Lutheran Book of Worship ‎#369

369. The Church's One Foundation

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

2 Elect from ev'ry 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 ev'ry grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder
This world sees her 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.

4 Through 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.

5 Yet she on earth has union
With God, the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.
O blessed heav'nly chorus!
Lord, save us by your grace,
That we, like saints before us,
May see you face to face.

Text Information

• First Line: The Church's one foundation
• Title: The Church's One Foundation
• Author: Samuel J. Stone, 1839-1900
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1978
• Topic: Community in Christ; Church Triumphant; Reformation Day

Tune Information

• Name: AURELIA
• Composer: Samuel S. Wesley, 1810-1876
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: E♭ Major