34. Glory Be to God in Heaven

1. Glory be to God in heaven;
Praise be unto Christ our Lord;
New creation we envision
In the water and the Word.
Angels stand ecstatic watching
As God’s Word is manifest,
Saints in joy their hearts uplifting
As each soul reborn is blest.

2. Like Christ Jesus resurrected,
Now reborn a new man goes;
Christ uplifts with living scepter
That which Adam’s fall did lose.
O dear child, be welcome with us
In this holy brotherhood,
Thou, from wildling fruit-tree grafted,
Art now rooted in all good.

3. Thou, a child reborn of water
And of Spirit on this day,
Thou escapest from the Hater
And shalt live in love always.
One great Root doth bear all branches,
All the members of our Christ;
We, instead of Satan’s potion,
Drink the wine of Eucharist.

4. This, our love is so wholehearted, For we all one body are,
All our hope is inward, upward,
Envy must depart afar.
Everything we share as brothers,
Though each has his liberty;
Unconstrained we live by loving,
Free from all hypocrisy.

5. Gladly we thy burdens lighten,
And thy gladness gives us cheer;
When we for our Lord must battle,
This our bond grows more sincere.
Yea, our unity exceedeth
Space and time in every way;
And what here has been prepared
That shall there abide for aye!