crown.

2 We pray Thee, bless them all,
And prosper their endeavor,
In their important call
To serve Thee, gracious Saviour;
Thou listenest to our prayers,
And surely wilt uphold
The faithful ministers
Of Thy redeemed fold.

Source: Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #288

Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf

Zinzendorf, Count Nicolaus Ludwig, the founder of the religious community of Herrnhut and the apostle of the United Brethren, was born at Dresden May 26, 1700. It is not often that noble blood and worldly wealth are allied with true piety and missionary zeal. Such, however, was the case with Count Zinzendorf. In 1731 Zinzendorf resigned all public duties and devoted himself to missionary work. He traveled extensively on the Continent, in Great Britain, and in America, preaching "Christ, and him crucified," and organizing societies of Moravian brethren. John Wesley is said to have been under obligation to Zinzendorf for some ideas on singing, organization of classes, and Church government. Zinzendorf was the author of some two thousand hymn… Go to person page >

Author: Johann Heermann

Johann Heermann's (b. Raudten, Silesia, Austria, 1585; d. Lissa, Posen [now Poland], 1647) own suffering and family tragedy led him to meditate on Christ's undeserved suffering. The only surviving child of a poor furrier and his wife, Heermann fulfilled his mother's vow at his birth that, if he lived, he would become a pastor. Initially a teacher, Heermann became a minister in the Lutheran Church in Koben in 1611 but had to stop preaching in 1634 due to a severe throat infection. He retired in 1638. Much of his ministry took place during the Thirty Years' War. At times he had to flee for his life and on several occasions lost all his possessions. Although Heermann wrote many of his hymns and poems during these devastating times, his persona… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord, grant Thy servants grace
Author: Johann Heermann
Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

NUN DANKET

NUN DANKET, named for the incipit of Rinkart's text, has been associated with this text ever since they were published together by Johann Crüger (PHH 42) in his Praxis Pietatis Melica (1647). Like most modern hymnals, the Psalter Hymnal prints the isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) version. The tune w…

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DARMSTADT (Fritsch)

Also known as: WAS FRAG ICH NACH DER WELT O GOTT DU FROMMER GOTT Composed by Ahasuerus Fritsch (b. Mücheln on the Geissel, near Merseburg, Germany, 1629; d. Rudolstadt, Germany, 1701), DARMSTADT first appeared in his Himmels-Lust und Welt-Unlust (1679). The melody was altered when it was publishe…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. Rev. ed. #d391

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Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #288

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Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #309

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #786

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