Lord of All Being, Throned Afar

Lord of All Being, Throned Afar

Text written in 1848 by Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

Sung to PARK STREET, arranged c. 1810 from Frederick M. A. Venua (1788-1872)

Lord of All Being, Throned Afar

1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

V. 1 Lord of all being, throned afar,

Thy glory flames from sun and star;

Center and soul of every sphere,

Yet to each loving heart how near!

Yet to each loving heart how near!

V. 2 Sun of our life, Thy quickening ray

Sheds on our path the glow of day;

Star of our hope, Thy softened light

Cheers the long watches of the night,

Cheers the long watches of the night.

Genesis 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

V. 3 Our midnight is Thy smile withdrawn;

Our noontide is Thy gracious dawn;

Our rainbow arch, Thy mercy's sign;

All, save the clouds of sin, are Thine,

All, save the clouds of sin, are Thine.

V. 4 Lord of all life, below, above,

Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love,

Before Thy ever-blazing throne

We ask no luster of our own,

We ask no luster of our own.

Luke 24:32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

V. 5 Grant us Thy truth to make us free,

And kindling hearts that burn for Thee;

Till all Thy living altars claim

One holy light, one heavenly flame!

One holy light, one heavenly flame.

O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee

Oh Master, Let Me Walk With Thee

Text written in 1879 by Washington Gladden (1836-1918)

Sung to MARYTON, composed in 1874 by H. Percy Smith (1825-1898)

Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

V. 1 O Master, let me walk with Thee

In lowly paths of service free;

Tell me Thy secret; help me bear

The strain of toil, the fret of care.

V. 2 Help me the slow of heart to move

By some clear, winning word of love;

Teach me the wayward feet to stay,

And guide them in the homeward way.

V. 3 Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee

In closer, dearer company,

In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,

In trust that triumphs over wrong;

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

V. 4 In hope that sends a shining ray

Far down the future's broadening way;

In peace that only Thou canst give,

With Thee, O Master, let me live.

God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven

God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven

Stanza 1 written by Reginald Heber (1783-1826), Stanzas 2 & 4 written by William Mercer (1811-1873), Stanza 3 written by Richard Whately (1787-1863)

Sung to AR HYD Y NOS, a Welsh melody

Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

V. 1 God, who made the earth and heaven,

Darkness and light:

You the day for work have given,

For rest the night.

May Your angel guards defend us,

Slumber sweet Your mercy send us,

Holy dreams and hopes attend us

All through the night.

Deuteronomy 33:25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,

and your strength will equal your days.

V. 2 And when morn again shall call us

To run life's way,

May we still, whate'er befall us,

Your will obey.

From the pow'r of evil hide us,

In the narrow pathway guide us,

Never be Your smile denied us

All through the day.

V. 3 Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,

And, when we die,

May we in Your mighty keeping

All peaceful lie.

When the trumpet call shall wake us,

Then, O Lord, do not forsake us,

But to reign in glory take us

With You on high.

V. 4 Holy Father, throned in heaven,

All-holy Son,

Holy Spirit, freely given, 

Blest Three in One:

Grant us grace, we now implore You,

Till we lay our crowns before YOu

And in worthier strains adore You

While ages run.

How Great Thou Art

How Great Thou Art

Text written by Stuart K. Hine (1899-1989)

Tune composed by Stuart K. Hine

Genesis 1:1, 3 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

V. 1 O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy pow'r thro'out the universe displayed,

Refrain: Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Hebrews 1:1, 2 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

V. 2 When thro' the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the book and feel the gentle breeze;

Refrain

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

John 15:20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

V. 3 And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin;

Refrain

V. 4 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Refrain

All Things Bright & Beautiful

All Things Bright and Beautiful

Text written in 1848 by Cecil F. Alexander

Sung to ROYAL OAK, a traditional English melody adapted in 1915 by Martin Shaw (1875-1958)

John Rutter's alternate tune, which is absolutely lovely...

John 1:3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

V. 1 All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Matthew 6:26, 30 Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you — you of little faith?

V. 2 Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings;

He made their glowing colors,

He made their tiny wings.

Genesis 8:22 As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.

V. 3 The purpleheaded mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset, and the morning

That brightens up the sky,

V. 4 The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one.

Mark 7:37 They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak, talk! ”

V. 5 He gave us eyes to see them.

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well.

