"Today Thy Mercy Calls Us"
                        by Oswald Allen, 1816-1878
                                 Text From:
                     THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
              (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.204



        1. Today Thy mercy calls us
        To wash away our sin.
        However great our trespass,
        Whatever we have been,
        However long from mercy
        Our hearts have turned away,
        Thy precious blood can cleanse us
        And make us white today.

        2. Today Thy gate is open,
        And all who enter in
        Shall find a Father's welcome
        And pardon for their sin.
        The past shall be forgotten,
        A present joy be given,
        A future grace be promised,
        A glorious crown in heaven.

        3. Today our Father calls us,
        His Holy Spirit waits;
        His blessed angels gather
        Around the heavenly gates.
        No question will be asked us
        How often we have come;
        Although we oft have wandered,
        It is our Father's home.

        4. 0 all-embracing Mercy,
        0 ever-open Door,
        What should we do without Thee
        When heart and eye run o'er?
        When all things seem against us,
        To drive us to despair,
        We know one gate is open,
        One ear will hear our prayer.

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #279 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Rev. 3:8
        Author: Oswald Allen, 1861
        Composer: Friedrich K. Anthes, 1847
        Tune: "Anthes"