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O Christ, the Great Foundation
1. O Christ, the great foundation
On which Your people stand
To preach Your true salvation
In every age and land:
Pour out Your Holy Spirit
To make us strong and pure,
To keep the faith unbroken
As long as worlds endure.
2. Baptized in one confession,
One church in all the earth,
We bear our Lord's impression,
The sign of second birth:
One holy people gathered
In love beyond our own,
By grace we were invited,
By grace we make You known.
3. Where tyrants' hold is tightened,
Where strong devour the weak,
Where innocents are frightened,
The righteous fear to speak,
There let Your church awaking
Attack the powers of sin
And, all their ramparts breaking,
With You the victory win.
4. This is the moment glorious
When He who once was dead
Shall lead His church victorious,
Their champion and their head.
The Lord of all creation
His heavenly kingdom brings,
The final consummation,
The glory of all things.
WORDS: Timothy T'ingfang Lew, 1933;
MUSIC: alt. Trans. Mildred A. Wiant, 1966 Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
Theme: Church