Welcome, Day of Sweet Repose

Welcome, Day of Sweet Repose

Text written by I. H. Evans (1862-1945)

Sung to EVANS, composed in 1939 by I. A. Steinel (1884-1945)

V. 1 Welcome, day of sweet repose!

Blessed be thy sacred hours!

We would trust the One who knows

All our weak and failing powers.

Genesis 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

V. 2 Welcome, day in Eden born!

Holy rest for sinless man!

Like the dawning of fair morn

Come thy hours to use again.

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 

V. 3 Welcome, day blessed by our Lord!

Toil shall cease and anxious care.

Day commanded by His word,

Day for song and praise and prayer.

Luke 4:16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read.

V. 4 Welcome, day our Saviour kept!

Keeping, wrought our righteousness,

Day God bids us ne'er forget,

Day of days His name to bless.

The Sacred Anthem

The Sacred Anthem

Text written in 1984 by Ottilie Stafford (1921 -    )

Sung to WALLOWA, composed in 1984 by Melvin West (1930 -    )

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

V. 1 The sacred anthem slowly rang

Across the fields of praise,

When earth's first Sabbath made complete

All creatures and all days.

Walking with God, there,

Woman and man together share

The blessed Sabbath mood;

And in that green and golden world

Know all God's works are good.

Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.

V. 2 But now in our diminished lives

We sing a blemished song;

The earth is worn and disarrayed

And all our work goes wrong.

Still in our worship,

Joining in praise and fellowship,

By Sabbath radiance blessed,

We put our doubt and fear away

And rest within God's rest.

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

V. 3 And arching over time and space

The Lord of Sabbaths wills

Renewal for the weary earth

And healing for our ills.

Hearts will rejoice then;

There will be no more weeping, when

We know and shall be known.

With hosts of the redeemed we'll sing

Around God's shining throne.

Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn)

Text written by William Whiting (1825-1878)

Sung to MELITA, composed by John B. Dykes (1823-1876)

Job 38:11 ...when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;

here is where your proud waves halt’?

Psalm 107:28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

! Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

V. 1 Eternal Father, strong to save,

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bid'st the mmighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea.

Matthew 14:25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, 

walking on the lake.

Mark 4:38, 39 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

V. 2 O Christ, whose voice the waters heard,

And hushed their raging at Thy word,

Who walkedst on the foaming deep,

And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea.

Genesis 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

V. 3 O Holy Spirit, who didst brood

Upon the waters dark and rude,

And bid their angry tumult cease,

And give, for wild confusion, peace:

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee

For those in peril on the sea.

Psalm 37:31 The law of their God is in their hearts;

their feet do not slip.

V. 4 O Trinity of love and power,

All trav'lers shield in danger's hour;

From rock and tempest, fire and foe,

Protect them wheresoe'er they go;

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee

Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Lord of the Sabbath

Lord of the Sabbath

Text is anonymous

Sung to PARK STREET, arranged c. 1810from Frederick M. A. Venua (1788-1872)

Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

V. 1 Lord of the Sabbath and its light,

I hail Thy hallowed day of rest;

It is my weary soul's delight,

The solace of my careworn breast, 

The solace of my careworn breast.

V. 2 O sacred day of peace and joy,

Thy hours are ever dear to me;

Ne'er may a sinful thought destroy

The holy calm I find in thee,

The holy calm I find in thee.

V. 3 How sweetly now they glide along!

How hallowed is the calm they yield!

Transporting is their rapturous song,

And heavenly visions seem revealed,

And heavenly visions seem revealed.

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.

V. 4 O Jesus, let me ever hail

Thy presence with the day of rest;

Then will Thy servant never fail

To deem Thy Sabbath doubly blest,

To deem Thy Sabbath doubly blest.

Dear Lord, We Come at Set of Sun

Blessed Sabbath to all

Dear Lord, We Come at Set of Sun

Text written in 1984 by Mary Speidel (1915-1985)

Sung to the hymn tune STRACATHRO by Charles Hutcheson (1792-1860), as arranged by David Evans (1874-1948)

Leviticus 23:32 "It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”

V. 1 Dear Lord, we come at set of sun,

And at Your feet we kneel

To worship You, Creator, King,

This day, Your sign and seal.

