Christ our God, to You we offer
hymns, and songs, and psalms of praise,
for the rich, abundant blessings,
which You give us all our days.
At creation, humankind was
brought from earth and given grace,
fed by Eden's flowing rivers
bringing life to every place.
At the hands of the Forerunner,
You were pleased to be baptised,
and submerged in Jordan's waters,
hallowing its flowing tide.
From the lake your gathered foll'wers
drank the riches of your words,
so their thirsting souls found quenching,
and their hearts to faith were stirred.
Weary and disheartened fishers,
toiling long with empty nets,
had them filled with great abundance,
thus their hearts on You they set.
May we, too, with faith and labour,
reap the harvest of the sea,
filled with shoals of teeming creatures,
multiplying fruitfully.
On this field send forth your blessing,
for the sea obeys your will,
Who the swelling, raging waters,
calmed with simple: "Peace, be still."
So to You, O Christ our Saviour,
from the islands of the sea,
with the Father and the Spirit,
through all ages, glory be. Amen.
Copyright © 2009, Michael Astley
Tune: Sussex
Dedicated to the Greater Glory of God, and the Revd Mark Rowland. Feel free to use for services, with attribution.
7 responses:
What a beautiful hymn, with beautiful imagery -- and meaning.
Thank you for sharing this with us Michael: and congratulations to you for such a fine work and to the Reverend Mark.
Did you have a tune in mind? It scans to Austria.
Thank you, Ian. :-) Glad you like it.
Anonymous, the tune is Sussex. :-)
Sorry, x-posted. Sussex it is.
I like it a lot,especially the second verse.
Brilliant hymn, Michael and Reverend Mark, flowing from your pen like a river of divine dreams
Michael,
Thank you again for this - we used it in our Harvest Festivals at both St Paul's and Wesley. I hope to use it again in the future!
Mark
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