Happy New Year to everyone!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Happy New Year to everyone!

I posted this song back in 2013 - and think it appropriate to remind thereof now:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h4qNUsWTgn8

"By gracious powers" ("Von guten Mächten") is THE hymn to be sung on New Year's Day - with a wonderful tune and a sad history. It was written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in prison shortly before the turn of the year 1944/45 while he was awaiting his execution.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Feb. 4, 1906 - Apr. 9, 1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, and member of the anti-nazi resistance movement. He was also involved in plans by members of the Abwehr (the German Military Intelligence Office) to assassinate Adolf Hitler. He was arrested in April 1943 by the Gestapo and hanged in April 1945, just 23 days before the German surrender.

It's incredible how someone can have such peace of mind to write such a hopeful song under these circumstances!

I believe A. Lincoln could have related to it in the war years!


By gracious powers

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
and confidently waiting come what may,
we know that God is with us night and morning,
and never fails to greet us each new day.

Yet is this heart by its old foe tormented,
still evil days bring burdens hard to bear;
Oh, give our frightened souls the sure salvation
for which, O Lord, You taught us to prepare.

And when this cup You give is filled to brimming
with bitter suffering, hard to understand,
we take it thankfully and without trembling,
out of so good and so beloved a hand.

Yet when again in this same world You give us
the joy we had, the brightness of Your Sun,
we shall remember all the days we lived through,
and our whole life shall then be Yours alone.