Nikolai Grundtvig

Today, September 2nd, the church remembers Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783-1871). Nikolai was born in Denmark, his father a pastor there. While in seminary he was introduced to "New Theology" which he said was too secular and diverted from the holy Word of God. He got himself in trouble for saying these things which held up his ordination by a couple of years. Over the course of his life he wrote over 1,000 hymns. (www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com) One of his most famous hymns is in our ELW number 509. We will be singing this song as our gospel acclamation for the next couple of months.

God's Word Is Our Great Heritage

God's word is our great heritage and shall be ours forever;
to spread its light from age to age shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way; in death it is our stay.
Lord, grant while time shall last your church may hold it fast
through-out all generations.