The Noblest Work. Worship: February 8, 2026

Although the work of composers of church music and writers of hymn texts are often observed and even celebrated, the faithful and thoughtful work of text translators is rarely noted. One of the most gifted translators, whose work brought into English many historical and doctrinally powerful German hymns, was an Englishwoman named Catherine Winkworth. The contributors’ index in Lutheran Service Book (p. 1002) lists forty-six hymns included in the hymnal that she translated from the original German. Her chosen words have both beauty and depth of meaning. In the second stanza of Johann Mentzer’s hymn “Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” (LSB 811), she phrases the call to all powers to praise God with these simple words: “Your noblest work is to adore.” As we gather for worship and bring our praises in adoration to our gracious God, we are fulfilling our purpose as the crown of His creation. We are called in our worship to be joyfully carrying out the “noblest work.” It doesn’t get any better than that!