Exodus 20:9, 10 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

V. 2 Our earthly tasks we lay aside,

According to Your Word,

To enter now Your holy rest,

The Sabbath of the Lord.

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

V. 3 Sweet Sabbath rest, your sacred hours

Are as a golden chain

That reaches back to Eden's gate

And points us home again.

Isaiah 66:23 "From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.

V. 4 And when this earth shall be renewed,

And sin and death destroyed,

Shall all redeemed each Sabbath day

Still meet to praise their God.

May God Be With You

May God Be With You

Text is Anonymous

Sung to the hymn tune MIZPAH, composed in 1969 by Wayne Hooper (1920-  )

Genesis 31:49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other."

V. 1 May God be with you

Till we meet again,

May God be with you,

Keep you safe till then;

And may His blessings 

Be within your heart,

May God be with you

While we're apart,

May God be with you.

V. 2 May God be with you,

Watch you from above,

May God protect you

In His tender love;

And with the dawning

Of each bright, new day,

May God be with you,

To guide your way,

May God be with you.

Crowning Jewel of Creation

Sabbath blessings to you.

Crowning Jewel of Creation

Text written in 1982 by Gem Fitch (1934-    )

Sung to the tune JEWEL, composed in 1984 by Wayne Hooper (1920-    )

Genesis 2:3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

V. 1 Crowning jewel of creation,

Blest and hallowed, sanctified;

Time and changes all transcending,

Shared forever, glorified.

Mark 2:27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."

Refrain: Blessed Sabbath made for man,

Gift from the Creator's hand.

Hebrews 4:9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.

V. 2 Sin and sickness, prayer and weeping

Cease at close of earthly days;

But Thy Sabbath is eternal,

Joyful thanks to Thee we raise!

Refrain

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.

Teach us, Lord, in storm or sunshine

How to truly rest in Thee,

May Thy Sabbath peace enfold us

And our shelter ever be.

Refrain

Jacob's Ladder

Jacob's Ladder

The text and tune are an American Negro Spiritual

Genesis 28:10-18 Jacob left Beersheba and went to Haran. He came to a certain place and camped for the night since the sun had set. He took one of the stones there, set it under his head and lay down to sleep. And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground and it reached all the way to the sky; angels of God were going up and going down on it.

Then God was right before him, saying, "I am God, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I'm giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they'll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants. Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."

Jacob woke up from his sleep. He said, "God is in this place—truly. And I didn't even know it!" He was terrified. He whispered in awe, "Incredible. Wonderful. Holy. This is God's House. This is the Gate of Heaven."

Jacob was up first thing in the morning. He took the stone he had used for his pillow and stood it up as a memorial pillar and poured oil over it.

2 Timothy 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

V. 1 We are climbing Jacob's ladder.

We are climbing Jacob's ladder.

We are climbing Jacob's ladder,

Soldiers of the cross.

V. 2 Every round goes higher, higher.

Every round goes higher, higher.

Every round goes higher, higher, 

Soldiers of the cross.

V.3 Sinner, do you love my Jesus?

Sinner, do you love my Jesus?

Sinner, do you love my Jesus?

Soldiers of the cross.

V. 4 If you love Him, why not serve Him?

If you love Him, why not serve Him?

If you love Him, why not serve Him?

Soldiers of the cross.

Can You Count the Stars?

Can You Count the Stars?

Text written by Wilhelm Hey (1789-1854), translated by H. W. Dulcken, vs. 1-3; v. 2, anonymous

Sung to a German Folk Tune

Genesis 15:5 The Lord took him [Abraham] outside and said, “Look at the sky and try to count the stars; you will have as many descendants as that.”

Psalms 147:4 He has decided the number of the stars and calls each one by name.

V. 1 Can you count the stars that brightly 

Twinkle in the midnight sky?

Can you count the clouds, so lightly

O'er the meadows floating by?

God, the Lord, doth mark their number 

With His eyes that never slumber;

He hath made them every one,

He hath made them every one.

V. 2 Can you count the wings now flashing

In the sunshine's golden light?

Can you count the fishes splashing

In the cooling waters bright?

God, the Lord, a name hath given,

To all creatures under heaven;

He hath named them every one,

He hath named them every one.

V. 3 Do you know how many children

Rise each morning blithe and gay?

Can you count their jolly voices,

Singing sweetly day by day?

God hears all the happy voices,

In their merry songs rejoices;

And He loves them, every one,

And He loves them, every one.

O Let Me Walk With Thee

O Let Me Walk With Thee

Text written by Mrs. L. D. Avery Stuttle (1835-1933)

Sung to the hymn tune MORTON, written in 1886 by Edwin Barnes (1864-1930)

Genesis 5:24 [Enoch] spent his life in fellowship with God, and then he disappeared, because God took him away.

V. 1 O let me walk with Thee, my God, 

As Enoch walked in days of old;

Place Thou my trembling hand in Thine,

And sweet communion with me hold;

E'en though the path I may not see,

Yet, Jesus, let me walk with Thee.

V. 2 I cannot, dare not, walk alone;

The tempest rages in the sky,

A thousand snares beset my feet,

A thousand foes are lurking night.

Still Thou the raging of the sea,

O Master! let me walk with Thee.

V. 3 If I may rest my hand in Thine,

I'll count the joys of earth but loss,

And firmly, bravely journey on;

I'll bear the banner of the cross

Till Zion's glorious gates I see;

Yet, Savior, let me walk with Thee.

For Beauty of Meadows

For Beauty of Meadows

Text written by Walter H. Farquharson (1936-    )

Sung to the hymn tune ANNIVERSARY SONG, written in 1980 by Jane Marshall (1924-    )

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Genesis 1:28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 

V. 1 For beauty of meadows, for grandeur of trees,

For flowers of woodlands, for creatures of seas,

For all You created and gave us to share,

We praise you, Creator, extolling Your care.

V. 2 As stewards of beauty received at Your hand,

As creatures who hear Your most urgent command,

We turn from our wasteful destruction of life,

Confessing our failure, confessing our strife.

Genesis 2:8 The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 

Matthew 6:9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.'"

V. 3 Teach us once again to be gardeners in peace;

All nature around us is ours but on lease;

Your name we would hallow in all that we do,

Fulfilling our calling, creating with You.

God in His Love for Us

God in His Love for Us

Text by Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000)

Sung to the hymn tune WALLOG by H. Walford Davies (1869-1941)

Genesis 1:28 [God] blessed them, and said, “Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge of the fish, the birds, and all the wild animals. 

V. 1 God in His love for us lent us this planet,

Gave it a purpose in time and in space: 

Small as a spark from the fire of creation,

Cradle of life and the home of our race.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has set the right time for everything. He has given us a desire to know the future, but never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does. 

V. 2 Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty,

Life that sustains us in body and mind:

Plenty for all, if we learn how to share it,

Riches undreamed of to fathom and find.

Revelation 11:18 "The heathen were filled with rage, because the time for your anger has come, the time for the dead to be judged. The time has come to reward your servants, the prophets, and all your people, all who have reverence for you, great and small alike. The time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth!”

V. 3 Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;

Long has earth bowed to the terror of force;

Long have we wasted what others have need of,

Poisoned the fountain of life at its source.

Psalm 24:1 The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his.

V. 4 Earth is the Lord's:  it is ours to enjoy it,

Ours, as His stewards, to farm and defend.

From its pollution, misuse, and destruction,

Good Lord, deliver us, world without end!

Lord of the Boundless Curves of Space

Lord of the Boundless Curves of Space

Text by Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)

Sung to the tune SAN ROCCO, by Derek Williams (1945-    )

Psalm 33:9 When he spoke, the world was created; at his command everything appeared.

V. 1 Lord of the boundless curves of space

And time's deep mystery,

To Your creative might we trace

All nature's energy.

Ephesians 1:9 God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ.

V. 2 Your mind conceived the galaxy,

Each atom's secret planned,

And every age of history

Your purpose, Lord, has spanned.

Genesis 1:27 So God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female.

V. 3 Yours is the image stamped on man,

Though marred by man's own sin;

And Yours the liberating plan

Again his soul to win.

John 8:32 "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

V. 4 Give us to know Your truth; but more,

The strength to do Your will;

Until the love our souls adore

Shall all our being fill.