We Christians May Rejoice Today

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We Christians may rejoice to-day

Author: Kaspar Füger; Translator: Catherine Winkworth
Tune: O JESU CHRIST, DEIN KRIPPLEIN IST
Published in 9 hymnals

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Piano/Organ
	Improvisations for the Christmas Season,…

Representative Text

1 We Christians may Rejoice today,
When Christ was born to comfort and to save us;
Who thus believes No longer grieves,
For none are lost who grasp the hope He gave us.

2 O wondrous joy That God most high
Should take our flesh and thus our race should honor!
A Virgin mild Hath borne this Child;
Such grace and glory God hath put upon her.

3 Sin brought us grief, But Christ relief,
When down to earth He came for our salvation.
Since God with us Is dwelling thus,
Who dares to speak the Christian's condemnation?

4 Then hither throng With happy song
To Him whose birth and death are our assurance;
Through whom are we At last set free
From sins and burdens that surpassed endurance.

5 Yea, let us praise Our God and raise
Loud hallelujahs to the skies above us.
The bliss bestowed Today by God
To ceaseless thankfulness and joy should move us.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #122

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Author: Kaspar Füger

Fuger, Caspar. Two Lutheran clergymen of this name, apparently father and son, seem to have lived in Dresden in the 16th century. The elder seems to have been for some time at Torgau, and then court preacher at Dresden to Duke Heinrich and his widow, and to have died at Dresden, 1592. Various works appeared under his name between 1564 and 1592. The younger was apparently born at Dresden, where he became third master and then conrector in the Kreuzschule. He was subsequently ordained diaconus, and died at Dresden, July 24, 1617 (Koch, ii. 215-216; Wetzel, i. 303; Wackernagel, as below, and i. pp. 459, 513, 569). The hymn, Wir Christenleut haben jetzund Freud [Christ¬mas], is quoted by Wackernagel, iv. p. 10, from Drey schöne Newe Ge… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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First Line:	We Christians may rejoice to-day
Title:	We Christians May Rejoice Today
German Title:	Wir Christenleut' han jetzund Freud'
Author:	Kaspar Füger
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth
Meter:	4.4.11.4.4.11
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain