1 Built on the Rock, the church shall stand
even when steeples are falling;
Christ build His church in every land;
bells still are chiming and calling,
calling the young and old to rest,
calling the souls of those distressed,
longing for life everlasting.
2 Not in a temple made with hands
God the Almighty is dwelling;
high in the heav'ns His temple stands,
all earthly temples excelling;
yet He who dwells in heav'n above
chooses to live with us in love,
making our body His temple.
3 We are God's house of living stones,
built for His own habitation;
He fills our hearts, His humble thrones,
granting us life and salvation.
Yet to this place, and earthly frame,
we come with thanks to praise His name;
God grants His people true blessing.
4 Through all the passing years, O Lord,
grant that, when church bells are ringing,
many may come to hear God's Word
where He this promise is bringing:
"I know My own, My own know Me;
you, not the world, My face shall see;
My peace I leave with you. Amen."
Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #390
Nicolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig was the son of a pastor, and was born at Udby, in Seeland, in 1783. He studied in the University of Copenhagen from 1800-1805; and, like some other eminent men, did not greatly distinguish himself; his mind was too active and his imagination too versatile to bear the restraint of the academic course. After leaving the university he took to teaching; first in Langeland, then (1808) in Copenhagen. Here he devoted his attention to poetry, literature, and Northern antiquities. In 1810 he became assistant to his father in a parish in Jutland. The sermon he preached at his ordination, on the subject "Why has the Lord's word disappeared from His house," attracted much attention, which is rarely the case with "pro… Go to person page >
Born: March 21, 1867, Norddalen, Norway.
Died: October 2, 1937, Chicago, Illinois.
Buried: Decorah, Iowa.
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