I Come, O Savior, to Your Table

I come, O Savior, to your Table, for weak and weary is my soul;
O Jesus, you alone are able to satisfy and make me whole.
Oh, grant that I in manner worthy, may now trust solely in your Word,
And, conscious of the sins before me, look only unto you, O Lord!

Your heart is filled with fervent yearning that sinners may salvation see,
Who, Lord, to you in faith are turning; so let me, Lord, come trustingly.
Weary am I and heavy laden, with sin my soul is sore oppressed;
Receive me graciously, and gladden my heart, for I am now your guest.

By faith I call your holy table the testament of your deep love;
For, by your gift I now am able to know the heart of God above.
What higher gift can we inherit? It is faith’s bond and solid base;
It is the strength of heart and spirit, the covenant of hope and grace.

This feast is manna, wealth abounding unto the poor, to weak ones power,
To angels joy, to hell confounding, and life for me in death’s dark hour.
Your body, given for me, O Savior, your blood which you for me have shed –
These are my life and strength forever, by them my hungry soul is fed.

With you, Lord, I am now united; I live in you and you in me.
No sorrow fills my soul, delighted it finds its peace on Calvary.
Though death may threaten with disaster, it cannot rob me of my cheer;
For He who is of death the Master with help and strength is aways near.

Lord, may your body and your blood be for my soul the highest good!

~ Friedrich C. Heyder, 1677-1754