New Reinhardt Hymn: Lord, Help Us Know That Truly

ONTARIO – Rev. Kurt E. Reinhardt has penned a new hymn titled Lord, Help Us Know That Truly, a poetic reflection on Christ’s presence in the humble and often overlooked gatherings of His Church. Reinhardt is a pastor in Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s East Region, serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Kurtzville, Ontario. A seasoned hymnwriter and poet, he is known for works such as Baptismal Waters Cover Me (Hymn 616 in the Lutheran Service Book).

Reinhardt wrote the hymn shortly after a trip to Pennsylvania, where he spent time with his good friend, Rev. Robert Kieselowsky, a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) missionary working in Philadelphia’s inner city. “While with him,” writes Reinhardt, “I visited the little chapel that he has set up in the narthex of Old Zion Lutheran Church (ELCM)—a majestic old church in the downtown. The German congregation is still active but much smaller than it was in years gone by and so they have generously allowed my friend to set up a chapel at the back of their sanctuary, where Logos Lutheran Church (LCMS) can gather.”

“As we stood in the little chapel, where a handful of the saints gather week by week to hear the Word and receive the Lord’s Supper,” he continues, “we talked about how some in the Church can sometimes dismiss such small gatherings and how these small groups can also struggle with how they see themselves.”

In that moment, thoughts Reinhardt had been pondering for some time came together. “Disdaining the Church where she is small is akin to disdaining the baby in the manger, and dismissing her where she is suffering is akin to dismissing the man bleeding and dying on the cross,” he writes. Upon returning home, he put those thoughts into verse.

The hymn was later set to music and recorded by Michael Owens, a member of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Reinhardt met Owens while speaking at a youth retreat hosted by the congregation. The hymn, including piano accompaniment, is available as a free PDF for congregational use on LCC’s website.

Lord, Help Us Know That Truly is dedicated to the saints at Logos and Southampton Lutheran Churches, and to all the small congregations across Lutheran Church–Canada and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. 

Lord, Help Us Know That Truly

Lord, help us know that truly,

Where two or three are gath’ring,

There is your precious Body

In Your dear name abiding.

Thus keep us from belittling 

Your Church where she is tiny,

Lest we be caught dismissing

You in Your manger lowly.

And guard us from despising

Your Church where she is needy,

Lest we be caught deriding

You in Your crown that’s thorny

Deliver us from scorning

Your Church where she does poorly,

Lest we be caught disdaining 

You on Your cross so Holy.

Lord, help us treasure dearly

Your Body’s humblest meeting,

For angels praise you highly

Where Your great might is hiding.

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