I don’t fault you if you never heard of Juri Transovsky (1592-1637). He was a Lutheran pastor and hymnwriter from Cieszyn, Silesia (now Poland, then Bohemia). His early life as a pastor was troubled by the persecution of Lutherans by Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II. He was jailed and suffered the loss of two of his children to the plague. He wrote and collected poems and hymns. His collections formed the basis for Slovak hymnody still in use today.

Most Lutherans, unless they are of Slovak heritage, are unfamiliar with the Slavic heritage of Lutheranism. The Slovak Zion Synod of our ELCA has 20 congregations in the United States and Canada. (I’d sort of like to belong to that Synod. They have their Synod Assemblies on a cruise ship. I have ancestors from Bohemia. Does that qualify?)

We have one hymn in our hymnal by Tranovsky, a Kyrie.

 O God, Father in heaven, have mercy upon us!

Your heart, O God, is grieved we know
By every evil, every woe;
Upon Your cross-forsaken Son
Our death is laid, and peace is won.

O Son of God, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us!

Your arms, extend, O Christ, to save
From sting of death and grasp of grave;
Your scars before the Father move
His heart to mercy at such love.

O God, Holy Spirit, have mercy upon us!

O lavish Giver, come to aid
The feeble child Your grace has made.
Now make us grow and help us pray:
Bring joy and comfort, come to stay!

Read Hebrews 4:16 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne