Been trying to salvage "Earth and All Stars": The Refrain: "He has done marvelous things, I too will praise Him with a new song" is not bad (reflective of Psalm 98). I'm not a good judge of "tunes" but I suppose it isn't too bad. (Anybody know why everything is "LOUD" in that hymn?)

The stanzas, however, do NOT reflect Psalm 98 in any way, since they almost completely ignore its theme of our *salvation* (with the sole exception of the last stanza which has only a "nebulous" reference to our dying and rising, yet does not connect it with Christ or our Baptism). I recall more than one Sem Prof suggesting that it never should have been in a Lutheran Hymnal to begin with.

I have attempted to write *replacement stanzas* for it, based upon the faith-life of a Christian. Here are my humble efforts.

"Our life in Christ"

"Earth and All Stars" LW 438.
Pastor John C. Drosendahl
Stanza 1: Eternal Call and Election
The Book of Life,
Written by Jesus;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Calls us His own,
Sons of His Kingdom.
Sing to the Lord a new song...
REFRAIN: He has done marvelous things,
I too will praise Him with a new song
Stanza 2: Holy Baptism
Buried with Christ,
Cleansed from our trespass;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Washed by His Word,
Raised in our Savior.
Sing to the Lord a new song.
REFRAIN:
Stanza 3: Life in the Word
Learning the truth,
Sin's deadly wages;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Comfort sublime,
From Jesus' Gospel.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
REFRAIN:
Stanza 4: Life of Worship
We live by grace,
Washed from sin daily;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Mercy in Christ
Giv'n in communion.
Sing to the Lord a new song.
REFRAIN:
Stanza 5: Confirming Faith & Place in Heaven
Sure of The Faith,
Worked by Christ's Spirit;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Certain we'll live,
In resurrection.
Sing to the Lord a new song.
REFRAIN:
Stanza 6: Christian Death unto Life
Our last hour come,
We sleep in Jesus;
Sing to the Lord a new song,
In paradise,
Now with our Savior.
Sing to the Lord a new song.
REFRAIN:
Stanza 7: Communion of Saints
(Use Stanza 7 from "Earth and All Stars.")

Editor's Note: The music to "Earth and All Stars" is copywrited by Augsburg. It is the opinion of some that Pr. Drosendahl's words may not be printed with the Augsburg music. In order to use this legally in a service, the words would be printed but the music would not be; simply played from a hymnal that has been purchased.

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